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1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 12 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] | 1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ORGANIZATION Aethlon Medical, Inc. ("Aethlon", the "Company", "we" or "us") is a medical device company focused on creating innovative devices that address unmet medical needs in cancer, infectious disease and other life-threatening conditions. At the core of our developments is the Aethlon ADAPT™ (Adaptive Dialysis-Like Affinity Platform Technology) system, a medical device platform that converges single or multiple affinity drug agents with advanced plasma membrane technology to create therapeutic filtration devices that selectively remove harmful particles from the entire circulatory system without loss of essential blood components. Approval to embark on human trials is still needed to reach commercial viability of the Hemopurifier® and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). Successful outcomes of human trials will be required by the regulatory agencies of certain foreign countries where we intend to sell this device. We have submitted an Investigational Device Exemption ("IDE") to the FDA. Some of our patents may expire before FDA approval or approval in a foreign country, if any, is obtained. However, we believe that certain patent applications and/or other patents issued more recently will help protect the proprietary nature of the Hemopurifier(R) treatment technology. In prior years, Aethlon was classified as a development stage enterprise under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") as it had not generated revenues from its planned principal operations. In the three months ended December 31, 2011, we began to generate revenues from a government contract with the Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the U.S. Department of Defense and have emerged from the development stage. Subsequent to December 31, 2011, we recorded the first commercial shipment of one of our products to a life sciences company for diagnostics use. Our common stock is quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("OTCBB") under the symbol "AEMD.OB." PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aethlon Medical, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Exosome Sciences, Inc. (collectively hereinafter referred to as the "Company" or "Aethlon"). All intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation. GOING CONCERN The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. We have incurred continuing losses from operations, are in default on certain debt agreements, and have negative working capital of approximately $9,438,000, and an accumulated deficit of approximately $56,583,000 at March 31, 2012. These factors, among other matters, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. A significant amount of additional capital will be necessary to advance the development of our products to the point at which they may become commercially viable. We intend to fund operations, working capital and other cash requirements (consisting of accounts payable, accrued liabilities, amounts due to related parties and amounts due under various notes payable) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013 through debt and/or equity financing arrangements as well as through the receipts under our DARPA contract (See Note 14). We are currently addressing our liquidity issue by seeking additional investment capital through private placements of common stock and debt and by applying for additional grants issued by government agencies in the United States. We believe that our cash on hand and funds expected to be received from additional private investment and/or government grants will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs for fiscal 2013. However, no assurance can be given that we will receive any funds in addition to the funds it has received to date. The successful outcome of future activities cannot be determined at this time and there is no assurance that, if achieved, we will have sufficient funds to execute our intended business plan or generate positive operating results. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to this uncertainty and as to the recoverability and classification of asset carrying amounts or the amount and classification of liabilities that might result should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES We operate in an industry that is subject to intense competition, government regulation and rapid technological change. Our operations are subject to significant risk and uncertainties including financial, operational, technological, regulatory, and including the potential risk of business failure. USE OF ESTIMATES We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates made by management include, among others, revenue recognition, realization of long-lived assets, valuation of derivative liabilities, estimating fair value associated with debt and equity transactions and valuation of deferred tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS Accounting standards define "cash and cash equivalents" as any short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. For the purpose of financial statement presentation, we consider all highly liquid investment instruments with original maturities of three months or less when purchased, or any investment redeemable without penalty or loss of interest to be cash equivalents. As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, we had no assets that were classified as cash equivalents. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The carrying amount of our cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximates their estimated fair values due to the short-term maturities of those financial instruments. The carrying amount of the note receivable and notes payable approximates their fair value due to the short maturity of the notes and as the interest rate approximates current market interest rates for similar instruments. Derivative liabilities recorded in connection with warrants and embedded conversion features of certain convertible notes payable are reported at their estimated fair value, with changes in fair value being reported in results of operations (see Note 13). Management has concluded that it is not practical to determine the estimated fair value of amounts due to related parties because the transactions cannot be assumed to have been consummated at arm's length, the terms are not deemed to be market terms, there are no quoted values available for these instruments, and an independent valuation would not be practicable due to the lack of data regarding similar instruments, if any, and the associated potential costs. We do not have any assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and, during the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, did not have any assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis except as described in Note 13 under the derivative liabilities. CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISKS Cash is maintained at two financial institutions in checking accounts and related cash management accounts. In October 2008, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") increased the maximum level of deposit insurance at financial institutions from $100,000 to $250,000. Our cash balances were below such insured amounts at both March 31, 2012 and 2011. All of our accounts receivable at March 31, 2012 and virtually all of our revenue in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 were from the U.S. Department of Defense. