Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the financial statements of RespireRx and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pier. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include, among other things, accounting for potential liabilities, and the assumptions used in valuing stock-based compensation issued for services. Actual amounts may differ from those estimates.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents. The Company limits its exposure to credit risk by investing its cash with high quality financial institutions. The Company’s cash balances may periodically exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced a loss in such accounts to date.

Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid short-term investments with maturities of less than three months when acquired to be cash equivalents.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The authoritative guidance with respect to fair value of financial instruments established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels and requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of three categories, as presented below. Disclosure as to transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2, and activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, is also required.

Level 1. Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for an identical asset or liability that the Company has the ability to access as of the measurement date. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 1 inputs include active-exchange traded securities and exchange-based derivatives.

Level 2. Inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 2 inputs include fixed income securities, non-exchange-based derivatives, mutual funds, and fair-value hedges.

Level 3. Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data for the asset or liability which requires the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. Financial assets and liabilities utilizing Level 3 inputs include infrequently-traded, non-exchange-based derivatives and commingled investment funds, and are measured using present value pricing models.

The Company determines the level in the fair value hierarchy within which each fair value measurement falls in its entirety, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. In determining the appropriate levels, the Company performs an analysis of the assets and liabilities at each reporting period end.

The carrying amounts of financial instruments (consisting of cash, cash equivalents, advances on research grants and accounts payable and accrued expenses) are considered by the Company to be representative of the respective fair values of these instruments due to the short-term nature of those instruments. With respect to the note payable to SY Corporation and the convertible notes payable, management does not believe that the credit markets have materially changed for these types of borrowings since the original borrowing date. The Company considers the carrying amounts of the notes payable to officers, inclusive of accrued interest, to be representative of the respective fair values of such instruments due to the short-term nature of those instruments and their terms.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred Financing Costs

Costs incurred in connection with ongoing debt and equity financings, including legal fees, are deferred until the related financing is either completed or abandoned.

Costs related to abandoned debt or equity financings are charged to operations in the period of abandonment. Costs related to completed debt financings are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability (see “Capitalized Financing Costs” below). Costs related to completed equity financings are charged directly to additional paid-in capital.

Capitalized Financing Costs

Capitalized Financing Costs

The Company presents debt issuance costs related to debt liability in its consolidated balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with the presentation for debt discounts.

Convertible Notes Payable

Convertible Notes Payable

Convertible notes are evaluated to determine if they should be recorded at amortized cost. To the extent that there are associated warrants or a beneficial conversion feature, the convertible notes and warrants are evaluated to determine if there are embedded derivatives to be identified, bifurcated and valued at fair value in connection with and at the time of such financing.

Note Exchanges

Note Exchanges

In cases where debt or other liabilities are exchanged for equity, the Company compares the carrying value of debt, inclusive of accrued interest, if applicable, being exchanged, to the fair value of the equity issued and records any loss or gain as a result of such exchange. See Note 4.

Extinguishment of Debt

Extinguishment of Debt

The Company accounts for the extinguishment of debt in accordance with GAAP by comparing the carrying value of the debt to the fair value of consideration paid or assets given up and recognizing a loss or gain in the consolidated statement of operations in the amount of the difference in the period in which such transaction occurs.

Equipment

Equipment

Equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from three to five years. All equipment was fully depreciated as of December 31, 2018.

Prepaid Insurance

Prepaid Insurance

Prepaid insurance represents the premium paid in March 2017 for directors’ and officers’ insurance tail coverage, which is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the policy period of six years. The amount amortizable in the ensuing twelve-month period is recorded as prepaid insurance in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at each reporting date, with the remaining amount recorded as long-term prepaid insurance.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including long-term prepaid insurance, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the total amount of an asset may not be recoverable, but at least annually. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition is less than the asset’s carrying amount. The Company has not deemed any long-lived assets as impaired at December 31, 2018.

Stock-Based Awards

Stock-Based Awards

The Company periodically issues common stock and stock options to officers, directors, Scientific Advisory Board members, consultants and other vendors for services rendered. Such issuances vest and expire according to terms established at the issuance date of each grant.

