Operating Expenses
Overview
Total operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were $2,295,173 as compared to $3,007,767 for the three months ended June 30, 2020, a decrease of approximately 24%. The decrease in total operating expenses is due primarily to increases in our general and administrative expenses offset by an increase in research and development expenses.
Research and Development Expenses
For the three months ended June 30, 2021, we incurred $986,280 in research and development expenses as compared to $600,065 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. These expenses were incurred pursuant to developing the potential AD therapeutic product, specifically expenses relating to the recently initiated Phase 2 clinical trial for AD. Of these expenses, for the three months ended June 30, 2021, $834,080 was incurred principally relating to our current confirmatory clinical trial and related storage of drug product, $93,203 for clinical consulting services, $7,479 of amortization of prepaid licensing fees relating to the Stanford and Mount Sinai license agreements, $15,755 for development of alternative drug supply with Stanford University and $35,763 of non-cash stock options compensation expense as compared to, for the three months ended June 30, 2020, $282,095 was incurred principally relating to our confirmatory clinical trial and related storage of drug product, $141,614 for clinical consulting services, $7,480 of amortization of prepaid licensing fees relating to the Stanford and Mount Sinai license agreements, $7,234 for development of alternative drug supply with Stanford University and $161,642 of non-cash stock options compensation expense.
We expect our research and development expenses to substantially increase, in the short term, as our current Phase 2 clinical trial for AD was initiated approximately six months ago. Other development expenses might increase, as our resources permit, in order to advance our potential products. We are continuing to determine how to proceed with respect to our other current development programs for Bryostatin-1.
General and Administrative Expenses
We incurred $1,308,893 and $2,407,702 of general and administrative expenses for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, a decrease of approximately 45.6%. Of the amounts for the three months ended June 30, 2021, as compared to the comparable 2020 period: $237,337 was incurred primarily for wages, bonuses, vacation pay, severance, taxes and insurance, versus $386,029 for the 2020 comparable period. The decrease is primarily attributable to the termination of our Chief Executive Officer at the end of 2020; $233,822 was incurred for legal expenses versus $950,906 for the 2020 comparable period. The decrease for 2021 is based upon one-time work associated with our strategic alternatives, planning, restructuring and spin-off of Synaptogenix, Inc. in 2020; $363,854 was incurred for outside operations consulting services, versus $398,831 for the 2020 comparable period as, for 2020, we incurred additional non-cash expenses associated with warrant issuances for investment banking consulting services; $17,417 was incurred for travel expenses, versus $1,758 for the 2020 comparable period, which increase is primarily attributable to increased travel due to the COVID-19 contagion vaccinations resulting in lower infection rates; $89,459 was incurred for investor relations services versus $89,212 for the 2020 comparable period, which additional expenses during 2021 were primarily attributable to non-cash compensation paid to advisors and an increase in our market exposure; $38,268 was incurred for professional fees associated with auditing, financial, accounting and tax advisory services, versus $124,923 for the 2020 comparable period, which additional expenses during the 2020 period were incurred for fees associated with our strategic transactions; $165,437 was incurred for insurance, versus $154,083 for the 2020 comparable period, which increase is primarily attributable to an increase in coverage; $47,510 was incurred for utilities, supplies, license fees, filing costs, rent, advertising and other versus $59,322 for the 2020 comparable period, and $115,789 was recorded as non-cash stock options compensation expense versus $242,638 for the 2020 comparable period.
Other Income / Expense
We earned $1,331 of interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2021 as compared to $75,641 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 on funds deposited in interest bearing money market accounts. The decrease is primarily attributable to the decrease in money market interest income rates partially offset by the increase in cash balance for the six months ended June 30, 2021 versus 2020.