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from two to five years. Repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred while improvements are capitalized. Upon the sale or retirement of property and equipment, the accounts are relieved of the cost and the related accumulated depreciation with any gain or loss included in the consolidated statements of operations. INCOME TAXES Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the difference between the consolidated financial statements and their respective tax basis. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts reported for income tax purposes, and (b) tax credit carryforwards. We record a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when, based on our best estimate of taxable income (if any) in the foreseeable future, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. LONG-LIVED ASSETS Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If the cost basis of a long-lived asset is greater than the projected future undiscounted net cash flows from such asset, an impairment loss is recognized. We believe no impairment charges were necessary during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. LOSS PER SHARE Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period of computation. Diluted loss per share is computed similar to basic loss per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potential common shares had been issued, if such additional common shares were dilutive. As we had net losses for all periods presented, basic and diluted loss per share are the same, and additional potential common shares have been excluded as their effect would be antidilutive. As of March 31, 2012 and 2011, a total of 130,756,916 and 79,533,432 potential common shares, consisting of shares underlying outstanding stock options, warrants and convertible notes payable were excluded as their inclusion would be antidilutive. SEGMENTS We currently operate in one segment, and accordingly, no additional segment related disclosures are required. DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS Costs related to the issuance of debt are capitalized and amortized to interest expense over the life of the related debt using the effective interest method. We recorded amortization expense related to our deferred offering costs of $404,614 and $322,191 during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. REVENUE RECOGNITION With respect to revenue recognition, we entered into a government contract with DARPA and have recognized revenue during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 of $1,358,189 under such contract. We adopted the Milestone method of revenue recognition for the DARPA contract under ASC 605-28 “Revenue Recognition – Milestone Method” and we believe we meet the requirements under ASC 605-28 for reporting contract revenue under the Milestone Method for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. In order to account for this contract, the Company identifies the deliverables included within the contract and evaluates which deliverables represent separate units of accounting based on if certain criteria are met, including whether the delivered element has standalone value to the collaborator. The consideration received is allocated among the separate units of accounting, and the applicable revenue recognition criteria are applied to each of the separate units. A milestone is an event having all of the following characteristics: (1) There is substantive uncertainty at the date the arrangement is entered into that the event will be achieved. A vendor’s assessment that it expects to achieve a milestone does not necessarily mean that there is not substantive uncertainty associated with achieving the milestone. (2) The event can only be achieved based in whole or in part on either: (a) the vendor’s performance; or (b) a specific outcome resulting from the vendor’s performance. (3) If achieved, the event would result in additional payments being due to the vendor. F-11 AETHLON MEDICAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MARCH 31, 2012 AND 2011 A milestone does not include events for which the occurrence is either: (a) contingent solely upon the passage of time; or (b) the result of a counterparty’s performance. The policy for recognizing deliverable consideration contingent upon achievement of a milestone must be applied consistently to similar deliverables. The assessment of whether a milestone is substantive is performed at the inception of the arrangement. The consideration earned from the achievement of a milestone must meet all of the following for the milestone to be considered substantive: (1) The consideration is commensurate with either: (a) the vendor’s performance to achieve the milestone; or (b) the enhancement of the value of the delivered item or items as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the vendor’s performance to achieve the milestone; (2) The consideration relates solely to past performance; and (3) The consideration is reasonable relative to all of the deliverables and payment terms (including other potential milestone consideration) within the arrangement. A milestone is not considered substantive if any portion of the associated milestone consideration relates to the remaining deliverables in the unit of accounting (i.e., it does not relate solely to past performance). To recognize the milestone consideration in its entirety as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved, the milestone must be substantive in its entirety. Milestone consideration cannot be bifurcated into substantive and nonsubstantive components. In addition, if a portion of the consideration earned from achieving a milestone may be refunded or adjusted based on future performance, the related milestone is not considered substantive. See Note 14 for the additional disclosure information required under ASC 605-28. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION Employee stock options and rights to purchase shares under stock participation plans are accounted for under the fair value method. Accordingly, share-based compensation is measured when all granting activities have been completed, generally the grant date, based on the fair value of the award. The exercise price of options is generally equal to the market price of the Company's common stock (defined as the closing price as quoted on the OTCBB on the date of grant. Compensation cost recognized by the Company includes (a) compensation cost for all equity incentive awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of April 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of the then current accounting standards, and (b) compensation cost for all equity incentive awards granted subsequent to April 1, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of subsequent accounting standards. We use a Binomial Lattice option pricing model for estimating fair value of options granted (see Note 6). The following table summarizes share-based compensation expenses relating to shares and options granted and the effect on loss per common share during the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
|  | March 31, 2012 |  |  | March 31, 2011 |
Vesting of Stock Options |  | $ | 436,742 |  |  | $ | 961,340 |
Incremental fair value of option Modifications |  |  | -- |  |  |  | 491,377 |
Vesting Expense Associated with CEO Restricted Stock Grant |  |  | 322,222 |  |  |  | 322,222 |
Total Stock-Based Compensation Expense |  | $ | 758,964 |  |  | $ | 1,774,939 |
Basic and diluted loss per common share |  | $ | (0.01 | ) |  | $ | (0.02 | )
We account for transactions involving services provided by third parties where we issue equity instruments as part of the total consideration using the fair value of the consideration received (i.e. the value of the goods or services) or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. In transactions, when the value of the goods and/or services are not readily determinable and (1) the fair value of the equity instruments is more reliably measurable and (2) the counterparty receives equity instruments in full or partial settlement of the transactions, we use the following methodology: a) For transactions where goods have already been delivered or services rendered, the equity instruments are issued on or about the date the performance is complete (and valued on the date of issuance). b) For transactions where the instruments are issued on a fully vested, non-forfeitable basis, the equity instruments are valued on or about the date of the contract. c) For any transactions not meeting the criteria in (a) or (b) above, we re-measure the consideration at each reporting date based on its then current stock value. We review share-based compensation on a quarterly basis for changes to the estimate of expected award forfeitures based on actual forfeiture experience. The effect of adjusting the forfeiture rate for all expense amortization after March 31, 2006 is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed. The effect of forfeiture adjustments for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 was insignificant. PATENTS Patents include both foreign and domestic patents. There were several patents pending at March 31, 2012. We capitalize the cost of patents and patents pending, some of which were acquired, and amortize such costs over the shorter of the remaining legal life or their estimated economic life, upon issuance of the patent. The unamortized costs of patents and patents pending is written off when we determine there is no future benefit to those assets. STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS We granted warrants in connection with the issuance of convertible notes payable and the issuance of common stock for cash. When such warrants are classified as equity, we measure the relative estimated fair value of such warrants which represents a discount from the face amount of the convertible notes payable. Such discounts are amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS We evaluate free-standing derivative instruments (or embedded derivatives) to properly classify such instruments within equity or as liabilities in our financial statements. Our policy is to settle instruments indexed to our common shares on a first-in-first-out basis. The classification of a derivative instrument is reassessed at each reporting date. If the classification changes as a result of events during a reporting period, the instrument is reclassified as of the date of the event that caused the reclassification. There is no limit on the number of times a contract may be reclassified. Instruments classified as derivative liabilities are remeasured each reporting period (or upon reclassification) and the change in fair value is recorded on our consolidated statement of operations in other (income) expense. BENEFICIAL CONVERSION FEATURE OF CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE The convertible feature of certain notes payable provides for a rate of conversion that is below market value. Such feature is normally characterized as a "Beneficial Conversion Feature" ("BCF"). We measure the estimated fair value of the BCF in circumstances in which the conversion feature is not required to be separated from the host instrument and accounted for separately, and record that value in the consolidated financial statements as a discount from the face amount of the notes. Such discounts are amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. REGISTRATION PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS We account for contingent obligations to make future payments or otherwise transfer consideration under a registration payment arrangement separately from any related financing transaction agreements, and any such contingent obligations are recognized only when it is determined that it is probable that the Company will become obligated for future payments and the amount, or range of amounts, of such future payments can be reasonably estimated (see Note 8). RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES We incurred approximately $1,088,000 and $440,000 of research and development expenses for the years ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which are included in various operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our consolidated financial statements. SIGNIFICANT RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS Management has evaluated significant recent accounting pronouncements that are not yet effective for the Company and does not believe any such pronouncements will have a significant effect on the Company’s present or future consolidated financial statements.

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