Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock-Based Compensation

v3.22.2
Stock-Based Compensation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Stock-Based Compensation  
Stock-Based Compensation

8. Stock-Based Compensation

2014 Plan

The Company operates an equity-based compensation plan (the “2014 Plan”). The 2014 Plan provides for the granting of stock options (incentive and nonqualified), restricted stock or other stock-based awards to employees, officers, directors, consultants, and advisors. As of March 31, 2022, 829,339 shares of common stock were authorized to be awarded and no shares were available for awards.

Stock-based compensation expense is presented in the same expense line items as cash compensation paid and for the three months ended March 31 are as follows:

   

2022

   

2021

Research and Development

$

32,620

$

71,586

General and Administrative

183,301

145,359

Total Stock-Based Compensation Expense

$

215,921

$

216,945

Stock Options

During the three months ended March 31, 2022 the Company granted time-based stock options which vest one-third of the underlying shares on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the remainder ratably over a 24-month period. The fair value of time-based stock options is determined using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model, with such value recognized as expense over the

service period, which is typically 3 years, net of actual forfeitures. A summary of the Company’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of the stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2022 is shown in the following table.

Risk-Free Interest Rate

    

2.42

%

Expected Life (years)

 

5.00

Expected Stock Price Volatility

 

140

%

Expected Dividend Yield

 

%

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $0.68. The expected term of the options granted is based on management estimate. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s peers common stock. The risk-free interest rate is determined based upon a constant U.S. Treasury security rate with a contractual life that approximates the expected term of the option. Unamortized compensation expense related to the options amounted to $0.647 million at March 31, and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.30 years.

Following is a summary of stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2022:

Weighted-Average

Number of

Weighted- Average

Remaining

   

Options

   

Exercise Price

   

Term in Years

Outstanding at December 31, 2021

 

515,922

$

10.43

 

8.30

Granted

 

260,500

$

0.76

 

9.84

Expired

 

(12,662)

$

6.87

Forfeited

(85,610)

$

2.79

Outstanding at March 31, 2022

 

678,150

$

7.85

 

8.55

Exercisable and vested at March 31, 2022

 

241,683

$

18.57

 

2.30

The stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2022 had no aggregate intrinsic value. The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying options and the market price of the Company’s common stock for options that had exercise prices lower than $0.62, the closing price of the Company’s stock on March 31, 2022.

Restricted Stock Units

There were no grants of time-based restricted stock units during the three months ended March 31, 2022. Restricted stock options compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period, which is typically one-third of the underlying shares on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the remainder ratably over a 24-month period. Unamortized expense is nominal. The following is a summary of restricted stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2022:

Number of

Weighted- Average

   

Units

   

Grant Date Fair Value

Non-vested at December 31, 2021

 

15,012

$

6.55

Vested

 

(9,079)

$

6.55

Forfeited

(3,350)

$

6.55

Non-vested at March 31, 2022

 

2,583

$

6.55

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has a non-qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), which provides for the issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock to eligible employees of the Company that elect to participate in the plan and purchase shares of common stock through payroll deductions at a discounted price. Six month offering periods are made at the Board’s discretion. The ESPP provides for 11,371 aggregate shares of the Company’s common stock for participants to purchase. As of March 31, 2022, the remaining 7,806 shares are reserved for future offerings.