Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

REVERSE STOCK SPLIT

Effective October 14, 2019, the Company completed a 1-for-15 reverse stock split. Accordingly, 15 shares of outstanding common stock then held by stockholders were combined into one share of common stock. Any fractional shares resulting from the reverse split were rounded up to the next whole share. Authorized common stock remained at 30,000,000 shares (see Note 14). The accompanying consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been retroactively revised to reflect such reverse stock split as if it had occurred on April 1, 2018. All shares and per share amounts have been revised accordingly.

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Aethlon Medical, Inc. and its majority-owned (80% ownership) and controlled subsidiary, Exosome Sciences, Inc., or ESI. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has classified the (20% ownership) noncontrolling interests in ESI as part of consolidated net loss in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and includes the accumulated amount of noncontrolling interests as part of equity.

The losses at ESI during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 reduced the noncontrolling interests on our consolidated balance sheet by $6,093 from $(126,031) at March 31, 2019 to $(132,124) at March 31, 2020.

USE OF ESTIMATES

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP, which requires us to make a number of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate estimates and assumptions based upon historical experience and various other factors and circumstances. We believe our estimates and assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances; however, actual results may differ from these estimates under different future conditions. We believe that the estimates and assumptions that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, in that they require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, form the basis for the accounting policies deemed to be most critical to us. These critical accounting estimates relate to revenue recognition, stock purchase warrants issued with notes payable, beneficial conversion feature of convertible notes payable, impairment of intangible assets and long lived assets, stock compensation, deferred tax asset valuation allowance, and contingencies.

CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISKS

Cash is maintained at one financial institution in checking accounts. Accounts at this institution are secured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $250,000. Our March 31, 2020 cash balances were approximately $9,415,000 over such insured amount. We do not believe that the Company is exposed to any significant risk with respect to its cash.

All of our accounts receivable at March 31, 2020 and all of our revenue in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were directly from the National Cancer Institute.

INCOME TAXES

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the difference between the consolidated financial statements and their respective tax basis. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of (a) temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts reported for income tax purposes, and (b) tax credit carryforwards. We record a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets when, based on our best estimate of taxable income (if any) in the foreseeable future, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets may not be realized.

LOSS PER SHARE

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period of computation. Diluted loss per share is computed similar to basic loss per share except that the denominator is increased to include the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if potential common shares had been issued, if such additional common shares were dilutive. Since we had net losses for all periods presented, basic and diluted loss per share are the same, and additional potential common shares have been excluded as their effect would be antidilutive.

As of March 31, 2020 and 2019, a total of 2,072,492 and 437,784 potential common shares, consisting of shares underlying outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, warrants and convertible notes payable were excluded as their inclusion would be antidilutive.

DEFERRED FINANCING COSTS

Costs related to the issuance of debt are capitalized as a deduction to our convertible notes based on the new accounting standard on imputation of interest, and amortized to interest expense over the life of the related debt using the effective interest method. There was no amortization related to our deferred financing costs in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Employee stock options and rights to purchase shares under stock participation plans are accounted for under the fair value method. Accordingly, share-based compensation is measured when all granting activities have been completed, generally the grant date, based on the fair value of the award. The exercise price of options is generally equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock (defined as the closing price as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market or OTCBB on the date of grant). Compensation cost recognized by the Company includes (a) compensation cost for all equity incentive awards granted prior to April 1, 2006, but not yet vested, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of the then current accounting standards, and (b) compensation cost for all equity incentive awards granted subsequent to March 31, 2006, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of subsequent accounting standards. We use a Binomial Lattice option pricing model for estimating fair value of options granted (see Note 5).

The following table summarizes share-based compensation expenses relating to shares and options granted and the effect on loss per common share during the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

Our total stock-based compensation for fiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 included the following:

	Fiscal Years Ended
	March 31, 2020			March 31, 2019
Vesting of Stock Options and Restricted Stock Units	$	843,998		$	1,319,001
Total Stock-Based Compensation Expense	$	843,998		$	1,319,001

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted		3,414,840			1,208,314

Basic and diluted loss per common share	$	(0.25	)	$	(1.09	)

We record share-based compensation expenses for awards of stock options and restricted stock units, or RSUs, under ASC 718, Share-based compensation, or ASC 718. For awards to non-employees for periods prior to the adoption of ASU 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation: Improvements to Non-employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, on April 1, 2019, the Company had applied ASC 505-50, Equity – Equity-based payments to non-employees, or ASC 505-50. ASC 718 establishes guidance for the recognition of expenses arising from the issuance of share-based compensation awards at their fair value at the grant date.

We recognize share-based compensation expense related to stock options and SARs granted to employees, directors and consultants based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant. We estimate the grant date fair value, and the resulting share-based compensation expense, for stock options that only have service vesting requirements or performance-based vesting requirements without market conditions using the binomial lattice option-pricing model. The grant date fair value of the share-based awards with service vesting requirements is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective awards. Determining the appropriate amount to expense for performance-based awards based on the achievement of stated goals requires judgment. The estimate of expense is revised periodically based on the probability of achieving the required performance targets and adjustments are made as appropriate. The cumulative impact of any revisions is reflected in the period of change. If any applicable financial performance goals are not met, no compensation cost is recognized and any previously recognized compensation cost is reversed. For performance-based awards with market conditions, we determine the fair value of awards as of the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation model.

We review share-based compensation on a quarterly basis for changes to the estimate of expected award forfeitures based on actual forfeiture experience. The effect of adjusting the forfeiture rate for all expense amortization after March 31, 2007 is recognized in the period the forfeiture estimate is changed. The effect of forfeiture adjustments for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 was insignificant.

STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS

We grant warrants in connection with the issuance of common stock for cash. Warrants issued in connection with common stock for cash, if classified as equity, are considered issued in connection with equity transactions and the warrant fair value is recorded to additional paid-in-capital.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

Our research and development costs are expensed as incurred. We incurred approximately $927,000 and $896,000 of research and development expenses for the years ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, which are included in various operating expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

SIGNIFICANT RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, or ASU No. 2018-07. ASU No. 2018-07 expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU No. 2018-07 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. Entities must apply the guidance retrospectively with a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The adoption of ASU No. 2018-07 on April 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.

During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, the Company adopted ASU Topic 842 on April 1, 2019 utilizing the alternative transition method allowed for under this guidance. As a result, the Company recorded lease liabilities and right-of-use lease assets of $228,694 on its balance sheet as of April 1, 2019. The lease liabilities represent the present value of the remaining lease payments of the Company’s corporate headquarters lease (see Note 13), discounted using the Company’s incremental borrowing rate as of April 1, 2019. The corresponding right-of-use lease assets are recorded based on the lease liabilities and the cumulative difference between rent expense and amounts paid under its corporate headquarters lease. The Company also elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for its laboratory lease. For the laboratory lease that qualified as short-term, the Company did not recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities at adoption.

Topic 842 also allows lessees and lessors to elect certain practical expedients. The Company elected the following practical expedients:

·

Transitional practical expedients, which must be elected as a package and applied consistently to all of the Company’s leases:

	°	The Company need not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases.

	°	The Company need not reassess the lease classification for any expired or existing leases (that is, all existing leases that were classified as operating leases in accordance with the previous guidance will be classified as operating leases, and all existing leases that were classified as capital leases in accordance with the previous guidance will be classified as finance leases).

	°	The Company need not reassess initial direct costs for any existing leases.

·

Hindsight practical expedient. The Company elected the hindsight practical expedient in determining the lease term (that is, when considering lessee options to extend or terminate the lease and to purchase the underlying asset) and in assessing impairment of the Company’s right-of-use assets.