UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 3, 2016

 

NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware   0-24006   94-3134940

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

455 Mission Bay Boulevard South

San Francisco, California 94158

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 482-5300

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On May 3, 2016, Nektar Therapeutics, a Delaware corporation (“Nektar”), issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. A copy of the Press Release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

 

On April 28, 2016, Nektar announced that it would hold a Webcast conference call on May 3, 2016 to review financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. This conference call is accessible through a link that is posted on the home page and Investor Relations section of the Nektar website: http://www.nektar.com.

 

The information in this report, including the exhibit hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section or Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The information contained herein and in the accompanying exhibit shall not be incorporated by reference into any filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission made by Nektar Therapeutics, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
     
99.1   Press Release titled “Nektar Therapeutics Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2016” issued by Nektar Therapeutics on May 3, 2016.

 

 

 

  

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS
     
May  3, 2016 By: /s/ Gil M. Labrucherie
    Gil M. Labrucherie
    General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

  

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.
  Description
     
99.1  

Press Release titled “Nektar Therapeutics Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2016” issued by Nektar Therapeutics on May 3, 2016. 

 

 

  

Exhibit 99.1 

 

Nektar Therapeutics Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2016

 

SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2016.

 

Cash and investments in marketable securities at March 31, 2016 were $288.3 million as compared to $308.9 million at December 31, 2015. This balance at March 31, 2016 does not include $28.0 million received from AstraZeneca in April of 2016 for the sublicense of MOVENTIG™ to ProStrakan in Europe.

 

"I am very pleased with the progress of both our proprietary pipeline and partner programs," said Howard W. Robin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nektar. "MOVANTIK® has performed well in its first year with positive feedback from physicians and patients. ADYNOVATE™, which was launched in the U.S. in December 2015 by Baxalta, recently received approval in Japan and has now been filed for approval in Europe.  The NKTR-181 Phase 3 efficacy study in patients with chronic low back pain is on track to provide top-line results in early 2017.  Finally, NKTR-214, our immuno-oncology candidate, is advancing in its first-in-human trial evaluating its safety and efficacy in cancer patients with solid tumors.  We expect to report initial top-line data from the dose-escalation stage of the NKTR-214 study in the second half of 2016."

 

Revenue for the first quarter of 2016 was $58.9 million as compared to $108.8 million in the first quarter of 2015. Revenue for the first quarter of 2016 includes the recognition of $28.0 million received from AstraZeneca in April of 2016 for the sublicense of MOVENTIG to ProStrakan in Europe which occurred in the first quarter.  Revenue in the first quarter of 2015 was higher primarily because of the one-time recognition of $90 million related to the U.S. commercial launch of MOVANTIK™.  Product sales and royalty revenue increased to $18.2 million in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to $8.1 million in the first quarter of 2015.

 

Revenue also included non-cash royalty revenue, related to our 2012 royalty monetization, of $6.5 million and $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. This non-cash royalty revenue is partially offset by non-cash interest expense also incurred in connection with the 2012 royalty monetization. Non-cash interest expense was $5.0 million in the first quarter 2016 as compared to $5.1 million in the first quarter 2015.

 

Total operating costs and expenses for the first quarter of 2016 were $68.4 million as compared to $65.8 million in the first quarter of 2015. Total operating costs and expenses increased primarily as a result of higher research and development (R&D) expense in the first quarter of 2016.  R&D expense in the first quarter of 2016 was $49.3 million as compared to $47.0 million for the first quarter of 2015 and was higher in the first quarter of 2016 primarily due to expenses for the NKTR-181 Phase 3 studies and for initiation of the Phase 1/2 study of NKTR-214.

 

General and administrative expense was $10.2 million in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to $10.3 million in the first quarter of 2015.

 

In Q1 2016, net loss was $19.5 million, or $0.14 loss per share as compared to net income of $33.8 million, or $0.26 basic earnings per share in the first quarter of 2015.  This decrease is primarily because of the one-time recognition of $90 million related to the U.S. commercial launch of MOVANTIK™ in the first quarter of 2015.

 

The company also announced upcoming presentations at the following scientific congresses during the first half of 2016:

 

SMI 16th Annual Pain Therapeutics Conference, London, England:

 

·Abstract Title:  "NKTR-181, A Novel Mu-Opioid Analgesic Designed for Inherent Low Abuse Liability" presented by Stephen Doberstein, Ph.D.

