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SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION  
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

10. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The following is a summary of share-based compensation expenses reported in the consolidated condensed statements of operations and comprehensive loss for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024:

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

2025

 

2024

 

2025

 

2024

Research and Development

 

$

-

 

$

600,000

 

$

-

 

$

3,227,300

General and Administrative Expenses

 

 

79,000

 

 

68,974

 

 

344,383

 

 

319,709

Total Share-Based Compensation Expense Included in Operating Expenses

 

$

79,000

 

$

668,974

 

$

344,383

 

$

3,547,009

 

Share-Based Compensation under 2022 Equity Incentive Plan

 

On November 22, 2022, the Company adopted the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”), which provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards to eligible employees, directors and consultants, to be granted from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company. To date, the Company has granted shares of common stock, restricted stock units, stock options to employees, non-employees, and directors under the 2022 Plan. As of September 30, 2025, the number of remaining shares available for issuance under the 2022 Plan is equal to 57,068.

 

Stock Options

 

The Company grants stock options to employees, non-employees, and directors with exercise prices equal to the closing price of the underlying shares of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the date that the options are granted. Options granted generally have a term of five to ten years from the grant date and are subject to vesting as determined in the individual award agreement. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options on the grant date by applying the Black-Scholes option pricing valuation model.

 

There were no stock options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2025. During the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the Company granted a total of 120,000 stock options to two executives at a per share exercise price of $6.55. These options are subject to vesting annually in five equal tranches, with the first 20% tranche fully vested on the date of grant and thereafter, vest on the last date of each fiscal year beginning December 31, 2025. The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 was $4.55.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, Company granted a total of 17,005 stock options at a weighted average per share exercise price of $54.62. The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $8.78.

 

The following table summarizes the significant assumptions used in determining the fair value of options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024:

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30,

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2025

 

2024

 

2025

 

2024

Weighted-average grant date fair value

$

 N/A

 

$

8.78

 

$

4.55

 

$

8.78

Risk-free interest rate

 

 N/A

 

 

3.62% - 4.17%

 

 

4.36%

 

 

3.62% - 4.17%

Expected volatility

 

 N/A

 

 

86.00% - 87.00%

 

 

90.00%

 

 

86.00% - 87.00%

Expected term (years)

 

 N/A

 

 

6.41 - 10.00

 

 

4.50

 

 

6.41 - 10.00

Expected dividend yield

 

 N/A

 

 

0.00%

 

 

0.00%

 

 

0.00%

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $34,882 and $15,246 of compensation expense related to stock option awards, respectively ($212,030 and $15,246 for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively).

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

Compensation cost for service-based RSUs is based on the grant date fair value of the award, which is the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date multiplied by the number of shares awarded.

 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024, 0 shares of common stock underlying RSUs vested and no RSUs were granted. The Company recognized $0 of compensation expense related to vested RSUs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.

 

Annual Performance Bonus

  

In December 2024, the Board approved the payment of 2024 performance bonuses to executives of the Company. Each executive was provided the option of receiving up to $20,000 in cash, with the remainder paid in shares of common stock determined based on the closing market price on January 2, 2025. On January 20, 2025, the Company issued a total of 15,809 shares of common stock to the executives in settlement of the share-based portion of the 2024 performance bonuses. Approximately 2,748 shares were withheld to cover payroll tax withholdings. 

 

Share-Based Payments to Vendors for Services

 

In 2023, the Company issued shares of common stock as share-based payments to certain vendors in exchange for services to be rendered to the Company in the future. For fully vested, nonforfeitable equity instruments that are granted at the date the Company and a nonemployee enter into an agreement for goods or services, the Company recognizes the fair value of the equity instruments as a prepaid asset on the grant date, as defined in ASC 718. The corresponding cost is expensed over the service period depending on the specific facts and circumstances of the agreement with the nonemployee. As of September 30, 2025, the remaining unamortized balance of prepaid assets related to these share-based payments for which the grant date criteria has been met and the services are expected to be rendered within one year is $240,004 ($306,181 at December 31, 2024), which is presented as a component of prepaid and other assets on the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets. The unamortized balance of noncurrent prepaid assets related to these share-based payments for which the services are expected to be rendered beyond one year is $0 ($66,176 at December 31, 2024), reported in long-term prepaid expense on the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets.

 

The agreements with the nonemployees do not include any provisions to claw back the share-based payments in the event of nonperformance by the nonemployees. Subject to applicable federal and state securities laws, the nonemployees can sell the received equity instruments.