Note 6. Stock-Based Compensation

We currently grant stock-based compensation under two equity incentive plans (2006 and 2013 Equity Incentive Plans) approved by the Company’s stockholders and one plan adopted in 2012 pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) concerning inducement grants for new employees (our “2012 Commencement Incentive Plan”). As of March 31, 2016, we had 1,016,949 shares available to grant under the above mentioned plans. At our annual stockholders’ meeting held on June 12, 2007, our stockholders approved an amendment to our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to provide for an annual increase in the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the plan each January 1 (beginning January 1, 2008) equal to 4% of the outstanding common shares as of that date. The amendment further provided an aggregate limit of 250,000 shares issuable pursuant to incentive stock option awards under the plan. At our annual stockholders’ meeting held on December 20, 2013, our stockholders approved our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan to grant stock-based compensation of up to an initial 500,000 shares, plus an increase of 4% per year of the outstanding number of shares of our common stock beginning in January 1, 2015. Under the three stockholder-approved plans we may grant incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, 401(k) Plan employer match in form of shares and performance-based shares to our employees, directors and consultants, at prices determined by our Board of Directors. Incentive stock options may only be granted to employees under these plans with a grant price not less than the fair market value on the date of grant. Under our 2012 Commencement Inducement Plan, we may only award options, restricted stock units and other equity awards to newly hired employees and newly engaged directors, in each case as allowed by NASDAQ listing requirements.

Generally, stock options and restricted stock units granted to employees have a maximum term of ten years. Stock based awards may vest over a period of time from the date of grant or upon the attainment of certain performance goals established by the Compensation Committee or the Single Member Committee established under our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and our 2013 Equity Incentive Plan. Upon employee termination of service, any unexercised vested option will be forfeited three months following termination or the expiration of the option, whichever is earlier.

Our stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31 was as follows:


	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2016			2015
Research and development expense	$	313,378		$	583,669
General and administrative expense		1,539,048			725,225

Total stock-based compensation	$	1,852,426		$	1,308,894

Effect on basic and diluted net loss per share	$	(0.19	)	$	(0.23	)

As of March 31, 2016, we had approximately $4,355,000 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested awards of stock options and restricted stock units granted under our various equity incentive plans that we expect to recognize over a weighted-average vesting period of 1.5 years.

Stock Options

A summary of our stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is as follows:


	Number of options			Weighted-average exercise price ($) per share
Outstanding options at December 31, 2015		173,261			34.80
Granted		10,000			3.60
Exercised		—			—
Cancelled		(27,430	)		34.20

Outstanding options at March 31, 2016		155,831			32.76

The following is a summary of changes in unvested options:


Unvested Options	Number of Options			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Unvested options at December 31, 2015		140,000		$	8.28
Granted(1)		10,000		$	3.60
Vested		—		$	145.68
Cancelled		(25,417	)	$	8.52

Unvested options at March 31, 2016		124,583		$	7.92

(1)	The 10,000 options granted are performance based and vest on achievement of predefined milestones.

Restricted Stock Units

We have granted restricted stock units (RSUs) to certain employees and members of the Board of Directors which entitle the holders to receive shares of our common stock upon vesting of the RSUs. The fair value of restricted stock units granted is based upon the market price of the underlying common stock as if it were vested and issued on the date of grant.

A summary of changes in our unvested restricted stock units for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is as follows:


	Number of RSUs			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ($)
Outstanding at December 31, 2015		687,613			14.52
Granted(1)		277,210			3.84
Vested and exercised		(217,919	)		14.52
Cancelled		(34,875	)		13.68

Outstanding at March 31, 2016		712,029			10.44

(1)	Of the 277,210 restricted stock units issued, 73,171 restricted stock units vest and convert into shares of our common stock after one year from the date of grant. 204,039 restricted stock units are performance based and vest on achievement of predefined milestones.

Stock Appreciation Rights

In July 2006, we granted cash-settled Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) to certain employees that give the holder the right, upon exercise, to the difference between the price per share of our common stock at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the SARs.

The SARs have a maximum term of ten years with an exercise price of $240.00, which is equal to the market price of our common stock at the date of grant. The SARs vest 25% on the first anniversary of the grant date and 75% vest monthly over the remaining three-year service period. At March 31, 2016 and 2015, there were 9,217 SARs outstanding. All of the outstanding SARs as of March 31, 2016 are fully vested. There were no SARs granted, exercised or forfeited during the three months ended March 31, 2016. Compensation expense is based on the fair value of SARs which is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The stock-based compensation expense and liability are re-measured at each reporting date through the earlier of date of settlement or forfeiture of the SARs. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the re-measured liability and expense for the respective periods related to the SARs were not significant.

The compensation expense related to the SARs recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2016 may not be representative of compensation expense for future periods and its resulting effect on net loss and net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, due to changes in the fair value calculation which is dependent on the stock price, volatility, interest and forfeiture rates, additional grants and subsequent periods of vesting. We will continue to recognize compensation cost each period, which will be the change in fair value from the previous period through the earlier date of settlement or forfeiture of the SARs.