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Jul 28, 2010
Nektar Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2010 Financial Results

SAN CARLOS, Calif., July 28, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at June 30, 2010 were $338.2 million as compared to $362.0 million at March 31, 2010.

Revenue for the second quarter of 2010 increased to $42.6 million as compared to $13.0 million in the second quarter of 2009. The increase in revenue year over year is largely the result of the amortization of the $125 million milestone payment received from AstraZeneca in September 2009 under the new partnership agreement for NKTR-118.

Total operating costs and expenses in the second quarter of 2010 declined by 6% to $40.7 million, compared to $43.5 million in the second quarter 2009.

Research and development expense increased to $25.6 million in the second quarter 2010 as compared to $24.0 million for the same quarter in 2009. General and administrative expense was $10.2 million in the second quarter 2010 as compared to $9.1 million in the second quarter of 2009.

"The number of drug candidates advanced by Nektar in just three years highlights the unique potential of our polymer conjugation technology to create a steady stream of valuable product opportunities," said Howard W. Robin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nektar. "In the second quarter, we reported compelling Phase 2 data for our lead oncology compound, NKTR-102, in both ovarian and breast cancer patients. With a deep pipeline in various stages of development, ranging from preclinical compounds to candidates preparing for Phase 3, Nektar is well-positioned for continued success in 2010."

Net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010 was $0.5 million or $0.01 per share as compared to a net loss of $32.1 million or $0.35 per share in the second quarter of 2009.

Conference Call to Discuss Second Quarter 2010 Financial Results

A conference call to review results will be held today, Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 2 PM Pacific Time. To access the conference call, follow these instructions:

Dial: (866) 788-0541 (U.S.); (857) 350-1679 (international)

Passcode: 96449158

An audio replay will also be available shortly following the call through Thursday, August 12, 2010 and can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 (U.S.); or (617) 801-6888 (international) with a passcode of 67523786.

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 development program to treat opioid-induced constipation and its NKTR-119 development program for the treatment of pain without constipation side effects. The company has additional pain compounds in preclinical studies. In oncology, NKTR-102, a novel topoisomerase I-inhibitor, is being evaluated in Phase 2 clinical studies for the treatment of ovarian, breast 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 nine 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 Carlos, 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 progress and potential of Nektar's pipeline of proprietary drug candidates, the value and potential of the Nektar's technology platform, and the value and potential of certain of Nektar's collaborations with third parties. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: (i) Nektar's proprietary 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 of development prior to regulatory approval for numerous reasons including, without limitation, safety and efficacy findings even after initial preclinical and clinical results have been positive; (ii) the timing or success of the commencement or end of clinical trials and commercial launch of partnered products may be delayed or unsuccessful due to slower than anticipated patient enrollment, drug manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, clinical trial design, clinical outcomes, or delay or failure in obtaining regulatory approval in one or more important markets; (iii) 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; (iv) the outcome of any future intellectual property or other litigation related to Nektar's proprietary product candidates or complex commercial agreements; (v) if Nektar is unable to establish and maintain collaboration partnerships on attractive commercial terms, our business, results of operations and financial condition could suffer; and (vi) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in Nektar's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 to be filed on or about July 28, 2010, the Current Report on Form 8-K filed today, and the most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 filed on May 5, 2010. 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.


    Nektar Investor Inquiries:
    Jennifer Ruddock/Nektar Therapeutics
    (650) 631-4954

    Susan Noonan/SA Noonan Communications, LLC
    (212) 966-3650

    Nektar Media Inquiries:
    Karen Bergman/BCC Partners
    (650) 575-1509

    Michelle Corral/BCC Partners
    (415) 794-8662



                        NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                          (In thousands)
                            (Unaudited)





                   ASSETS                    June 30,   December 31,
                                                2010         2009(1)
                                                ----         ----
    Current assets:
           Cash and cash equivalents         $23,244      $49,597
           Short-term investments            314,976      346,614
           Accounts receivable                 9,446        4,801
           Inventory                           9,777        6,471
           Other current assets                6,363        6,183
                                               -----
           Total current assets             $363,806     $413,666

