2023 Operating Results
Research and development expenses were $21.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $5.6 million during the same period in 2022. The increase of $16.3 million was primarily due to a net increase of approximately $9.9 million in manufacturing expense, a net increase of approximately $6.0 million in preclinical and clinical expenses as our FB-102 program entered the clinic, and a net increase in payroll and related expenses of approximately $0.4 million primarily due to an increase in headcount.
General and administrative expenses were $10.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2022. The increase of $2.3 million was primarily due to an increase in professional and legal expenses of $2.6 million, an increase in other expenses of $0.4 million, including rent and personnel expenses, partially offset by a reduction in stock-based compensation expense of $0.7 million.
Net losses per share were ($1.00) and ($0.80) for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Forte ended 2023 with approximately $37.1 million in cash and cash equivalents. Forte had approximately 36.3 million shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2023.