Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at December 31, 2010 were $315.9 million.  The cash balance at December 31, 2010 does not include proceeds of $220.4 million received from the completion of a public equity offering in January 2011.  

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2010 increased to $45.3 million as compared to $39.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.  Revenue for the full year 2010 increased to $159.0 million as compared to $71.9 million for the full year 2009.  The increase in revenue year over year is the result of amortization of a $125.0 million milestone payment received from AstraZeneca in September 2009 under the partnership agreement for NKTR-118.  

Total operating costs and expenses in the fourth quarter of 2010 were $65.9 million compared to $44.5 million in the fourth quarter 2009.  The increase in total operating costs and expenses in fourth quarter 2010 was primarily due to increased research and development expenses and a non-cash facilities impairment charge of $12.6 million.

Research and development expenses increased to $31.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 as compared to $24.7 million for the same quarter in 2009.  For the full year 2010, research and development expenses increased to $108.1 million as compared to $95.1 million in 2009.  General and administrative expense was $11.6 million in the fourth quarter 2010 as compared to $11.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2009.  For the full year 2010, general and administrative expense was flat year-over-year at $41.0 million.

"2010 was a year of great advancement for Nektar," said Howard W. Robin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nektar.  "Our lead oncology program, NKTR-102, demonstrated positive results in Phase 2 studies in both ovarian and breast cancers, and we plan to move into Phase 3 in 2011.  NKTR-118, partnered with AstraZeneca, and NKTR-061, partnered with Bayer, are both planned to move into Phase 3 this year as well.  Lastly, Nektar's research pipeline is on track to deliver one new clinical candidate each year, and we are looking forward to starting Phase 1 clinical studies of NKTR-181, our novel opioid analgesic, this month."

Net loss for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010 was $22.6 million or $0.24 per share, as compared to a net loss of $7.7 million or $0.08 per share in the fourth quarter of 2009.  The fourth quarter 2010 net loss includes a non-cash impairment charge of $12.6 million, or $0.13 per share, for the write-down related to the move to Nektar's new San Francisco, California Mission Bay R&D center from its San Carlos facility.  Net loss for the full year 2010 improved to $37.9 million, or $0.40 per share, as compared to a net loss of $102.5 million, or $1.11 per share, in 2009.  

Conference Call to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Year End 2010 Financial Results

A conference call to review the financial results will be held today, Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 2 PM Pacific Time/5 PM Eastern time.  

Details are below:

The 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.

An audio replay will also be available shortly following the call through Tuesday, March 29, 2011 and can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 (U.S.); or (617) 801-6888 (international) with a passcode of 10590598.

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 is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics based on its PEGylation and advanced polymer conjugation technology platforms. Nektar has a robust R&D pipeline of potentially high-value therapeutics in oncology, pain and other areas. In the area of pain, Nektar has an exclusive worldwide license agreement with AstraZeneca for Nektar's oral NKTR-118 late-stage development program to treat opioid-induced constipation and its NKTR-119 earlier stage development program for the treatment of pain without constipation side effects.  NKTR-181, a novel mu-opioid analgesic molecule, is scheduled to enter Phase 1 clinical studies in the first part of 2011.  In oncology, NKTR-102, a novel topoisomerase I-inhibitor, is being evaluated in Phase 2 clinical studies for the treatment of breast, ovarian and colorectal cancers. NKTR-105, a novel anti-mitotic agent, is in a Phase 1 clinical study in cancer patients with refractory solid tumors.

Nektar's technology has enabled seven approved products in the U.S. or Europe through partnerships with leading biopharmaceutical companies, including UCB's Cimzia(R) for Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, Roche's PEGASYS(R) for hepatitis C and Amgen's Neulasta(R) for neutropenia.

Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional R&D 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.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current views regarding the value and potential of Nektar's drug candidate pipeline and the plan to move new drug candidates into clinical development, the planned start of the Phase 3 programs for NKTR-118 and Amikacin Inhale, and the timing of the commencement of the Phase 1 clinical trial for NKTR-181.  These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: (i) Nektar's product candidates and those of its collaboration partners are in various stages of clinical development and the risk of failure is high and can unexpectedly occur at any stage prior to regulatory approval for numerous reasons including safety and efficacy findings even after positive findings in preclinical and clinical studies; (ii) the timing of the commencement or end of clinical trials and the successful commercial launch of our drug candidates may be delayed or unsuccessful due to slower than anticipated patient enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, regulatory delay, 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 Nektar's technology platform to potential new drug candidates is therefore highly uncertain and unpredictable and one or more research and development programs could fail; (iv) Nektar's patent applications for its proprietary or partner product candidates may not issue, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from third parties may be required in the future; (v) the outcome of any future intellectual property or other litigation related to Nektar's proprietary product candidates or complex commercial agreements; and (vi) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in Nektar's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2011.  Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.  Nektar undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics