Share-based Compensation | 8. Share-based Compensation Share-based compensation expense recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations is as follows (in thousands): Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2023 2022 2023 2022 Research and development expense $ 3,312 $ 2,020 $ 10,102 $ 6,242 General and administrative expense 6,294 6,556 18,428 14,167 Total share-based compensation expense $ 9,606 $ 8,576 $ 28,530 $ 20,409 As of September 30, 2023 , there was $ 86.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock, unvested restricted stock units, unvested stock options, and shares subject to purchase under the ESPP that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2.6 years. As of September 30, 2023 , there was $ 2.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested PSOs and PSUs. The Company will recognize the PSO and PSU expense through the expected vesting dates when the achievement of the performance-based metrics is probable. 2022 Equity Inducement Plan In October 2022, the board of directors and stockholders approved the 2022 Equity Inducement Plan, or the 2022 Plan. The 2022 Plan provides for the grant of non-statutory stock options and restricted stock units. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 Plan is 1,000,000 shares. The following table provides a summary of stock option activity under the 2022 Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Options Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Aggregate Outstanding at December 31, 2022 309,000 $ 21.14 Granted — $ — Exercised — $ — $ — Forfeiture — $ — Outstanding at September 30, 2023 309,000 $ 21.14 9.1 $ — Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2023 309,000 $ 21.14 9.1 $ — Exercisable at September 30, 2023 — $ — — $ — Aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock and the exercise price of outstanding, in-the-money options. There was no fair value of options that vested during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 . There was no weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted since there were no options granted from the 2022 Plan during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. Unamortized share-based compensation for stock options as of September 30, 2023 was $ 3.6 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.1 years. The following table provides a summary of restricted stock units activity under the 2022 Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2023: Number of Weighted Average Unvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2022 47,400 $ 21.14 Granted — $ — Vested — $ — Forfeiture — $ — Unvested restricted stock units at September 30, 2023 47,400 $ 21.14 Unamortized share-based compensation for restricted stock units as of September 30, 2023 was $ 0.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.1 years. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan Immediately prior to consummation of the Company’s initial public offering, or the IPO, all the outstanding incentive shares were converted into common stock. The following table provides a summary of the unvested common stock awards activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Number of Weighted Average Unvested common stock as of December 31, 2022 1,722,744 $ 16.00 Vested ( 744,625 ) $ 16.00 Forfeiture ( 21,400 ) $ 16.00 Unvested common stock as of September 30, 2023 956,719 $ 16.00 In May 2021, in connection with the IPO, the board of directors and stockholders approved, the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2021 Plan, which became effective on the day before the date of the effectiveness of the IPO. The 2021 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and other share-based awards. The number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan is equal to the sum of: (x) 6,369,000 shares of common stock; plus (y) 4,719,605 shares of common stock issued in respect of the Conversion of incentive shares that were subject to vesting immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement for the IPO that expire, terminate or are otherwise surrendered, canceled, forfeited or repurchased by us at their original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right. The number of shares available for grant and issuance under the 2021 Plan will be automatically increased on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2021 and continuing for each fiscal year until, and including, the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2031, by the lesser of (a) 5 % of the number of shares of all classes of the Company’s common stock, plus the total number of shares of Company common stock issuable upon conversion of any preferred stock or exercise of any warrants to acquire shares of Company common stock for a nominal exercise price issued and outstanding on each December 31 immediately prior to the date of increase or (b) such number of shares determined by the board of directors. The following table provides a summary of stock option activity under the 2021 Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Options Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Aggregate Outstanding at December 31, 2022 7,634,167 $ 16.42 Granted 2,542,700 $ 19.14 Exercised ( 88,459 ) $ 15.12 $ 643 Forfeiture ( 357,468 ) $ 18.84 Outstanding at September 30, 2023 9,730,940 $ 17.06 8.4 $ 625 Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2023 9,730,940 $ 17.06 8.4 $ 625 Exercisable at September 30, 2023 3,995,722 $ 16.63 7.9 $ 214 Aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock and the exercise price of outstanding, in-the-money options. The total fair value of options that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $ 19.8 million and $ 15.6 million, respectively. The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 was $ 13.37 per share and $ 9.02 per share, respectively. Unamortized share-based compensation for stock options as of September 30, 2023 was $ 60.7 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years. The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock option awards granted with the following assumptions: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2023 2022 2023 2022 Expected term (in years) 5.65 - 6.14 5.27 - 6.33 5.27 - 6.25 5.27 - 6.33 Expected volatility 68.82 % - 71.43 % 68.96 % - 70.71 % 68.82 % - 81.98 % 65.20 % - 70.71 % Risk-free interest rate 4.02 % - 4.56 % 2.65 % - 4.09 % 3.47 % - 4.56 % 1.47 % - 4.09 % Expected dividend yield — — — — The following table provides a summary of restricted stock units activity under the 2021 Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2023: Number of Weighted Average Unvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2022 485,351 $ 16.83 Granted 711,810 $ 20.46 Vested ( 190,727 ) $ 19.26 Forfeiture ( 52,521 ) $ 20.37 Unvested restricted stock units at September 30, 2023 953,913 $ 18.86 Unamortized share-based compensation for restricted stock units as of September 30, 2023 was $ 16.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.1 years. Performance Awards In June 2022, the Company granted performance awards, consisting of performance stock options, or PSOs, and performance stock units, or PSUs, to non-executive employees pursuant to the 2021 Plan. Each performance award is earned through the achievement of a performance-based metric over a defined performance period determined by the compensation committee of the Company's board of directors. The estimated fair value of the equity awards that contain performance conditions is expensed over the term of the award once the Company has determined that it is probable that the performance conditions will be satisfied. The following table provides a summary of PSO activity under the 2021 Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Options Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Aggregate Outstanding at December 31, 2022 146,950 $ 15.25 Granted — $ — Exercised — $ — $ — Forfeiture ( 3,450 ) $ 15.25 Outstanding at September 30, 2023 143,500 $ 15.25 8.7 $ — Vested and expected to vest at September 30, 2023 — $ — — $ — Exercisable at September 30, 2023 — $ — — $ — Aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock and the exercise price of outstanding, in-the-money PSOs. There was no fair value of PSOs that vested since there were no PSOs that vested during each of the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. There was no weighted-average grant date fair value of PSOs granted since there were no PSOs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The weighted-average grant date fair value of PSOs granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $ 7.78 per share. As of September 30, 2023 , there was $ 1.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested PSOs. The Company will recognize the PSO expense through the expected vesting dates when the achievement of the performance-based metrics is probable. The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of the PSO awards granted with the following assumptions: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2023 2022 2023 2022 Expected term (in years) — — — 2.92 - 3.42 Expected volatility — — — 72.72 % - 72.98 % Risk-free interest rate — — — 3.37 % Expected dividend yield — — — — The following table provides a summary of PSU activity under the 2021 Plan during the nine months ended September 30, 2023: Number of Weighted Average Unvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2022 95,500 $ 15.25 Granted — $ — Vested — $ — Forfeiture ( 2,250 ) $ 15.25 Unvested restricted stock units at September 30, 2023 93,250 $ 15.25 As of September 30, 2023 , there was $ 1.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested PSUs. The Company will recognize the PSU expense through the expected vesting dates when the achievement of the performance-based metrics is probable. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan In May 2021, the board of directors adopted, and the stockholders approved the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or the ESPP, which became effective on May 26, 2021. A total of 603,000 shares of common stock were initially reserved for issuance under the ESPP. The number of shares of the common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP will automatically increase on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning with the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2021 and continuing for each fiscal year until, and including, the fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2031, by the lesser of: (a) 1 % of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (on an as converted basis outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 (rounded down to the nearest whole share) and (b) an amount determined by the board of directors. 178,506 shares have been issued under the ESPP as of September 30, 2023. The Company recognized compensation expense related to the ESPP of $ 0.1 million and $ 17,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $ 0.6 million and $ 0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The fair value of our common stock to be issued under the ESPP is estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: Nine Months Ended 2023 2022 Expected term (in years) 0.5 0.5 Expected volatility 63.57 % 58.49 % Risk-free interest rate 5.24 % 1.54 % Expected dividend yield — — |