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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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): August 8, 2019

 

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:

 

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))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class  Trading symbol(s)  Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value  NKTR  NASDAQ Global Select Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On August 8, 2019, Nektar Therapeutics, a Delaware corporation (“Company”), issued a press release (the “Press Release”) announcing its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. A copy of the Press Release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

 

On July 30, 2019, the Company announced that it would hold a Webcast conference call on August 8, 2019 to review its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. This conference call is accessible through a link that is posted on the home page and Investors section of the Company’s website: http://ir.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.

  

Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

During the Webcast conference call (which includes a question and answer session), the Company expects to make certain forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: "will," "may," “potential,” "expect," "plan," "intend," "designed" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the therapeutic potential of bempegaldesleukin, observations of efficacy correlations with certain drug supply lots and patient populations in PIVOT-02, manufacturing plans, health authority interactions, planned trial start and completion dates, and the availability of results and outcomes from our clinical and preclinical studies. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ include, among others: (i) our statements regarding the therapeutic potential of bempegaldesleukin are based on preclinical and clinical findings and observations to date from ongoing clinical studies and therefore the data and outcomes remain subject to change; (ii) our statements regarding efficacy correlations between certain drug lots and clinical performance of certain cohorts in PIVOT-02 cannot, even when statistically significant in certain cases, be used to determine causation; (iii) the efficacy correlations in certain PIVOT-02 cohorts are subject to a number of significant limitations including, but not limited to, small sample size, analysis based solely on a limited number of efficacy attributes (including a patient’s first and second scans, best overall response rate, complete response rate and in certain cases trends in the magnitude of tumor reduction), patients not being randomly assigned to receive doses from different drug lots, no pre-planned statistical analysis to test differences in drug lot performance, individual patients receiving doses from different drug lots over time, different mixes of drug supply lots in different PIVOT-02 cohorts, no pre-specified control of potential confounding factors, a short-term evaluation period in some cases, and PIVOT-02 remains an ongoing clinical trial generating additional data; (iv) there can be no assurance that future clinical study results will be positively impacted by future drug supply for the bempegaldesleukin clinical studies; (v) data discussed on the Webcast conference call from ongoing clinical trials is necessarily interim data only and the final results will change based on continuing observations from patients that currently remain enrolled in the trials, new observations from patients enrolling in the trials, as well as final data audit and verification procedures; (vi) manufacturing biologics such as bempegaldesleukin, NKTR-358, and NKTR-255 is very complex and subject to significant risks and uncertainties related to the demonstration of adequate stability, sufficient purification of the drug substance and drug product, the identification and elimination of impurities, optimizing formulations, process and analytical methods validations, control strategies for critical quality attributes, and challenges in controlling for all of these variables; and (vii) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2019. Any forward-looking statements made by the Company in the Webcast conference call are based only on information currently available to the Company and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company undertakes 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.

 

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
   
99.1     Press release titled “Nektar Therapeutics Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2019” issued by Nektar Therapeutics on August 8, 2019.

 

1

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

  By: /s/ Mark A. Wilson
    Mark A. Wilson
    General Counsel and Secretary
     
  Date: August 8, 2019

 

 

2

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Nektar Therapeutics Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2019

Company to Host Conference Call with Analysts to Review Financial Results and Provide Update on the NKTR-214 (bempegaldesleukin) Program

SAN FRANCISCO, August 8, 2019 --- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Cash and investments in marketable securities at June 30, 2019 were $1.8 billion as compared to $1.9 billion at December 31, 2018.

“Nektar is making good progress advancing our multiple programs in immuno-oncology, immunology and pain,” said Howard W. Robin, President and CEO of Nektar. “With our partner Bristol-Myers Squibb, although we’ve experienced some delays, we are working to finalize the development program for bempegaldesleukin in combination with nivolumab in a number of tumor types and which are designed to support registration for this unique I-O doublet. We have a number of registrational trials already started and we recently received a breakthrough designation from FDA for bempeg and nivo in the setting of first-line untreated metastatic melanoma. Our partner Eli Lilly will be initiating several new studies later this year for NKTR-358, our T regulatory stimulator candidate. These studies will expand the program with additional indications beyond lupus. We recently filed an IND with the FDA for NKTR-255, our IL-15 agonist, and will initiate our first-in-human clinical study this quarter in patients with relapsed, refractory NHL and in patients with multiple myeloma.”

