Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $7.7 million, compared with $7.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
The increase in R&D expenses is partially due to an increase in R&D expenses incurred related to the development of CID-103 and costs associated with the EVOMELA post marketing study. These costs were partially offset by reduced regulatory costs associated with our ANDAs and lower costs associated with preclinical development activities related to an immune-oncology program terminated in 2019.
Included in our research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 are direct project costs of $2.9 million for preclinical development activities primarily related to our CID-103 program, $1.9 million related to our ANDAs acquired in 2018, and $1.5 million for drugs in-licensed from Acrotech (previously Spectrum).
Included in our research and development expenses for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019 are direct project costs of $2.4 million related to our ANDAs acquired in 2018, $1.0 million for drugs in-licensed from Spectrum (previously Spectrum), $0.5 million for preclinical development activities related to a terminated immune-oncology program, and $0.4 million for preclinical development activities primarily related to the CID-103 program.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses include compensation and other expenses related to executive, finance, business development and administrative personnel, professional services, investor relations and facilities.
General and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $13.5 million, compared with $20.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily because the 2019 period included costs related to sales and marketing efforts to prepare for the August 2019 launch of EVOMELA, as well as lower professional fees and travel costs incurred during the 2020 period.
Selling and Marketing Expenses
Selling and marketing expenses are related to the sales of EVOMELA that was launched in China in August 2019, such as sales force salaries, commissions, advertising, and other marketing efforts.
Selling and marketing expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $4.9 million, compared with $975,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.
Gain (loss) on disposal of intangible assets
Gain on disposal of intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $0.5 million, compared to a loss of $48,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The gain on disposal is due to the $0.5 million gain on the sale of seven ANDAs during the 2020 period.
Impairment of intangible assets
Impairment of intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $1.5 million, compared to $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The impairment of intangible assets was primarily due to the reduction of the carrying value of intangible assets to their fair value.
Acquired in-process Research and Development
Acquired in-process R&D expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 were $11.9 million, compared to $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Acquired in-process R&D expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 comprised the two 2020 milestone fees paid related to Pharmathen of $1.7 million, and the 2020 milestone fees paid to Juventas of $10.3 million. Acquired in-process R&D expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was the $5.8 million acquisition of the Black Belt’s license in April 2019.