The Company accounts for stock-based payments to officers and directors by measuring the cost of services received in exchange for equity awards based on the grant date fair value of the awards, with the cost recognized as compensation expense on the straight-line basis in the Company’s consolidated financial statements over the vesting period of the awards.

Stock grants, which are sometimes subject to time-based vesting, are measured at the grant date fair value and charged to operations ratably over the vesting period.

Stock options granted to members of the Company’s outside consultants and other vendors are valued on the grant date. As the stock options vest, the Company recognizes this expense over the period in which the services are provided.

The fair value of stock options granted as stock-based compensation is determined utilizing the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is affected by several variables, the most significant of which are the life of the equity award, the exercise price of the stock option as compared to the fair market value of the common stock on the grant date, and the estimated volatility of the common stock over the term of the equity award. Estimated volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The fair market value of common stock is determined by reference to the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock.

Stock options and warrants issued to non-employees as compensation for services to be provided to the Company or in settlement of debt are accounted for based upon the fair value of the services provided or the estimated fair value of the stock option or warrant, whichever can be more clearly determined. Management uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the fair value of the stock options and warrants issued by the Company. The Company recognizes this expense over the period in which the services are provided.

During fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, there were stock grants totaling 283,643 shares of common stock to designees of one vendor with a value on the date of the grant of $198,550 which amount paid $198,550 of account payable to that vendor. There was no gain or loss on such stock grant.

For stock options requiring an assessment of value during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the fair value of each stock option award was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following assumptions:

	2018			2017
Risk-free interest rate		2.64-2.89	%		1.89% to 2.2	%
Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%
Expected volatility		186.07-222.64	%		132.87% to 184.92	%
Expected life at date of issuance		5 years			4.55-5 years

The expected life is estimated to be equal to the term of the common stock options issued in 2018. For certain common stock options issued in 2017, the simple method was used to estimate the expected life.

The Company recognizes the fair value of stock-based awards in general and administrative costs and in research and development costs, as appropriate, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company issues new shares of common stock to satisfy stock option and warrant exercises. There were no stock options exercised during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018. and 2017.

There were no warrants issued as compensation or for services during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 requiring such assessment.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Accordingly, the Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected impact of differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities.

The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In the event the Company was to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be credited to operations in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should the Company determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of its deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be charged to operations in the period such determination was made.

Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Sections 382 and 383, use of the Company’s net operating loss and credit carryforwards may be limited if a cumulative change in ownership of more than 50% occurs within any three-year period since the last ownership change. The Company may have had a change in control under these Sections. However, the Company does not anticipate performing a complete analysis of the limitation on the annual use of the net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards until the time that it anticipates it will be able to utilize these tax attributes.

As of December 31, 2018, the Company did not have any unrecognized tax benefits related to various federal and state income tax matters and does not anticipate any material amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income taxes and income taxes of various state tax jurisdictions. As the Company’s net operating losses have yet to be utilized, all previous tax years remain open to examination by Federal authorities and other jurisdictions in which the Company currently operates or has operated in the past.

The Company accounts for uncertainties in income tax law under a comprehensive model for the financial statement recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in income tax returns as prescribed by GAAP. The tax effects of a position are recognized only if it is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the taxing authority as of the reporting date. If the tax position is not considered “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained, then no benefits of the position are recognized. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had not recorded any liability for uncertain tax positions. In subsequent periods, any interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions will be recognized as a component of income tax expense.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Foreign Currency Transactions

The note payable to SY Corporation, which is denominated in a foreign currency (the South Korean Won), is translated into the Company’s functional currency (the United States Dollar) at the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. The foreign currency exchange gain or loss resulting from translation is recognized in the related consolidated statements of operations.

Research and Development

Research and Development

Research and development costs include compensation paid to management directing the Company’s research and development activities, and fees paid to consultants and outside service providers and organizations (including research institutes at universities), and other expenses relating to the acquisition, design, development and clinical testing of the Company’s treatments and product candidates.

The Company reviews the status of its research and development contracts on a quarterly basis.

