A. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
A. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	Basis of Presentation The accompanying condensed financial statements of CEL-SCI Corporation (the Company) are unaudited and certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. While management of the Company believes that the disclosures presented are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended September 30, 2019. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2020 and the results of its operations for the six months then ended. The condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 is derived from the September 30, 2019 audited financial statements. On October 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02 , “Leases” and its related amendments (collectively referred to as Topic 842 and codified as Accounting Standards Codification 842, or ASC 842) using the modified retrospective transition approach. In accordance with this adoption method, results for the reporting period ended March 31, 2020 are presented under the new standard, while prior period results continue to be reported under the previous standard. All other significant accounting policies have been consistently applied in the interim financial statements and the annual financial statements. The results of operations for the six and three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year. The financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, but due to recurring losses from operations and future liquidity needs, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Refer to discussion in Note B. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies: Research and Office Equipment and Leasehold Improvements –Research and office equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of five to seven years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the lease. Repairs and maintenance which do not extend the life of the asset are expensed when incurred. The fixed assets are reviewed on a quarterly basis to determine if any of the assets are impaired. Patents - Patent expenditures are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the expected useful life or the legal life of the patent (17 years). In the event changes in technology or other circumstances impair the value or life of the patent, appropriate adjustment in the asset value and period of amortization is made. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset, and from its disposition, is less than the carrying value of the asset. The amount of the impairment loss would be the difference between the estimated fair value of the asset and its carrying value. Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Management accrues Clinical Research Organization (“CRO”) expenses and clinical trial study expenses based on services performed and relies on the CROs to provide estimates of those costs applicable to the completion stage of a study. Estimated accrued CRO costs are subject to revisions as such studies progress to completion. The Company charges revisions to estimated expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. Income Taxes - The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating and tax loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be recognized. A full valuation allowance was recorded against the deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2020 and September 30, 2019. Derivative Instruments – The Company has entered into financing arrangements that consist of freestanding derivative instruments that contain embedded derivative features. The Company accounts for these arrangements in accordance with ASC 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” In accordance with ASC 815, derivative instruments and hybrid instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and are measured at fair value with gains or losses recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income depending on the nature of the derivative or hybrid instruments. The Company determines the fair value of derivative instruments and hybrid instruments based on available market data using appropriate valuation models considering all the rights and obligations of each instrument. The derivative liabilities are re-measured at fair value at the end of each interim period. Stock-Based Compensation – Compensation cost for all stock-based awards is measured at fair value as of the grant date in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” The fair value of stock options is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes model requires various judgmental assumptions including volatility and expected option life. The stock-based compensation cost is recognized on the straight-line allocation method as expense over the requisite service or vesting period. The Company has Incentive Stock Option Plans, Non-Qualified Stock Option Plans, Stock Compensation Plans, Stock Bonus Plans and an Incentive Stock Bonus Plan. In some cases, these Plans are collectively referred to as the "Plans". All Plans have been approved by the stockholders. The Company’s stock options are not transferable, and the actual value of the stock options that an employee may realize, if any, will depend on the excess of the market price on the date of exercise over the exercise price. The Company has based its assumption for stock price volatility on the variance of daily closing prices of the Company’s stock. The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on the U.S. Treasury rate at date of the grant with term equal to the expected life of the option. Forfeitures are accounted for when they occur. The expected term of options represents the period that options granted are expected to be outstanding and has been determined based on an analysis of historical exercise behavior. If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model change significantly, stock-based compensation expense for new awards may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period. Vesting of restricted stock granted under the Incentive Stock Bonus Plan is subject to service, performance and market conditions and meets the classification of equity awards. These awards were measured at market value on the grant-dates for issuances where the attainment of performance criteria is likely and at fair value on the grant-dates, using a Monte Carlo simulation for issuances where the attainment of performance criteria is uncertain. The total compensation cost will be expensed over the estimated requisite service period. Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Effective October 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842. ASC 842 requires that lessees recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities that are measured at the present value of the future lease payments at the lease commencement date. Subsequent measurement, including the presentation of expenses and cash flows, depends on the classification of the lease as either a finance lease or an operating lease. The Company elected the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption and did not restate prior periods. The Company also elected the transition package of three practical expedients which eliminates the requirements to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. Further, the Company elected a short-term lease exception policy permitting the option to not apply the recognition requirements of this standard to short-term leases (i.e., leases with terms of 12 months or less) and an accounting policy to account for lease and non-lease components as a single component. The Company’s lease portfolio includes both finance and operating leases. The impact of adopting ASC 842 was to increase long term assets by approximately $1.0 million, decrease total liabilities by approximately $0.9 million and record a cumulative effect adjustment of approximately $0.1 million to opening accumulated deficit. In June 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees, and thus, the accounting for share-based payments to non-employees will be substantially aligned. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 as of October 1, 2019 with no impact on its financial statements and related disclosures. New Accounting Pronouncements In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement - Disclosure Framework (Topic 820)” (“ASU 2018-13”). The updated guidance improves the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The updated guidance becomes effective for the Company on October 1, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting the updated provisions. The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its financial statements.

A. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

A. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed financial statements of CEL-SCI Corporation (the Company) are unaudited and certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. While management of the Company believes that the disclosures presented are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended September 30, 2019.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements contain all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2020 and the results of its operations for the six months then ended. The condensed balance sheet as of September 30, 2019 is derived from the September 30, 2019 audited financial statements. On October 1, 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02 , “Leases” and its related amendments (collectively referred to as Topic 842 and codified as Accounting Standards Codification 842, or ASC 842) using the modified retrospective transition approach. In accordance with this adoption method, results for the reporting period ended March 31, 2020 are presented under the new standard, while prior period results continue to be reported under the previous standard. All other significant accounting policies have been consistently applied in the interim financial statements and the annual financial statements. The results of operations for the six and three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.

The financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, but due to recurring losses from operations and future liquidity needs, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. Refer to discussion in Note B.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Research and Office Equipment and Leasehold Improvements –Research and office equipment is recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of five to seven years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the term of the lease. Repairs and maintenance which do not extend the life of the asset are expensed when incurred. The fixed assets are reviewed on a quarterly basis to determine if any of the assets are impaired.

Patents - Patent expenditures are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the expected useful life or the legal life of the patent (17 years). In the event changes in technology or other circumstances impair the value or life of the patent, appropriate adjustment in the asset value and period of amortization is made. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset, and from its disposition, is less than the carrying value of the asset. The amount of the impairment loss would be the difference between the estimated fair value of the asset and its carrying value.

Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Management accrues Clinical Research Organization (“CRO”) expenses and clinical trial study expenses based on services performed and relies on the CROs to provide estimates of those costs applicable to the completion stage of a study. Estimated accrued CRO costs are subject to revisions as such studies progress to completion. The Company charges revisions to estimated expense in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.

Income Taxes - The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating and tax loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be recognized. A full valuation allowance was recorded against the deferred tax assets as of March 31, 2020 and September 30, 2019.

Derivative Instruments – The Company has entered into financing arrangements that consist of freestanding derivative instruments that contain embedded derivative features. The Company accounts for these arrangements in accordance with ASC 815, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” In accordance with ASC 815, derivative instruments and hybrid instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and are measured at fair value with gains or losses recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income depending on the nature of the derivative or hybrid instruments. The Company determines the fair value of derivative instruments and hybrid instruments based on available market data using appropriate valuation models considering all the rights and obligations of each instrument. The derivative liabilities are re-measured at fair value at the end of each interim period.

Stock-Based Compensation – Compensation cost for all stock-based awards is measured at fair value as of the grant date in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” The fair value of stock options is calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes model requires various judgmental assumptions including volatility and expected option life. The stock-based compensation cost is recognized on the straight-line allocation method as expense over the requisite service or vesting period.

The Company has Incentive Stock Option Plans, Non-Qualified Stock Option Plans, Stock Compensation Plans, Stock Bonus Plans and an Incentive Stock Bonus Plan. In some cases, these Plans are collectively referred to as the "Plans". All Plans have been approved by the stockholders.

The Company’s stock options are not transferable, and the actual value of the stock options that an employee may realize, if any, will depend on the excess of the market price on the date of exercise over the exercise price. The Company has based its assumption for stock price volatility on the variance of daily closing prices of the Company’s stock. The risk-free interest rate assumption was based on the U.S. Treasury rate at date of the grant with term equal to the expected life of the option. Forfeitures are accounted for when they occur. The expected term of options represents the period that options granted are expected to be outstanding and has been determined based on an analysis of historical exercise behavior. If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model change significantly, stock-based compensation expense for new awards may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period.

Vesting of restricted stock granted under the Incentive Stock Bonus Plan is subject to service, performance and market conditions and meets the classification of equity awards. These awards were measured at market value on the grant-dates for issuances where the attainment of performance criteria is likely and at fair value on the grant-dates, using a Monte Carlo simulation for issuances where the attainment of performance criteria is uncertain. The total compensation cost will be expensed over the estimated requisite service period.

Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Effective October 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842. ASC 842 requires that lessees recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities that are measured at the present value of the future lease payments at the lease commencement date. Subsequent measurement, including the presentation of expenses and cash flows, depends on the classification of the lease as either a finance lease or an operating lease. The Company elected the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption and did not restate prior periods. The Company also elected the transition package of three practical expedients which eliminates the requirements to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. Further, the Company elected a short-term lease exception policy permitting the option to not apply the recognition requirements of this standard to short-term leases (i.e., leases with terms of 12 months or less) and an accounting policy to account for lease and non-lease components as a single component. The Company’s lease portfolio includes both finance and operating leases. The impact of adopting ASC 842 was to increase long term assets by approximately $1.0 million, decrease total liabilities by approximately $0.9 million and record a cumulative effect adjustment of approximately $0.1 million to opening accumulated deficit.

In June 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718), which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees, and thus, the accounting for share-based payments to non-employees will be substantially aligned. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 as of October 1, 2019 with no impact on its financial statements and related disclosures.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement - Disclosure Framework (Topic 820)” (“ASU 2018-13”). The updated guidance improves the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The updated guidance becomes effective for the Company on October 1, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting the updated provisions.

The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its financial statements.