5. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

2013 Stock Incentive Plan

On June 18, 2013, the Company established the 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”). Under the 2013 Plan, during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, a maximum number of 31,114,256 shares of the Company’s authorized and available Common Stock could be issued in the form of options, stock appreciation rights, sales or bonuses of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock units or dividend equivalent rights, and an award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two or more of them in any combination or alternative. The 2013 Plan provides that on the first business day of each fiscal year commencing with fiscal year 2014, the number of shares of our Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2013 Plan for all awards except for incentive stock option awards will be subject to increase by an amount equal to the lesser of (A) 3,000,000 shares, (B) four (4) percent of the number of shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year of the Company, or (C) such lesser number of shares as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). The exercise price of each option shall be the fair value as determined in good faith by the Board at the time each option is granted. On October 1, 2021, the aggregate number of authorized shares under the Plan was further increased by 3,000,000 shares to a total of 34,114,256 shares.

The exercise price of each option is equal to the closing price of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant.

Share-Based awards

During the six months ended March 31, 2022, the Company awarded 250,000 options to employees and directors and no options to consultants to purchase shares of Common Stock under the 2013 Plan.

Share-based compensation expense for awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was based on the grant date fair value estimated using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model.

Common Stock Options

Stock compensation activity under the 2013 Plan for the six months ended March 31, 2022 follows:

As of March 31, 2022, 5,566,257 shares are available for future grants under the 2013 Plan. Share-based compensation expense recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 resulting from stock options awarded to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants was approximately $145,000 and $89,000, respectively. Of this amount during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, $41,000 and $27,000, respectively, were recorded as research and development expense, and $104,000 and $62,000, respectively were recorded as general and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Share-based compensation expense recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 resulting from stock options awarded to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants was approximately $287,000 and $174,000, respectively. Of this amount during the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, $94,000 and $53,000, respectively, were recorded as research and development expenses, and $193,000 and $121,000, respectively were recorded as general and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, no stock options awarded were exercised.

As of March 31, 2022, there is approximately $48,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the 2013 Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.18 years.

Restricted Stock

Restricted Stock activity in shares under the 2013 Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 follows:

Restricted Stock activity in shares under the 2013 Plan for the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 follows:

For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, compensation expense recorded for the Restricted Stock awards was approximately $10,000 and $104,000, respectively. For the six months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, compensation expense recorded for the restricted stock awards was approximately $20,000 and $104,000, respectively.