Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

STOCK OPTIONS

v3.21.1
STOCK OPTIONS
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
STOCK OPTIONS

 

13. STOCK OPTIONS

 

In April 2014, the Company adopted the Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”). Pursuant to the 2014 Plan, the Company’s Board of Directors may grant incentive and nonqualified stock options and restricted stock to employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors.

 

Pursuant to the terms of an annual evergreen provision in the 2014 Plan, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2014 Plan shall automatically increase on January 1 of each year by at least seven percent (7%) of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year, or, pursuant to the terms of the 2014 Plan, in any year, the Board of Directors may determine that such increase will provide for a lesser number of shares.

 

In accordance with the terms of the 2014 Plan, and pursuant to the annual evergreen provision contained in the 2014 plan, effective as of January 1, 2020, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2014 Plan increased by 4,527,103 shares, which was seven percent (7%) of the outstanding shares of common stock on December 31, 2019. As of January 1, 2020, there was a total of 23,070,842 shares reserved for issuance under the 2014 plan and there were 8,540,939 shares available for future grants. As of March 31, 2020 there were 5,621,910 shares available for future grants.

 

In accordance with the terms of the 2014 Plan, and pursuant to the annual evergreen provision contained in the 2014 Plan, effective as of January 1, 2021, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2014 Plan increased by 2,500,000 shares, which was less than seven percent (7%) of the outstanding shares of common stock on December 31, 2020. As of January 1, 2021, there was a total of 25,570,842 shares reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan and there were 9,869,051 shares available for future grants. As of March 31, 2021 there were 4,941,899 shares available for future grants.

 

 

Stock-based Compensation

 

For stock options issued and outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, the Company recorded non-cash, stock-based compensation expense of $2,580,402 and $3,137,519, net of estimated forfeitures.

 

Stock-based compensation expense was classified in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as follows:

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2021     2020  
             
Research and development expenses   $ 887,077     $ 1,364,890  
General and administrative expenses     1,693,325       1,772,629  
Total stock-based compensation   $ 2,580,402     $ 3,137,519  

 

The fair value of each option award for employees is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table. Our expected stock price volatility assumptions are based on the historical volatility of our stock over periods that are similar to the expected terms of the grants. The Company uses historical data, as well as subsequent events occurring prior to the issuance of the financial statements, to estimate option exercises and employee terminations in order to estimate its forfeiture rate. The expected term of options granted under the 2014 Plan, all of which qualify as “plain vanilla” per SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 107, is determined based on the simplified method due to the Company’s limited operating history and is 6.25 years based on the average between the vesting period and the contractual life of the option. For non-employee options, the expected term is the contractual term. The risk-free rate is based on the yield of a U.S. Treasury security with a term consistent with the option.

 

The weighted average assumptions used principally in determining the fair value of options granted to employees were as follows:

    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2021     2020  
Risk free interest rate     0.66 %     0.65 %
Expected dividend yield     0 %     0 %
Expected term in years     6.25       6.25  
Estimated Forfeiture Rate     9.00 %     6.37 %
Expected volatility     103.85 %     82.9 %

 

A summary of option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and is presented below:

 SUMMARY OF OPTION ACTIVITY

Options   Shares     Weighted Average
Exercise Price
   

Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term in Years

    Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2020     14,289,643     $ 5.15                  
Granted     5,996,800       2.58                  
Exercised     (788,600 )     1.13                  
Forfeited     (1,069,648 )     5.57                  
Outstanding at March 31, 2021     18,428,195     $ 4.46       7.48     $ 2,841,774  
Vested at March 31, 2021     9,412,878     $ 5.16       5.68     $ 2,758,524  
Vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2021     17,222,580     $ 4.56       7.33     $ 2,830,060  

 

 

 

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $2.09 and $3.20 per share, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was approximately $1,735,214 and $936,115, respectively. The total fair value of options that were vested as of three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $36,311,140 and $28,661,461, respectively. As of March 31, 2021, there was approximately $21,384,572 of total unrecognized compensation expense, related to non-vested share-based option compensation arrangements. The unrecognized compensation expense is estimated to be recognized over a period of 2.95 years as of March 31, 2021.