STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION | 8. STOCK‑BASED COMPENSATION Stock Incentive Plans —In December 2009, the Board adopted the 2009 Employee, Director and Consultant Equity Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) for the issuance of common stock and stock options to employees, officers, directors, consultants, and advisors. In July 2017, the Company’s 2017 Also approved under the 2017 Plan is an annual increase for each of the years through December 31, 2027, equal to the least of (i) 3,573,766 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 4% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 31 of the prior year and (iii) an amount determined by the Board. Under the plans, the Board determined the number of shares of common stock to be granted pursuant to the awards, as well as the exercise price and terms of such awards. The exercise price of incentive stock options could not be less than the fair value of the common stock on the date of grant. Stock options awarded under the plans expire 10 years after the grant date, unless the Board sets a shorter term. Options granted under the plans generally vest over a four‑year period. A portion of the unvested stock options will vest upon the sale of all or substantially all of the stock or assets of the Company. In the past, the Company had granted stock options which contain performance‑based vesting criteria. These criteria were milestone events that were specific to the Company’s corporate goals. Stock‑based compensation expense associated with performance‑based stock options is recognized if the achievement of the performance condition is considered probable using management’s best estimates. As of March 31, 2018 there were no performance-based awards outstanding. The Company granted no stock options to non‑employee consultants for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized $11,000 and $15,000, respectively, in stock compensation expense related to non‑employee consultants. A summary of option activity for employee and non‑employee awards under the 2009 Plan and the 2017 Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts): Weighted Weighted Average Average Remaining Aggregate Number of Exercise Contractual Intrinsic Shares Price Term Value (Years) Outstanding at January 1, 2018 $ 6.93 $ 44,578 Granted 12.90 Exercised 1.58 Forfeited 5.99 Outstanding at March 31, 2018 4,489,115 $ 8.01 $ 37,709 Vested or expected to vest at March 31, 2018 4,489,115 $ 8.01 $ 37,709 Options exercisable at March 31, 2018 1,899,615 $ 4.03 $ 22,408 The Company records stock‑based compensation related to stock options granted at fair value. The Company utilizes the Black‑Scholes option‑pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock option grants and to determine the related compensation expense. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock‑based payment awards represent management’s best estimates. There were no stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The assumptions used in determining fair value of the stock options granted in the three months ended March 31, 2018 are as follows: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Expected volatility 82.96% - 83.45% Risk-free interest rate 2.63% - 2.71% Expected dividend yield 0% Expected term (in years) 5.81 - 6.06 The Company derived the risk‑free interest rate assumption from the U.S. Treasury rates for U.S. Treasury zero‑coupon bonds with maturities similar to those of the expected term of the awards being valued. The Company based the assumed dividend yield on its expectation of not paying dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company calculated the weighted‑average expected term of options using the simplified method, as the Company lacks relevant historical data due to the Company’s limited operating experience. The estimated volatility is based upon the historical volatility of comparable companies with publicly available share prices. The impact of forfeitures on compensation expense are recorded as they occur. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the weighted average grant‑date fair value of options granted was $9.25. The fair value is being expensed over the vesting period of the options on a straight‑line basis as the services are being provided. As of March 31, 2018, there was $21.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to the stock options granted, which is expected to be expensed over a weighted‑average period of 3.26 years. Employee Stock Purchase Plan —In 2017, the Company approved the 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). Under the ESPP, participating employees can authorize the Company to withhold a portion of their base pay during consecutive six-month payment periods for the purchase of shares of the Company’s common stock. At the conclusion of the period, participating employees can purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at 85% of the lesser of the closing price of the common stock on (i) the first business day of the plan period or (ii) the exercise date. The initial six-month period will not commence until January 1, 2019. Reserved Shares —As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had reserved the following shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of rights under equity compensation plans: March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 223,341 223,341 2009 Plan 2,832,362 2,868,449 2017 Plan 3,025,468 2,025,633 Total 6,081,171 5,117,423 Stock-based Compensation Expenses —Stock‑based compensation expense was classified in the statements of operations as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Research and development $ 639 $ 187 General and administrative 1,222 335 Total $ 1,861 $ 522 |