Nektar is hosting a conference call with analysts and investors today on which it will discuss quarterly results. On the call, the company will provide a specific update and discussion on its bempegaldesleukin clinical development program, including recent developments related to the manufacturing of bempegaldesleukin.

Revenue in the second quarter of 2019 was $23.3 million as compared to $1.088 billion in the second quarter of 2018. Year-to-date revenue for 2019 was $51.5 million as compared to $1.126 billion in the first half of 2018. Revenue was lower in the second quarter and first half of 2019 as compared to the same periods in 2018 primarily because of the recognition of $1.06 billion of license revenue from the Bristol-Myers Squibb collaboration agreement in the second quarter of 2018.

Total operating costs and expenses in the second quarter of 2019 were $134.3 million as compared to $114.1 million in the second quarter of 2018. Total operating costs and expenses in the first half of 2019 were $283.2 million as compared to $238.9 million in the first half of 2018. Total operating costs and expenses increased primarily as a result of increased research and development (R&D) expense.

R&D expense in the second quarter of 2019 was $106.7 million as compared to $88.3 million in the second quarter of 2018. For the first half of 2019, R&D expense was $225.1 million as compared to $187.8 million in the first half of 2018. R&D expense was higher in the second quarter and first half of 2019 as compared to the same periods in 2018 primarily because of expenses for our pipeline programs, including the continued development of bempegaldesleukin in Phase 2 and registrational studies and related manufacturing costs, costs related to Phase 1 clinical studies of NKTR-358 and IND-enabling activities for NKTR-255. These increases were partially offset by cost decreases related to the NKTR-181 New Drug Application and NKTR-181 pre-commercial manufacturing which were higher during the second quarter and first half of 2018.

 

 

 

  

General and administrative (G&A) expense was $22.6 million in the second quarter of 2019 as compared to $20.3 million in the second quarter of 2018. G&A expense in the first half of 2019 was $47.6 million as compared to $38.9 million in the first half of 2018. G&A expense was higher in the second quarter and first half of 2019 as compared to the same periods in 2018 primarily due to costs related to commercialization readiness activities for NKTR-181 and increased non-cash stock-based compensation.

Net loss in the second quarter of 2019 was $109.9 million or $0.63 basic and diluted loss per share as compared to a net income of $971.5 million or $5.33 diluted earnings per share in the second quarter of 2018. Net loss in the first half of 2019 was $228.4 million or $1.31 basic and diluted loss per share as compared to a net income of $875.7 million or $4.91 diluted earnings per share in the first half of 2018.

Second Quarter 2019 and Recent Business Highlights

·In August, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for bempegaldesleukin in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) for the treatment of patients with previously untreated unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
·In July, for NKTR-181, Nektar received a General Advice Letter from FDA that stated that it is postponing product-specific advisory committee meetings for opioid analgesics, including the one previously scheduled for August 21, 2019 to discuss the NDA for the NKTR-181 product, while the agency continues to consider a number of scientific and policy issues relating to this class of drugs. The FDA indicated that it will continue to review the NDA for NKTR-181 according to the existing Prescription Drug User Fee Act (“PDUFA”) timeline; however, because of the postponed Advisory Committee Meeting, it is possible the agency may not be able to meet the PDUFA goal date of August 29, 2019.
·In June, Nektar presented data from a first-in-human Phase 1a study evaluating single-ascending doses of NKTR-358, supporting development of the candidate as a first-in-class T regulatory cell stimulator for the treatment of autoimmune and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
·In June, Nektar presented data for NKTR-181 at the 81st Annual Scientific Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. The data presented identified low rates of withdrawal and a low risk of abuse potential, diversion or addiction associated with NKTR-181 in Phase 3 trials according to the MADDERS® system, the first standardized system for discerning abuse-related events.

