Research and Development Expenses
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, we incurred $609,249 in research and development expenses as compared to $877,717 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of approximately 30.6%. These expenses were incurred primarily in connection with developing the potential AD therapeutic product and the initiation of the MS trial with Cleveland Clinic. Of these expenses, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, $421,823 was incurred principally relating to our current MS clinical trial and our storage of drug product, $170,444 for clinical consulting services, $7,104 of amortization of prepaid licensing fees relating to the Stanford License Agreement and Mount Sinai Agreement, 9,878 for development of alternative drug supply with Stanford University; comparatively, for the three months ended March 31, 2023, $675,262 was incurred principally relating to our confirmatory clinical trial and related storage of drug product, $81,746 for clinical consulting services, $5,261 of amortization of prepaid licensing fees relating to the Stanford License Agreement and Mount Sinai Agreement, $15,722 for development of alternative drug supply with Stanford University and $99,726 of non-cash stock options compensation expense.
Our research and development expenses have significantly decreased as our current Phase 2 clinical trial for AD was concluded by the end of 2023 and our Phase 2 dose ranging study was discontinued partially offset by the initiation of our MS clinical trial. 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 $1,082,244 and $2,044,224 of general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, a decrease of approximately 47.1%. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, $342,659 was incurred primarily for wages, bonuses, vacation pay, severance, taxes and insurance, versus $319,762 for the three months ended March 31, 2023; $113,656 was incurred for legal expenses versus $281,681 for the 2023 comparable period. The higher legal fees for 2023 is based upon the prior year’s increased fees for special stockholder vote requirements and for regulatory compliance; $262,002 was incurred for outside operations consulting services during the three months ended March 31, 2024, versus $250,300 for the comparable period in 2023; $34,881 was incurred for travel expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2024, versus $22,897 for the comparable period in 2023 as post-COVID travel has increased; $164,732 was incurred for investor relations services during the three months ended March 31, 2024, versus $184,661 for the comparable period in 2023; $20,713 was incurred for professional fees associated with auditing, financial, accounting and tax advisory services during the three months ended March 31, 2024, versus $121,324 for the comparable period in 2023. The decrease for the current period is primarily attributable to additional audit work for the November Private Placement and auditor change in 2023; $154,965 was incurred for insurance during the three months ended March 31, 2024, versus $193,723 for the comparable period in 2023; $(25,771) was incurred for utilities, supplies, license fees, filing costs, rent, advertising and other during the three months ended March 31, 2024, versus $124,821 for the comparable period in 2023. We overpaid franchise taxes which have been credited for the current fiscal quarter; and $14,407 was recorded as non-cash stock options compensation expense during the three months ended March 31, 2024, versus $545,055 for the comparable period in 2023.
Other Income / Expense
We recognized total other income of $1,484,795 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to a total other income of $1,210,157 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, which consisted, for 2024 and 2023, of interest income on funds deposited in interest bearing money market accounts and investments in short-term US treasury bills and changes in fair value of warrant liability and derivative liability. The increase in interest income and unrealized gains on treasury bills totaling $463,395 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 is primarily attributable to the increase in money market interest income rates. The total increase is primarily attributable to the increase in interest income of $18,679, the unrealized gains in marketable securities of $48,359 and the increase in change in fair value of derivative liability of $746,200 partially offset by the decrease in change in fair value of warrant liability of $530,000.
Net loss
We recognized losses of $206,699 and $1,711,784 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decreased loss was primarily attributable to the increase in other income and the decreases in net research and development expenses associated with our clinical trials and decrease in general and administrative expenses.