NOTE 18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Operating Leases On January 31, 2006 we entered into a lease agreement for office and laboratory space in Addison, Texas. The lease commenced on April 1, 2006 and continues until April 1, 2013. The lease required a minimum monthly lease obligation of $9,330, which is inclusive of monthly operating expenses, until April 1, 2011 and at such time increased to $9,776, which is inclusive of monthly operating expenses. On February 22, 2013, we executed an Amendment to Lease Agreement (the "Lease Amendment") that renewed and extended our lease until March 31, 2015. The Lease Amendment requires a minimum monthly lease obligation of $9,128, which is inclusive of monthly operating expenses, until March 31, 2014 and at such time, will increase to $9,314, which is inclusive of monthly operating expenses. The Lease Amendment includes an option whereby we may convert the term of our lease renewal from a two year term to a five year term by providing written notice on or before October 1, 2013. If so elected, the minimum monthly lease obligation for the remainder of the first year shall be reduced to $8,751, which is inclusive of monthly operating expenses, effective on the first day of the month following our election and the minimum monthly lease obligation shall increase annually every April 1 st thereafter by $186 per month until March 31, 2018. On December 10, 2010 we entered into a lease agreement for certain office equipment. The lease, which commenced on February 1, 2011 and continues until February 1, 2015, requires a minimum lease obligation of $744 per month. The future minimum lease payments under the 2013 office lease and the 2010 equipment lease are as follows as of March 31, 2013: Calendar Years Future Lease Expense 2013 (Nine months) $ 88,848 2014 120,136 2015 28,686 2016 --- 2017 --- Total $ 237,670 Rent expense for our operating leases amounted to $25,028 and $31,969 for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Indemnification In the normal course of