12. Share-Based Compensation

 

The Company adopted on August 10, 2022, and the stockholders approved on August 18, 2022, the 2022 Stock Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, and other stock awards.

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, there were 6,783,761 and 7,934,836 shares available for future issuance under the Plan.

Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in the Statements of Operations as follows:

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

(in thousands of dollars)

2025

 

 

2024

 

Research and development

$

418

 

 

$

328

 

General and administrative

 

2,268

 

 

 

1,891

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

$

2,686

 

 

$

2,219

 

In addition to the $2.2 million stock-based compensation expense for stock options for the year ended December 31, 2024, a $45,000 stock-based compensation expense was recognized for the grant of 2,500 shares of Series C Preferred Stock to the CEO.

Unrecognized stock-based compensation costs related to unvested awards and the weighted-average period over which the costs are expected to be recognized as of December 31, 2025, are as follows:

 

 

Stock Options

 

Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense (in thousands)

 

$

4,852

 

Expected weighted-average period compensation costs to be recognized (years)

 

 

2.2

 

 

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity is as follows:

 

Stock Options

 

 

Weighted-Average Exercise Price per Share

 

 

Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life (years)

 

 

Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)

 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2024

 

 

4,565,164

 

 

$

2.82

 

 

 

8.2

 

 

$

7

 

Granted

 

 

1,391,000

 

 

$

1.00

 

 

 

7.0

 

 

$

 

Exercised

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

Forfeited/canceled

 

 

(239,925

)

 

$

2.83

 

 

 

 

 

$

 

Outstanding as of December 31, 2025

 

 

5,716,239

 

 

$

2.39

 

 

 

8.0

 

 

$

 

Exercisable as of December 31, 2025

 

 

2,756,930

 

 

$

2.68

 

 

 

7.3

 

 

$

 

 

The fair value of stock options granted to employees, directors, and consultants was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

Assumptions:

 

Year Ended
December 31, 2025

 

 

Year Ended December 31, 2024

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

4.13% - 4.25%

 

 

4.4%

 

Expected volatility

 

108% - 111%

 

 

101%

 

Expected term (years)

 

 

7.0

 

 

 

7.0

 

Expected dividend

 

0%

 

 

0%

 

 

The weighted-average grant date fair value of the options granted during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 was $0.87 per share and $3.82 per share, respectively.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Feb 24, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 31, 2025
2023Feb 29, 2024

About Stock Compensation Disclosures

Stock-based compensation disclosures detail the equity awards granted to employees and executives — including stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), and performance shares — along with the valuation methods and assumptions used to expense them. This section reveals the true cost of talent retention and the alignment between management incentives and shareholder interests.

Key signals: total unrecognized compensation expense and its expected recognition period signal future earnings headwinds from already-granted awards. For stock options, examine Black-Scholes assumptions — expected volatility, risk-free rate, and expected term — as understating any of these reduces reported compensation expense. Compare stock compensation expense as a percentage of revenue against peers to assess dilution cost. Watch vesting schedules for acceleration clauses tied to change-of-control events. Performance-based awards with undemanding targets may indicate weak governance. Add back stock compensation to operating cash flow to calculate a more conservative free cash flow figure.