months ended June 30, 2020, primarily as a result of the significant increase in grant revenue, increased manufacturing efficiencies, and an increase in average selling prices of our instruments.
Research and Development Expense
Research and development expense increased by $4.9 million, or 57%, to $13.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to $8.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase was primarily due to compensation, development, materials, and other expenses related to work under WP2 incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2021, as well as increased overall headcount in research and development.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expense
Selling, general and administrative expense increased by $12.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily due to headcount additions in various departments as we build out our organization to support growth.
Interest (Expense) Income, Net and Other Income (Expense), Net
Interest (expense) income, net and other income (expense), net was income of $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, as compared to expense of $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, primarily due to other income of $2.1 million recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2021 related to an employee retention tax credit established under the CARES Act.
Income Tax Benefit
Income tax benefit decreased by $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. The change is primarily due to the decrease in the tax benefit recorded on the operating results of our foreign subsidiaries.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
To date, we have financed our operations principally through equity offerings, borrowings from credit facilities and revenue from our commercial operations.
Equity Offerings
On August 6, 2020, we entered into an underwriting agreement Leerink and Cowen, as representatives of the several underwriters, relating to an underwritten public offering of approximately 3.0 million shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share. The underwritten public offering resulted in gross proceeds of $97.6 million. We incurred $6.2 million in issuance costs associated with the underwritten public offering, resulting in net proceeds of $91.4 million.
On February 3, 2021, we entered into an underwriting agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Leerink, and Cowen, as representatives of the several underwriters, relating to an underwritten public offering of 4,107,142 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $70.00 per share. We received $287.5 million in gross proceeds and approximately $269.7 million in net proceeds.
Loan Facility with Hercules
On April 14, 2014, we executed a loan agreement with Hercules Capital, Inc. (Hercules), as subsequently amended most recently in April 2019. As of June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, our outstanding long term debt balance was $7.7 million. The interest rate on this term loan was variable based on a calculation of 8% plus the prime rate less 5.25%, with a minimum interest rate of 8%. Interest was to be paid monthly beginning the month following the