Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

v2.4.0.8
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]
4.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
 
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to calculate the grant-date fair value of stock option awards.  The resulting compensation expense, net of expected forfeitures, for non-performance based awards is recognized on a straight-line basis over the service period of the award, which is generally three years for stock options.  For stock options with performance-based vesting provisions, recognition of compensation expense, net of expected forfeitures, commences if and when the achievement of the performance criteria is deemed probable.  The compensation expense, net of expected forfeitures, for performance-based stock options is recognized over the relevant performance period.  Evaluation of the probability of meeting performance targets is evaluated at the end of each reporting period.  Non-employee stock-based compensation is accounted for in accordance with the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 505, Equity.  As such, the Company recognizes expense based on the estimated fair value of options granted to non-employees over their vesting period, which is generally the period during which services are rendered and deemed completed by such non-employees.
 
The following table summarizes amounts charged to expense for stock-based compensation related to employee and director stock-option grants and stock-based compensation recorded in connection with stock options granted to non-employee consultants:
 
 
 
Three Months Ended 
September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended   
September 30,
 
Cumulative 
Development-
Stage Period 
from 
November 7, 
2002 through 
September 30,
 
 
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
2012
 
2013
 
Employee and director stock option grants:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Research and development
 
$
84,949
 
$
78,627
 
$
297,561
 
$
234,816
 
$
1,105,822
 
General and administrative
 
 
206,449
 
 
249,562
 
 
782,731
 
 
747,808
 
 
3,941,523
 
 
 
 
291,398
 
 
328,189
 
 
1,080,292
 
 
982,624
 
 
5,047,345
 
Non-employee consultant stock option grants:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Research and development
 
 
5,812
 
 
3,896
 
 
10,134
 
 
85,265
 
 
126,170
 
General and administrative
 
 
464
 
 
4,351
 
 
11,039
 
 
92,022
 
 
286,120
 
 
 
 
6,276
 
 
8,247
 
 
21,173
 
 
177,287
 
 
412,290
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total stock-based compensation
 
$
297,674
 
$
336,436
 
$
1,101,465
 
$
1,159,911
 
$
5,459,635
 
 
During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company granted options to purchase 167,550 shares of common stock pursuant to performance-based awards to its chief executive officer.  No compensation expense was recognized related to the performance-based awards as the award was forfeited in January 2013 when the milestones were not met.
 
The following table summarizes weighted-average values and assumptions used for options granted to employees, directors and consultants in the periods indicated:
 
 
 
Three Months
Ended
September 30,
2013
 
 
Nine Months
Ended 
September 30,
2013
 
 
Three and Nine
Months Ended
September 30, 2012
 
Volatility
 
 
109
%
 
 
109
%
 
 
115
%
Risk-free interest rate
 
 
1.82
%
 
 
0.915% - 1.82
%
 
 
0.925
%
Expected life (years)
 
 
6.0
 
 
 
6.0
 
 
 
6.0
 
Dividend
 
 
0
%
 
 
0
%
 
 
0
%
Weighted-average exercise price
 
$
0.43
 
 
$
0.47
 
 
$
1.00
 
Weighted-average grant-date fair value
 
$
0.36
 
 
$
0.39
 
 
$
0.85
 
 
The Company granted 140,000 and 24,000 stock options during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and granted 160,000 and 24,000 in the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, under the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.  All grants were equal to the market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant.
 
Stock Option Activity
 
A summary of stock option activity under stock option plans is as follows:
 
 
 
 
Number of  
Shares  
Issuable Upon  
Exercise of  
Outstanding  
Options
 
Weighted  
Average  
Exercise Price
 
Weighted  
Average  
Remaining  
Contracted  
Term in  
Years
 
Aggregate  
Intrinsic  
Value
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2012
 
 
6,439,188
 
$
1.52
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Granted
 
 
160,000
 
$
0.47
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forfeited
 
 
(338,386)
 
$
0.81
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expired
 
 
(156,135)
 
$
2.47
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2013
 
 
6,104,667
 
$
1.51
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vested, September 30, 2013
 
 
3,674,390
 
$
1.96
 
 
7.95
 
$
—
 
Unvested, September 30, 2013
 
 
2,430,277
 
$
0.83
 
 
8.67
 
$
—
 
Exercisable at September 30, 2013
 
 
3,674,390
 
$
1.96
 
 
7.95
 
$
—
 
 
 
The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding is calculated based on the positive difference between the estimated per-share fair value of common stock at the end of the respective period and the exercise price of the underlying options.  There have been no option exercises to date. Shares of common stock issued upon the exercise of options are from authorized but unissued shares.
 
As of September 30, 2013, there was $1,531,476 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements.  Of this total amount, the Company expects to recognize $861,519, $476,130, $192,760 and $1,067 during 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, respectively.  The Company expects 2,430,277 in unvested options to vest in the future.  The weighted-average grant-date fair value of vested and unvested options outstanding at September 30, 2013 was $0.93 per share and $0.69 per share, respectively.