On May 6, 2016, the Company made an advance payment to Duke University with respect to the Phase 2A clinical trial of CX1739. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, an asset balance of $48,912 remained from the advance payment.

License Agreements

License Agreements

Obligations incurred with respect to mandatory payments provided for in license agreements are recognized ratably over the appropriate period, as specified in the underlying license agreement, and are recorded as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding charge to research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. Obligations incurred with respect to milestone payments provided for in license agreements are recognized when it is probable that such milestone will be reached and are recorded as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, with a corresponding charge to research and development costs in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. Payments of such liabilities are made in the ordinary course of business.

Patent Costs

Patent Costs

Due to the significant uncertainty associated with the successful development of one or more commercially viable products based on the Company’s research efforts and any related patent applications, all patent costs, including patent-related legal and filing fees, are expensed as incurred and are charged to general and administrative expenses.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings per Share

The Company’s computation of earnings per share (“EPS”) includes basic and diluted EPS. Basic EPS is measured as the income (loss) attributable to common stockholders divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is similar to basic EPS but presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common shares (e.g., warrants and options) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented, or issuance date, if later. Potential common shares that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS.

Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders consists of net income or loss, as adjusted for actual and deemed preferred stock dividends declared, amortized or accumulated.

Loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the respective periods. Basic and diluted loss per common share is the same for all periods presented because all warrants and stock options outstanding are anti-dilutive.

At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company excluded the outstanding securities summarized below, which entitle the holders thereof to acquire shares of common stock, from its calculation of earnings per share, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

	December 31,
	2018		2017
Series B convertible preferred stock		11		11
Convertible notes payable		16,319		32,941
Common stock warrants		1,783,229		1,464,415
Common stock options		4,344,994		3,996,167
Total		6,144,553		5,493,534

Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain comparative figures in 2017 have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. These reclassifications were immaterial, both individually and in the aggregate.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-07 (ASU 2018-07), Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718)—Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2018-07 are amendments to Topic 718 that become effective for public entities like the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. This update applies to nonemployee share-based awards within the scope of Topic 718. Consistent with the accounting requirement for employee share-based payment awards, nonemployee share-based payment awards are measured at grant-date fair value of the equity instruments that an entity is obligated to issue when the good has been delivered or the service has been rendered and any other conditions necessary to earn the right to benefit from the instruments have been satisfied. Equity-classified nonemployee share- based payment awards are measured at the grant date. The definition of the term grant date has been amended to generally state the date at which a grantor and a grantee reach a mutual understanding of the key terms and conditions of a share- based payment award. An entity considers the probability of satisfying performance conditions when nonemployee share-based payment awards contain such conditions. This is consistent with the treatment for employee-based awards. Generally, the classification of equity- classified nonemployee share-based payment awards will continue to be subject to the requirements of Topic 718 unless modified after the good has been delivered, the service has been rendered, any other conditions necessary to earn the right to benefit from the instruments have been satisfied, and the nonemployee is no longer providing goods or services. This eliminates the requirement to reassess classification of such awards upon vesting. This standard will change the valuation of applicable awards granted in subsequent periods.

In August 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-12 —Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The new standard is intended to improve and simplify accounting rules around hedge accounting. The new standard refines and expands hedge accounting for both financial (e.g., interest rate) and commodity risks. Its provisions create more transparency around how economic results are presented, both on the face of the financial statements and in the footnotes, for investors and analysts. The new standard takes effect for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, for public companies and for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 (and interim periods for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020), for private companies. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period or fiscal years before the effective date of the standard. The adoption of ASU 2017-12 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.

In July 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-11 (ASU 2017-11), Earnings Per Share (Topic 260): Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480): Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The relevant section for the Company is Topic 815 where it pertains to accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. Until the issuance of this ASU, financial instruments with down round features required fair value measurement and subsequent changes in fair value were recognized in earnings. As a result of the ASU, financial instruments with down round features are no longer treated as a derivative liability measured at fair value. Instead, when the down round feature is triggered, the effect is treated as a dividend and as a reduction of income available to common shareholders in basic earnings per share. For public entities, the ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted including adoption in an interim period. The adoption of ASU 2017-11 is not expected to have any impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.