Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Stock-Based Compensation

v3.22.2.2
Stock-Based Compensation
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 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 September 30, 2022, 220,733 shares of common stock were authorized to be awarded and 204,048 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 and nine months ended September 30 are as follows:

Three months ended September 30

Nine months ended September 30

    

2022

    

2021

    

2022

    

2021

Research and Development

$

19,625

$

35,552

78,786

176,357

General and Administrative

110,528

113,917

338,542

452,949

Total Stock-Based Compensation Expense

$

130,153

$

149,469

417,328

629,306

Stock Options

The Company grants time-based stock options which generally 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 nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 is shown in the following table.

2022

2021

Risk-Free Interest Rate

    

2.42

%

  

1.82

%

Expected Life (years)

 

5.00

 

10.00

Expected Stock Price Volatility

 

140

%

 

141

%

Expected Dividend Yield

 

%

 

%

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $27.02 and $170.39, respectively. 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 $0.429 million as of September 30, 2022 and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.80 years.

Following is a summary of stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2022:

Weighted-Average

Number of

Weighted- Average

Remaining

   

Options

   

Exercise Price

   

Term in Years

Outstanding at December 31, 2021

 

12,952

$

426.09

 

5.46

Granted

 

6,516

$

30.40

 

Expired/Forfeited

 

(6,818)

$

447.05

Outstanding at September 30, 2022

 

12,650

$

210.97

 

8.52

Exercisable and vested at September 30, 2022

 

3,868

$

540.91

 

7.09

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2020

 

6,249

$

840.88

 

3.40

Granted

 

6,654

$

191.99

 

Expired/Forfeited

(1,035)

$

454.83

Outstanding at September 30, 2021

 

11,868

$

510.74

 

4.67

Exercisable and vested at September 30, 2021

 

5,072

$

937.37

 

3.25

The stock options outstanding and exercisable as of September 30, 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 $6.15, the closing price of the Company’s stock on September 30, 2022.

Restricted Stock Awards

There were no grants of time-based restricted stock awards during the three and nine months ended September 30, 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 nine months ended September 30, 2022:

Weighted- Average

Number of

Weighted- Average

Remaining

   

Units

   

Grant Date Fair Value

   

Term in Years

Non-vested at December 31, 2021

 

376

$

261.47

 

1.09

Vested

 

(246)

$

261.58

 

Forfeited

(127)

$

261.51

Non-vested at September 30, 2022

 

2

$

245.63

 

0.34

Non-vested Outstanding at December 31, 2020

 

1,697

$

283.23

 

1.66

Vested

(1,094)

$

294.84

Forfeited

 

(149)

$

264.04

 

Non-vested Outstanding at September 30, 2021

 

454

$

261.54

 

1.35

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 284 aggregate shares of the Company’s common stock for participants to purchase. As of September 30, 2022, the remaining 191 shares are reserved for future offerings.