The Company recorded total expenses relating to the outstanding stock options of $15,064 and $994,271 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and $10,612 and $58,530 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.
Restricted Stock Unit Grants
On July 13, 2021, the Company granted a total of 495,000 restricted stock units (RSUs), of which 425,000 were granted to seven Board members (including two executives), 60,000 to the Company’s CFO and 10,000 to two employees. On November 30, 2022, one director and one officer forfeited a total of 86,000 RSUs to satisfy the 2020 Plan limitation of total issuances per year to any individual holder. The Company reversed approximately $370,000 of expense resulting from the forfeited RSUs. The RSUs were amended on January 12, 2022, to vest 100% on September 15, 2022 and then further amended on June 20, 2022 to vest 100% on the earlier of release of Phase 2 clinical trial top line data or December 31, 2022. Top line data was announced on December 16, 2022, and so the RSUs vested on such date.
As of December 31, 2022, 100% of the 411,000 RSUs vested and were exercised. As of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had unrecognized stock option and RSU expense of approximately $0 and $2.56 million, respectively. The fair value of the RSUs issued was based upon the closing trading price of the Company’s Common stock on the grant date of $9.75 per share. The grant date fair value of the RSUs granted was approximately $4.8 million. The Company recorded total expense, using straight line method over the vesting period of the RSUs, of $0 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and $500,135 and $2,180,465 relating to the RSUs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively.
Restricted Stock Issuances
On February 15, 2022, the Company granted 13,775 shares of restricted stock to two consultants that were engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $91,429. On March 14, 2022, the Company granted 692 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $4,500. On June 7, 2022, the Company granted 679 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $4,500. On July 8, 2022, the Company granted 30,303 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $150,000 and warrants to purchase 15,459 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $13.26 per share for a period of five years from the date of issuance. The Company used the Black Scholes valuation method to determine fair value assuming the following: implied volatility of 112.75%, a risk free interest rate of 3.05% and a fair value of $75,000. The warrants are expensed over the three-month term of the consulting agreement. On September 8, 2022, the Company issued 540 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $4,500. All stock issuances are expensed upon issuance.
On October 8, 2022, the Company issued 6,878 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $50,000 and warrants to purchase 4,659 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $14.54 per share for a period of five years from the date of issuance. The Company used the Black Scholes valuation method to determine fair value assuming the following: implied volatility of 112.75%, a risk free interest rate of 4.14%, a fair value of $25,000 and are expensed upon issuance. During November 2022, the Company issued to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services 7,092 shares of restricted Common Stock valued at $50,000 and were expensed when issued, and warrants to purchase 4,795 shares of Common Stock, with an exercise price of $14.10 per share. The Company used the Black Scholes valuation method to determine fair value assuming the following: implied volatility of 112.75%, a risk free interest rate of 4.39% and a fair value of $25,000. The warrants are expensed when issued. On December 7, 2022, the Company issued 893 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $4,501, expensed upon issuance.
On January 5, 2023, the Company issued 88,339 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $100,000. On March 22, 2023, the Company issued 4,500 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $4,500, expensed upon issuance. On June 7, 2023, the Company issued 5,409 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $4,500, expensed upon issuance. On September 7, 2023, the Company issued 11,152 shares of restricted stock to a consultant that was engaged to provide investor relations services with a total fair market value on date of issuance of $4,500, expensed upon issuance.