Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Equity Incentive Plan

v3.5.0.2
Equity Incentive Plan
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Share Based Compensation Option And Incentive Plan [Abstract]  
Shareholders' Equity and Share-based Payments [Text Block]
9. Equity Incentive Plan
 
In 2005, the Company approved the 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”). The 2005 Plan provides for the granting of options, restricted stock or other stock-based awards to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors. During 2010, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the 2005 Plan was increased to 891,222 shares. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) is responsible for administration of the 2005 Plan. The Company’s Board determines the term of each option, the option exercise price, the number of shares for which each option is granted and the rate at which each option is exercisable. Incentive stock options may be granted to any officer or employee at an exercise price per share of not less than the fair value per common share on the date of the grant (not less than 110% of fair value in the case of holders of more than 10% of the Company’s voting stock) and with a term not to exceed ten years from the date of the grant (five years for incentive stock options granted to holders of more than 10% of the Company’s voting stock). Nonqualified stock options may be granted to any officer, employee, consultant or director at an exercise price per share of not less than the par value per share.
 
The Company’s adopted the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”), and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan the (the “ESPP”), and the Company’s Stockholders approved the 2014 Plan and the ESPP Plan in February 2015. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the 2014 Plan and the ESPP is 1,034,888 and 70,567 shares, respectively.
 
In January 2016, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under the 2014 Plan automatically increased by 306,291 shares pursuant to the terms of the 2014 Plan, which additional shares are included in the total of 1,034,888 shares issuable under the 2014 Plan.
 
The following is a summary of stock option activity under the 2005 Plan, the 2014 Plan and the ESPP for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-Average
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-Average
 
Contractual Life
 
 
 
Number of Options
 
Exercise Price
 
(In Years)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at Beginning of Year
 
 
752,372
 
$
0.91
 
 
4.55
 
Granted
 
 
535,393
 
 
4.14
 
 
9.38
 
Exercised
 
 
(24,155)
 
 
0.65
 
 
 
 
Expired
 
 
(8,600)
 
 
0.65
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at End of Period
 
 
1,255,010
 
$
2.76
 
 
5.00
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable at End of Period
 
 
870,810
 
$
2.89
 
 
5.27
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vested and Expected to Vest at End of Period
 
 
870,810
 
$
2.89
 
 
5.27
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-Average
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-Average
 
Contractual Life
 
 
 
Number of Options
 
Exercise Price
 
(In Years)
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at Beginning of Year
 
 
1,277,367
 
$
2.75
 
 
4.94
 
Granted
 
 
355,071
 
 
2.81
 
 
9.50
 
Exercised
 
 
(86,765)
 
 
0.65
 
 
 
 
Forfeited
 
 
(12,362)
 
 
3.93
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at End of Period
 
 
1,533,311
 
$
2.91
 
 
6.44
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exercisable at End of Period
 
 
907,445
 
$
2.84
 
 
4.09
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vested and Expected to Vest at End of Period
 
 
1,533,311
 
$
2.91
 
 
6.44
 
 
On February 24, 2015, the Board approved the issuance of 350,000 stock options under the 2014 Plan to two executives and seven members of the Board. These options vest 25% on the grant date, 25% on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, and the remaining 50% in 24 monthly equal installments thereafter.
 
During the year ended December 31, 2015, and the six months ended June 30, 2016, the Company estimated the volatility of its Common Stock based on the average of published volatilities contained in the most recent audited financial statements of other SEC reporting companies in industries similar to that of the Company. Effective July 1, 2016, the Company determined that the prior methodology for measuring the volatility of its Common Stock was no longer the best estimate of volatility and the Company will measure volatility using its Common Stock volatility. The Company believes that the public market for its Common Stock is the best measure to use as an input in the option pricing model. All future grants of stock options will use the Company’s historic Common Stock volatility.
 
In the first quarter of 2016, the Board approved the grant of options to purchase 210,524 shares of its Common Stock. In the second quarter of 2016, the Board approved the grant of options to purchase 41,732 shares of its Common Stock. In the third quarter of 2016, the Board approved the grant of options to purchase 102,815 shares of Common Stock. All option grants were pursuant to the 2014 Plan. In general, options granted under the 2014 Plan vest 33.33% on the one-year anniversary of the grant date, and the remainder ratably over the 24-month period following the one-year anniversary.
 
The total stock-based compensation expense for employees and non-employees is included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and as follows:
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
September 30,
 
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
Research and Development
 
$
35,692
 
$
189,625
 
General and Administrative
 
 
354,777
 
 
955,231
 
 
 
$
390,469
 
$
1,144,856
 
 
The fair value of options granted for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015 was approximately $720,000 and $1,597,000, respectively. As of September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, there is approximately $1,209,000 and $900,000 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements granted, which cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.35 and 3.13 years, respectively. The Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2016 is approximately $597,000. Options to purchase 86,765 shares of Common Stock options were exercised during 2016. The intrinsic value of the stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, was approximately $207,000 and $127,000, respectively.
 
At September 30, 2016, there were options to purchase 70,076 shares of Common Stock available for grant under the 2014 Plan.