Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation [Policy Text Block]
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
 
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, EyeGate Pharma S.A.S.and Jade, (since date of acquisition) collectively referred to as the Company. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information. Certain information and disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or eliminated. Accordingly, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information [Policy Text Block]
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
 
The accompanying interim financial statements and related disclosures are unaudited, have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods presented. The year-end balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP. The results of operations for an interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or for any other future year or interim period.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates and assumptions are required in providing for the accruals for our clinical trials underway, establishing useful lives of intangible assets and property and equipment, and conducting impairment reviews of long-lived assets. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Although the Company regularly assesses these estimates, actual results could differ materially from these estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
 
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of 90 days or less when acquired that are not restricted as to withdrawal, to be the equivalent of cash for the purpose of balance sheet and statement of cash flows presentation. Cash equivalents, which were nominal in amount, consisted of money market accounts that are readily convertible to cash. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company has classified $30,000 and $20,000, respectively, as restricted cash.
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
 
The Company evaluates the potential impairment of long-lived assets and long-lived assets to be disposed of and considers whether long-lived assets held for use have been impaired whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying amount may not be recoverable. Management makes significant estimates and assumptions regarding future sales, cost trends, productivity and market maturity in order to test for impairment. Management reports those long-lived assets to be disposed of and assets held for sale at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. Based on current facts, estimates and assumptions, management believes that no assets are impaired at March 31, 2016. There is no assurance that management’s estimates and assumptions will not change in future periods.
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Research and Development Expenses
 
We expense research and development expenditures as incurred. Research and development expenses are comprised of costs incurred in performing research and development activities, including salaries, benefits, facilities, research-related overhead, sponsored research costs, contracted services, license fees, and other external costs. Because the Company believes that, under its current process for developing its product, viability of the product is essentially concurrent with the establishment of technological feasibility, no costs have been capitalized to date.
In Process Research and Development, Policy [Policy Text Block]
In-process Research and Development
 
We record expense for in-process research and development projects acquired as asset acquisitions which have not reached technological feasibility and which have no alternative future use. For in-process research and development projects acquired in business combinations, the in-process research and development project is capitalized and evaluated for impairment until the development process has been completed. Once the development process has been completed the asset will be amortized over its remaining useful life.
Accrued Clinical Expenses [Policy Text Block]
Accrued Clinical Expenses
 
As part of our process of preparing the condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company is required to estimate its accrued expenses. This process includes reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with its applicable personnel to identify services that have been performed on its behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated costs incurred for the service when the Company has not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual costs. The majority of the Company’s service providers invoice monthly in arrears for services performed. The Company makes estimates of its accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in the financial statements based on facts and circumstances known at the time. The Company periodically confirms the accuracy of these estimates with the service providers and makes adjustments if necessary.
Segment Reporting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Business Segment and Geographical Information
 
Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise for which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment. The Company operates in one geographic segment.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Income Taxes
 
The Company provides deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of the assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance against deferred tax assets is recorded if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
 
The Company recognizes the impact of an uncertain tax position in the financial statements if that position is more likely than not of being sustained by the taxing authority. As of March 31, 2016, the Company had no unrecognized uncertain tax positions.
Compensation Related Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Stock-Based Compensation
 
Stock-based compensation represents the cost related to stock-based awards granted to employees and others. The Company measures stock-based compensation cost to employees at grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and recognizes the cost as expense on a straight-line basis (net of estimated forfeitures) over the employee requisite service period. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using a Black-Scholes valuation model. The Company recognizes compensation expense for non-employee stock option grants at the fair value of the goods or services received or the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. The Company recorded compensation expense for non-employee awards with graded vesting using the accelerated expense attribution method.
 
The Company records deferred tax assets for awards that result in deductions on the Company’s income tax returns, based on the amount of compensation expenses recognized and the Company’s statutory tax rate in the jurisdiction in which it will receive a deduction. Differences between the deferred tax assets recognized for financial reporting purposes and the actual tax benefit realized on the Company’s income tax return are recorded in additional paid-in capital if the tax benefit exceeds the deferred tax asset, or in the condensed consolidated statements of operations if the deferred tax asset exceeds the tax benefit and no additional paid-in capital exists from previous awards. 
Related Party Transactions [Policy Text Block]
Related Party Transactions
 
The Company has entered into certain related party transactions with a vendor and two consultants in connection with its acquisition of Jade. The amounts recorded or paid are not material to the accompanying financial statements.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Net Loss per Share
 
Basic and diluted net loss per common share is based on the weighted-average number of shares outstanding common stock.
 
In computing diluted loss per share, no effect has been given to the shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion or exercise of the following dilutive securities as the Company’s net loss would make the effect anti-dilutive.
 
 
 
 
March 31,
2016
(unaudited)
 
 
March 31,
2015
 
Common stock warrants
 
 
1,981,736
 
 
637,980
 
Employee stock options
 
 
1,487,892
 
 
1,156,090
 
Total shares of common stock issuable
 
 
3,469,628
 
 
1,794,070
 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The carrying amounts of receivables and payables approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the fair value of the Company’s money market funds was $6,500,626 and $2,000,190, respectively.
 
At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had no other assets or liabilities that are subject to fair value methodology and estimation in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Revenue Recognition
 
The Company follows Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-13, Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, and ASU 2010-17, Revenue Recognition-Milestone Method, in connection with its accounting for collaboration arrangements. The Company’s revenues are generated primarily through arrangements which generally contain multiple elements, or deliverables, including licenses and research and development activities to be performed by the Company on behalf of the licensee. Payments to EyeGate under these arrangements typically include one or more of the following: (1) nonrefundable, upfront license fees, (2) funding of discovery research efforts on a full-time equivalent (“FTE”) basis, (3) reimbursement of research, development and intellectual property costs, (4) milestone payments, and (5) royalties on future product sales.
 
When evaluating multiple element arrangements, the Company considers whether the deliverables under the arrangement represent separate units of accounting. This evaluation requires subjective determinations and requires management to make judgments about the individual deliverables and whether such deliverables are separable from the other aspects of the contractual relationship. In determining the units of accounting, management evaluates certain criteria, including whether the deliverables have standalone value, based on the consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances for each arrangement. The consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting using the relative selling price method, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are applied to each of the separate units.
 
The Company generally recognizes revenue attributed to the license on a straight-line basis over the Company’s contractual or estimated performance period, which is typically the term of the Company’s research and development obligations. If management cannot reasonably estimate when the Company’s performance obligation ends, then revenue is deferred until management can reasonably estimate when the performance obligation ends. The periods over which revenue should be recognized are subject to estimates by management and may change over the course of the research and development agreement. Such a change could have a material impact on the amount of revenue the Company records in future periods. At the inception of arrangements that include milestone payments, the Company evaluates whether each milestone is substantive and at risk to both parties on the basis of the contingent nature of the milestone. This evaluation includes an assessment of whether (a) the consideration is commensurate with either (1) the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone, or (2) the enhancement of the value of the delivered item(s) as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the entity’s performance to achieve the milestone, (b) the consideration relates solely to past performance, and (c) the consideration is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms within the arrangement. The Company evaluates factors such as the scientific, regulatory, commercial and other risks that must be overcome to achieve the respective milestone, the level of effort and investment required to achieve the respective milestone and whether the milestone consideration is reasonable relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement in making this assessment. The Company has concluded that the clinical and development and regulatory milestones pursuant to its research and development arrangements are substantive.
 
The Company aggregates its milestones into four categories: (i) clinical and development milestones, (ii) chemistry, manufacturing and control (“CMC”) validation, (iii) regulatory milestones, and (iv) commercial milestones. Clinical and development milestones are typically achieved when a product candidate advances into a defined phase of clinical research or completes such phase or when a contractually specified clinical trial enrollment target is attained. CMC validation milestones are typically achieved when the validation paperwork is finalized. Regulatory milestones are typically achieved upon acceptance of the submission for marketing approval of a product candidate or upon approval to market the product candidate by the FDA or other global regulatory authorities. For example, a milestone payment may be due to the Company upon the FDA’s acceptance of an NDA. Commercial milestones are typically achieved when an approved pharmaceutical product reaches certain defined levels of net sales by the licensee, such as when a product first achieves global sales or annual sales of a specified amount.
 
Revenues from clinical and development, CMC and regulatory milestone payments, if the milestones are deemed substantive and the milestone payments are nonrefundable, are recognized upon successful accomplishment of the milestones. Revenues from commercial milestone payments are accounted for as royalties and are recorded as revenue upon achievement of the milestone, assuming all other revenue recognition criteria are met.
 
Payments or reimbursements resulting from the Company’s research and development efforts are recognized as the services are performed and are presented on a gross basis so long as there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the fee is fixed or determinable, and collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured. Amounts received prior to satisfying the above revenue recognition criteria are recorded as deferred revenue in the balance sheet.
 
The U.S. Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation have each committed to grant funds to Jade for specified ocular therapeutic research activities (together, the “U.S. Government Grants”) to be conducted through 2017, of which grants approximately $1.500 million remain to be funded. The Company recognizes grant funds as revenue when it performs the activities specified by the terms of the grant and is entitled to the funds.