associated with the anticipated initiation of our Phase 2 study in Behçet’s Disease and the second confirmatory Phase 3 CTCL trial. Research and development expenses were $1,596,198 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $1,709,150 for the same period in 2023, representing a decrease of $112,952 or 7%. The decrease was primarily due to adjustment of estimated accruals for completed clinical trials offset by preliminary costs associated with the anticipated initiation of our Phase 2 study in Behçet’s Disease and the second confirmatory Phase 3 CTCL trial.
General and administrative expenses were $1,243,517 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $890,533 for the same period in 2023, representing an increase of $352,984 or 40%. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was primarily attributable to an increase in legal and professional fees associated with the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, the April 2024 public offering and the June 2024 reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock. General and administrative expenses were $2,265,568 for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $2,125,909 for the same period in 2023, representing an increase of $139,659 or 7%. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was primarily attributable to an increase in legal and professional fees associated with the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders, the April 2024 public offering and the June 2024 reverse stock split of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock partially offset by decreases in expenses associated with business development and investor relations.
The amendment to the convertible debt financing agreement with Pontifax Medison Finance (“Pontifax”) – see Note 4, resulted in the extinguishment of the original convertible debt for accounting purposes. We elected to account for the amended convertible debt using the fair value option, which requires us to record changes in fair value as a component of other income or expense. We determined the carrying amount reported in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2024 for the convertible debt is its fair value which totals $2,745,745 and was approximately equivalent to the face value of the convertible debt at June 30, 2024. We recognized $95,551 and $260,933 of other income from the change in the fair value of the convertible debt on our accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.
Interest expense, net for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was ($35,925) as compared to $60,194 for the same period in 2023, representing a decrease of $96,119 or 160%. The decrease is primarily associated with the reduction in interest resulting from the repayment of $6 million of the convertible debt principal balance. Interest expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was ($64,767) as compared to $163,762 for the same period in 2023, representing a decrease of $228,529 or 140%. The decrease is primarily associated with the reduction in interest resulting from the repayment of $6 million of the convertible debt principal balance.
Financial Condition
Cash and Working Capital
As of June 30, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $9,412,539 as compared to $8,446,158 as of December 31, 2023, representing an increase of $966,381 or 11%. As of June 30, 2024, we had working capital of $3,308,260 as compared to working capital of $3,355,212 as of December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of $46,952 or 1%. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was primarily related to cash received from the April 2024 public offering offset by cash used in operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2024. The decrease in working capital is primarily the result of the reclassification of approximately $1 million of the convertible debt balance from a non-current liability as of December 31, 2023 to a current liability as of June 30, 2024 (resulting from the amendment to the loan and security agreement with Pontifax – see Note 4), and cash used in operating activities during the six months ended June 30, 2024 offset by cash received from the April 2024 public offering.
Based on our operating budget, current rate of cash outflows, cash on hand, and proceeds from government contract and grant programs, we believe that we have sufficient resources available to support our development activities and business operations and timely satisfy our obligations as they become due through the second