 

 

 

 

 

·In June, Nektar presented biomarker and clinical data from the ongoing Phase 2 PIVOT-02 study for bempegaldesleukin in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) at the 2019 ASCO Annual Meeting. Clinical data presented included 12 month follow-up for the Stage 4 first-line melanoma patient cohort and showed a deepening and durability of response over time. Registrational studies in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma and urothelial cancer are currently recruiting patients.
·In May, Nektar announced formation of Inheris Biopharma, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary responsible for launch preparation and commercialization for NKTR-181, a novel, first-in-class, investigational opioid molecule. NKTR-181 is currently under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The company also announced the following upcoming presentations during the second half of 2019:

CAR-TCR Summit, Boston, MA:

·Presentation: “Utilizing Next Generation Cytokines to Enhance Efficacy and Durability of CAR-Ts”
oPresenter: Mario Marcondes, M.D., Nektar Therapeutics
oSession: Enhancing Efficacy with Combinations
oDate and Time: September 11, 2019, 6:18 – 6:48 p.m. EDT

Oxford Global 2nd Annual Advances In Immuno-Oncology USA Congress, San Diego, CA:

·Presentation: “Harnessing Potent Cytokine Agonist Pathways by Polymer Engineering to Develop Novel Immune Therapeutic Agents”
oPresenter: Loui Madakamutil, Ph.D., Nektar Therapeutics
oDate and Time:October 9, 2019, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. PDT

American Conference on Pharmacometrics (ACoP) 2019, Orlando, FL:

·Poster Title: "NKTR-262 Released Below Quantifiable Levels of TLR 7/8 Agonist in Human Plasma in Phase 1b/2 Clinical Study as Predicted A-Priori by PK Modeling and Scaling to Humans", Bhasi, K., et al.
oDate: October 20 – 23, 2019

Conference Call to Discuss Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results

Nektar management will host a conference call to review the results beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time/2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today, Thursday, August 8, 2019.

 

 

 

This press release and a live Webcast of the conference call can be accessed through a link that is posted on the home page and Investors section of the Nektar website: http://ir.nektar.com/. The web broadcast of the conference call will be available for replay through Monday, September 9, 2019.

To access the conference call, follow these instructions:

Dial: (877) 881-2183 (U.S.); (970) 315-0453 (international)
Passcode: 2879328 (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 Investors page at the Nektar website as soon as practical after the conclusion of the conference call.

About Nektar Therapeutics

Nektar Therapeutics is a research-based, development stage biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover and develop innovative medicines to address the unmet medical needs of patients. Our R&D pipeline of new investigational medicines includes treatments for cancer, auto-immune disease and chronic pain. We leverage Nektar's proprietary and proven chemistry platform in the discovery and design of our new therapeutic candidates. 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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains uncertain or forward-looking statements which can be identified by words such as: "advance," "planned," "potential," "continue," "may," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding the potential therapeutic benefits of and future development plans for our investigational products [including bempegaldesleukin ("bempeg," "NKTR-214" ), NKTR-181, NKTR-358, NKTR-262 and NKTR-255], the timing of a potential launch for NKTR-181, and the results of clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions and 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 and you should not rely on such statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include: (i) the timing of the commencement or end of clinical studies and the availability of clinical data may be delayed or unsuccessful due to regulatory delays, slower than anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, evolving regulatory requirements, clinical trial design, clinical outcomes, and enrollment competition; (ii) the timing and probability of regulatory approval, if any, for NKTR-181 is uncertain and difficult to predict; (iii) scientific discovery of new medical breakthroughs is an inherently uncertain process and the future success of applying our technology platform to drug candidates [such as bempegaldesleukin ("bempeg," "NKTR-214"), NKTR-262, NKTR-358, and NKTR-255] is therefore highly uncertain and unpredictable and one or more of these programs may fail; (iv) patents may not issue from our patent applications for our drug candidates, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from third parties may be required; and (v) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in Nektar's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2019. 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.

 

 

 

Contacts:

For Investors:

Jennifer Ruddock of Nektar Therapeutics
415-482-5585

Jodi Sievers of Nektar Therapeutics
415-482-5593

For Media:

Dan Budwick of 1AB
973-271-6085
dan@1abmedia.com

 

 

 

NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   June 30,
2019
   December 31,
2018(1)
 
ASSETS        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents     $85,424   $194,905 
Short-term investments      1,429,955    1,140,445 
Accounts receivable      37,299    43,213 
Inventory    13,188    11,381 
Advance payments to contract manufacturers    17,738    26,450 
Other current assets      13,213    21,293 
Total current assets      1,596,817    1,437,687 
           
Long-term investments      276,305    582,889 
Property, plant and equipment, net    65,453    48,851 
Operating lease right-of-use assets    82,177    - 
Goodwill    76,501    76,501 
Other assets    2,400    4,244 
Total assets   $2,099,653   $2,150,172 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY          
           