 

oSession: Opioid Dependence

oDate: May 24, 2016

 

ASCO Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL:

 

·Abstract 11545: "Immune Memory in Nonclinical Models after Treatment with NKTR-214, an Engineered Cytokine Biased Towards Expansion of CD8+ T Cells in Tumor", D. Charych, et al.

 

oPoster Session: Tumor Biology

oDate: June 6, 2016, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central Time

 

 

 

  

Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter 2016 Financial Results

 

Nektar management will host a conference call to review the results beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time/1:30 p.m. Pacific Time today, Tuesday, May 3, 2016.

 

This press release and a live audio-only Webcast of the conference call can be accessed through a link that is posted on the home page and Investor Relations section of the Nektar website: http://www.nektar.com. The web broadcast of the conference call will be available for replay through Friday, June 3, 2016.

 

To access the conference call, follow these instructions:

 

Dial: (877) 881.2183 (U.S.); (970) 315.0453 (international)
Passcode: 96031147 (Nektar Therapeutics is the host)

 

In the event that any non-GAAP financial measure is discussed on the conference call that is not described in the press release, or explained on the conference call, related information will be made available on the Investor Relations page at the Nektar website as soon as practical after the conclusion of the conference call.

 

About Nektar

 

Nektar Therapeutics has a robust R&D pipeline in pain, oncology, hemophilia and other therapeutic areas. In the area of pain, Nektar has an exclusive worldwide license agreement with AstraZeneca for MOVANTIK™ (naloxegol), the first FDA-approved once-daily oral peripherally-acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) medication for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC), in adult patients with chronic, non-cancer pain. The product is also approved in the European Union as MOVENTIG® (naloxegol) and is indicated for adult patients with OIC who have had an inadequate response to laxatives. The AstraZeneca agreement also includes NKTR-119, an earlier stage development program that is a co-formulation of MOVANTIK and an opioid. NKTR-181, a wholly-owned mu-opioid analgesic molecule for chronic pain conditions, is in Phase 3 development. In hemophilia, Nektar has a collaboration agreement with Baxalta for ADYNOVATE™ [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant)], a longer-acting PEGylated Factor VIII therapeutic approved in the U.S. in patients over 12 with hemophilia A. In anti-infectives, Amikacin Inhale is in Phase 3 studies conducted by Bayer Healthcare as an adjunctive treatment for intubated and mechanically ventilated patients with Gram-negative pneumonia.

 

Nektar's technology has enabled nine approved products in the U.S. or Europe through partnerships with leading biopharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca's MOVANTIK™, Baxalta's ADYNOVATE™, UCB's CIMZIA® for Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, Roche's PEGASYS® for hepatitis C and Amgen's NEULASTA® for neutropenia.

 

Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional operations in Huntsville, Alabama and Hyderabad, India. Further information about the company and its drug development programs and capabilities may be found online at http://www.nektar.com.

 

MOVANTIK™ is a trademark and MOVENTIG® is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.

 

ADYNOVATE™ is a trademark of Baxalta Inc.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "expect," "believe," "should," "may," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the advancement of our pipeline, the potential of MOVANTIK and ADYNOVATE, target time frames for availability of future clinical results, and the value and potential of our polymer conjugate technology and research and development pipeline. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, (i) the commercial potential of a new drug at the early stages of commercial launch, such as MOVANTIK and ADYNOVATE, is difficult to predict and will have a significant impact on our future results of operation and financial condition; (ii) the timing of the commencement or end of clinical trials and the commercial launch of our drug candidates and those of our partners may be delayed or unsuccessful due to regulatory delays, institutional review board review and approvals, slower than anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, evolving regulatory requirements, clinical trial design, clinical outcomes, competitive factors, or delay or failure in ultimately obtaining regulatory approval in one or more important markets; (iii) scientific discovery of new medical breakthroughs is an inherently uncertain process and the future success of the application of our technology platform to potential new drug candidates is therefore highly uncertain and unpredictable and one or more research and development programs could fail; (iv) patents may not issue from our patent applications for our drugs (including MOVANTIK and ADYNOVATE) and drug candidates, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from third parties may be required; and (v) the outcome of any existing or future intellectual property or other litigation related to our drugs and drug candidates and those of our collaboration partners including MOVANTIK and ADYNOVATE. Other important risks and uncertainties set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

 

 

  

Contact:
For Investors: 
Jennifer Ruddock of Nektar Therapeutics
415-482-5585

 

Jodi Sievers of Nektar Therapeutics
415-482-5593

 

For Media:
Dan Budwick of Pure Communications, Inc.
(973) 271-6085 
dan@purecommunicationsinc.com

 

 

NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   March 31, 2016   December 31, 2015(1)
ASSETS          
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $72,549   $55,570 
Short-term investments   215,776    253,374 
Accounts receivable, net   39,677    19,947 
Inventory   11,250    11,346 
Other current assets   5,593    9,814 
Total current assets   344,845    350,051 
           
Property, plant and equipment, net   69,852    71,336 
Goodwill   76,501    76,501 
Other assets   681    754 
Total assets  $491,879   $498,642 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)          
           
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $2,349   $2,363 
Accrued compensation   10,044    5,998 
Accrued clinical trial expenses   10,596    8,220 
Other accrued expenses   6,284    4,156 
Interest payable   4,144    4,198 
Capital lease obligations, current portion   4,782    4,756 
Deferred revenue, current portion   17,240    21,428 
Other current liabilities   10,506    10,127 
Total current liabilities   65,945    61,246 
           
Senior secured notes, net   242,130    241,699 
Capital lease obligations, less current portion   3,325    1,073 
Liability related to sale of future royalties, net   114,631    116,029 
Deferred revenue, less current portion   59,587    62,426 
Other long-term liabilities   6,536    9,740 
Total liabilities   492,154    492,213 
           
Commitments and contingencies          
           
Stockholders' equity (deficit):          
Preferred stock   -    - 
Common stock   13    13 
Capital in excess of par value   1,888,531    1,876,072 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (1,835)   (2,170)
Accumulated deficit   (1,886,984)   (1,867,486)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)   (275)   6,429 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)  $491,879   $498,642 

 

(1) The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and notes required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States for complete financial statements.

  

 

 

  

NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share information)

(Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended March 31, 
   2016   2015 
         
Revenue:          
   Product sales  $14,099   $7,974 
   Royalty revenue   4,061    125 
   Non-cash royalty revenue related to sale of future royalties   6,535    3,962 
   License, collaboration and other revenue   34,187    96,740 
Total revenue   58,882    108,801 
           
Operating costs and expenses:          
   Cost of goods sold   8,870    8,444 
   Research and development   49,268    47,011 
   General and administrative   10,228    10,303 
Total operating costs and expenses   68,366    65,758 
           
Income (loss) from operations   (9,484)   43,043 
           
Non-operating income (expense):          
   Interest expense   (5,677)   (4,171)
   Non-cash interest expense on liability related to sale of future royalties   (5,045)   (5,050)
   Interest income and other income (expense), net   875    211 
Total non-operating expense, net   (9,847)   (9,010)
           
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes   (19,331)   34,033 
           
Provision for income taxes   167    213 
Net income (loss)  $(19,498)  $33,820 
           
Net income (loss) per share:          
   Basic  $(0.14)  $0.26 
           
   Diluted  $(0.14)  $0.25 
           
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income (loss) per share:          
   Basic   135,793    131,359 
           
   Diluted   135,793    135,667 

 

 

 

  

NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended March 31, 
   2016   2015 
Cash flows from operating activities:          
Net income (loss)  $(19,498)  $33,820 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:          
Non-cash royalty revenue related to sale of future royalties   (6,535)   (3,962)
Non-cash interest expense on liability related to sale of future royalties   5,045    5,050 
Stock-based compensation   6,363    5,177 
Depreciation and amortization   3,715    2,973 
Other non-cash transactions   (617)   (938)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable, net   (19,730)   722 
Inventory   96    441 
Other assets   4,294    2,809 
Accounts payable   (34)   2,241 
Accrued compensation   4,046    3,607 
Accrued clinical trial expenses   2,376    1,039 
Other accrued expenses   2,176    1,811 
Interest payable   (54)   (3,750)
Deferred revenue   (7,027)   1,993 
Other liabilities   1,736    10,279 
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities   (23,648)   63,312 
           
Cash flows from investing activities:          
Purchases of investments   (31,452)   (24,432)
Maturities of investments   69,377    73,434 
Sales of investments   -    5,215 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment   (1,679)   (1,059)
Net cash provided by investing activities   36,246    53,158 
           
Cash flows from financing activities:          
Payment of capital lease obligations   (1,723)   (1,098)
Proceeds from shares issued under equity compensation plans   6,096    1,685 
Net cash provided by financing activities   4,373    587 
           
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents   8    30 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   16,979    117,087 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   55,570    12,365 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  $72,549   $129,452 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:          
Cash paid for interest  $5,244   $7,855