8. SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTUAL SERVICE AND MILESTONE AGREEMENTS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Health Care Organizations [Abstract]
SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTUAL SERVICE AND MILESTONE AGREEMENTS	In February 2012, Opexa entered into an agreement with PRA pursuant to which PRA provides Opexa with services related to the design, implementation and management of Opexa’s ongoing Phase IIb clinical trial program in SPMS (the “PRA Agreement”). Payments by Opexa to PRA under the PRA Agreement are based on the achievement of certain time and performance milestones as presented in the PRA Agreement. Total payments to PRA during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, which were charged to research and development expense on the consolidated statements of operations, amounted to $1,115,868 and $1,557,824, respectively. Unless terminated by either party without cause on 60 days prior notice or on shorter notice with cause, the initial term of the PRA Agreement is for four years and automatically renews for successive one year terms. Through December 31, 2015, Opexa entered into individual Clinical Trial Agreements with 36 Institutions and 36 principal investigators acting within their employment or agent positions within their clinical institution. Under the terms of each Clinical Trial Agreement, each of the Investigators will identify and recruit subjects with SPMS meeting certain enrollment requirements and conduct clinical research in conjunction with Opexa’s Phase IIb clinical study, and each of the Institutions will provide appropriate resources and facilities so the Institution’s Investigator can conduct Opexa’s Phase IIb clinical study in a timely and professional manner and according to the terms of the Clinical Trial Agreement. Under the terms of each Clinical Trial Agreement, Opexa paid an upfront cash payment to each Institution for start-up and other costs which were charged directly to expense. Future payments by Opexa to the Institutions during the term of each Clinical Trial Agreement are based on the achievement of certain performance milestones as presented in each Clinical Trial Agreement. Unless terminated by Opexa without cause with 30 days’ notice, or unless terminated by the Institution, Investigator or Opexa for health or safety reasons, the initial term of the Clinical Trial Agreements with each Institution and Investigator is for the duration of their enrolled subjects in the Phase IIb clinical study. In November of 2014, Opexa entered into an agreement with Parexel International, LLC (“PAREXEL”), a contract research organization, in which PAREXEL will provide Opexa Regulatory Services for the conduct of the Neuromyelitis Optica (“NMO”) program. In addition, three Institutional agreements were executed in 2014, to provide preclinical research activities. Services include identification, collection and shipping of blood samples to Opexa for research purposes and conduct of preclinical activities.

8. SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTUAL SERVICE AND MILESTONE AGREEMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Health Care Organizations [Abstract]

SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTUAL SERVICE AND MILESTONE AGREEMENTS

In February 2012, Opexa entered into an agreement with PRA pursuant to which PRA provides Opexa with services related to the design, implementation and management of Opexa’s ongoing Phase IIb clinical trial program in SPMS (the “PRA Agreement”). Payments by Opexa to PRA under the PRA Agreement are based on the achievement of certain time and performance milestones as presented in the PRA Agreement. Total payments to PRA during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, which were charged to research and development expense on the consolidated statements of operations, amounted to $1,115,868 and $1,557,824, respectively. Unless terminated by either party without cause on 60 days prior notice or on shorter notice with cause, the initial term of the PRA Agreement is for four years and automatically renews for successive one year terms.

Through December 31, 2015, Opexa entered into individual Clinical Trial Agreements with 36 Institutions and 36 principal investigators acting within their employment or agent positions within their clinical institution. Under the terms of each Clinical Trial Agreement, each of the Investigators will identify and recruit subjects with SPMS meeting certain enrollment requirements and conduct clinical research in conjunction with Opexa’s Phase IIb clinical study, and each of the Institutions will provide appropriate resources and facilities so the Institution’s Investigator can conduct Opexa’s Phase IIb clinical study in a timely and professional manner and according to the terms of the Clinical Trial Agreement. Under the terms of each Clinical Trial Agreement, Opexa paid an upfront cash payment to each Institution for start-up and other costs which were charged directly to expense. Future payments by Opexa to the Institutions during the term of each Clinical Trial Agreement are based on the achievement of certain performance milestones as presented in each Clinical Trial Agreement. Unless terminated by Opexa without cause with 30 days’ notice, or unless terminated by the Institution, Investigator or Opexa for health or safety reasons, the initial term of the Clinical Trial Agreements with each Institution and Investigator is for the duration of their enrolled subjects in the Phase IIb clinical study.

In November of 2014, Opexa entered into an agreement with Parexel International, LLC (“PAREXEL”), a contract research organization, in which PAREXEL will provide Opexa Regulatory Services for the conduct of the Neuromyelitis Optica (“NMO”) program. In addition, three Institutional agreements were executed in 2014, to provide preclinical research activities. Services include identification, collection and shipping of blood samples to Opexa for research purposes and conduct of preclinical activities.