Current liabilities:           
Accounts payable     $9,346   $5,854 
Accrued compensation      19,710    9,937 
Accrued clinical trial expenses    29,540    14,700 
Accrued contract manufacturing expenses    23,159    23,841 
Other accrued expenses      13,830    9,580 
Interest payable    4,144    4,198 
Operating lease liabilities, current portion    3,749    - 
Deferred revenue, current portion    9,892    13,892 
Total current liabilities      113,370    82,002 
           
Senior secured notes, net      247,821    246,950 
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion    94,822    - 
Liability related to the sale of future royalties, net    77,813    82,911 
Deferred revenue, less current portion    8,029    10,744 
Other long-term liabilities      643    9,990 
Total liabilities      542,498    432,597 
           
Commitments and contingencies           
           
Stockholders' equity:             
Preferred stock    -    - 
Common stock    17    17 
Capital in excess of par value    3,210,398    3,147,925 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss    (788)   (6,316)
Accumulated deficit      (1,652,472)   (1,424,051)
Total stockholders' equity    1,557,155    1,717,575 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $2,099,653   $2,150,172 

  

(1)The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2018 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
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   2019   2018   2019   2018 
                 
Revenue:                
Product sales   $4,346   $5,863   $8,744   $12,158 
Royalty revenue    7,343    8,563    18,733    19,639 
Non-cash royalty revenue related to sale of future royalties   9,091    9,045    17,321    15,965 
License, collaboration and other revenue    2,535    1,064,246    6,739    1,077,973 
Total revenue    23,315    1,087,717    51,537    1,125,735 
                     
Operating costs and expenses:                     
Cost of goods sold      5,018    5,522    10,458    12,168 
Research and development      106,686    88,334    225,149    187,758 
General and administrative      22,581    20,261    47,587    38,948 
Total operating costs and expenses    134,285    114,117    283,194    238,874 
                     
Income (loss) from operations      (110,970)   973,600    (231,657)   886,861 
                     
Non-operating income (expense):                     
Interest expense    (5,231)   (5,385)   (10,457)   (10,725)
Non-cash interest expense on liability related to sale of future royalties   (5,975)   (4,975)   (12,040)   (9,994)
Interest income and other income (expense), net    11,989    12,105    24,472    13,676 
Total non-operating income (expense), net    783    1,745    1,975    (7,043)
                     
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes    (110,187)   975,345    (229,682)   879,818 
                     
Provision (benefit) for income taxes    (278)   3,885    (1,261)   4,150 
Net income (loss)   $(109,909)  $971,460   $(228,421)  $875,668 
                     
Net income (loss) per share:                       
Basic   $(0.63)  $5.67   $(1.31)  $5.27 
Diluted   $(0.63)  $5.33   $(1.31)  $4.91 
                     
Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing net income (loss) per share:                    
Basic    174,549    171,378    174,206    166,160 
Diluted    174,549    182,291    174,206    178,281 

 

2

 

 

NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   Six Months Ended June 30, 
   2019   2018 
Cash flows from operating activities:        
Net income (loss)   $(228,421)  $875,668 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:          
Non-cash royalty revenue related to sale of future royalties    (17,321)   (15,965)
Non-cash interest expense on liability related to sale of future royalties     12,040    9,994 
Stock-based compensation      49,907    40,608 
Depreciation and amortization      6,132    5,115 
Accretion of discounts, net and other non-cash transactions    (7,826)   (3,991)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:           
Accounts receivable      5,914    (19,557)
Inventory    (1,807)   (1,158)
Other assets      15,818    (14,282)
Accounts payable    3,480    5,791 
Accrued compensation    9,773    10,717 
Other accrued expenses    15,508    15,417 
Deferred revenue    (6,715)   (6,249)
Other liabilities    8,701    5,068 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities    (134,817)   907,176 
           
Cash flows from investing activities:           
Purchases of investments      (603,702)   (989,850)
Maturities of investments    634,145    132,779 
Sales of investments    -    11,963 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment      (17,291)   (3,730)
Sales of property, plant and equipment      -    2,633 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities    13,152    (846,205)
           
Cash flows from financing activities:           
Issuance of common stock    -    790,231 
Proceeds from shares issued under equity compensation plans    12,200    55,208 
Net cash provided by financing activities      12,200    845,439 
           
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents    (16)   (47)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents    (109,481)   906,363 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period    194,905    4,762 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $85,424   $911,125 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:           
Cash paid for interest     $9,455   $9,795 

 

 

3