    Property and equipment,
     net                                      88,223       78,263
    Goodwill                                  76,501       76,501
    Other assets                               2,108        7,088
                                               -----        -----
           Total  assets                    $530,638     $575,518
                                            ========

             LIABILITIES AND
           STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

    Current liabilities:
           Accounts payable                   $4,627       $3,066
           Accrued compensation                7,908       10,052
           Accrued expenses                   10,189        4,354
            Accrued clinical trial
            expenses                          13,349       14,167
            Deferred revenue, current
            portion                           65,342      115,563
           Other current liabilities           6,051        5,814
                                               -----
           Total current liabilities        $107,466     $153,016

    Convertible subordinated
     notes                                   214,955      214,955
    Capital lease obligations                 17,887       18,800
    Deferred revenue                          71,910       76,809
    Deferred gain                              4,589        5,027
    Other long-term
     liabilities                               4,302        4,544
                                               -----        -----
           Total liabilities                $421,109     $473,151

    Commitments and
     contingencies

    Stockholders' equity:
           Preferred stock                        $-           $-
           Common stock                            9            9
            Capital in excess of par
            value                          1,342,195    1,327,942
            Accumulated other
            comprehensive income                 581        1,025
           Accumulated deficit            (1,233,256)  (1,226,609)
                                         -----------
            Total stockholders'
            equity                          $109,529     $102,367
                                            --------     --------
            Total liabilities and
            stockholders' equity            $530,638     $575,518
                                      ==============




    (1) The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2009 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          Six Months Ended
                                June 30,                   June 30,
                                --------                   --------
                            2010            2009     2010            2009
                            ----            ----     ----            ----


    Revenue:
      Product sales and
       royalties         $11,154         $10,525  $14,738         $16,995
      License,
       collaboration and
       other              31,409           2,463   61,062           5,704
                          ------           -----   ------           -----
    Total revenue         42,563          12,988   75,800          22,699

    Operating costs and
     expenses:
      Cost of goods sold   4,889          10,379    9,185          16,005
      Research and
       development        25,600          24,002   48,886          47,365
      General and
       administrative     10,207           9,087   19,220          20,107
    Total operating
     costs and expenses   40,696          43,468   77,291          83,477
                          ------          ------   ------          ------

    Income (loss) from
     operations            1,867         (30,480)  (1,491)        (60,778)

    Non-operating
     income (expense):
      Interest income        393             950      856           2,600
      Interest expense    (2,909)         (2,948)  (5,860)         (6,285)
      Other income, net      163             203      187             248
                             ---             ---      ---             ---
    Total non-
     operating expense    (2,353)         (1,795)  (4,817)         (3,437)

    Loss before
     provision
     (benefit) for
     income taxes           (486)        (32,275)  (6,308)        (64,215)

    Provision (Benefit)
     for income taxes         31            (206)     339            (339)
                             ---            ----      ---            ----

    Net loss               $(517)       $(32,069) $(6,647)       $(63,876)
                           =====        ========  =======        ========

    Basic and diluted
     net loss per share   $(0.01)         $(0.35)  $(0.07)         $(0.69)

    Shares used in
     computing basic
     and
      diluted net loss
       per share          94,065          92,556   93,849          92,536


                                 NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (In thousands)
                                     (Unaudited)


                                              Six Months Ended June 30,
                                              -------------------------
                                                 2010                2009
                                                 ----                ----
    Cash flows from operating
     activities:
      Net loss                                $(6,647)           $(63,876)
      Adjustments to reconcile net loss
       to net cash used in operating
       activities:
         Depreciation and amortization          8,334               7,359
         Stock-based compensation               8,105               4,691
         Deferred rent                            542                   -
         Other non-cash transactions             (747)                 56
      Changes in operating assets and
       liabilities:
         Accounts receivable                   (4,645)              2,362
         Inventory                             (3,306)               (791)
         Other assets                            (136)              1,284
         Accounts payable                       2,183              (5,513)
         Accrued compensation                  (2,144)             (4,687)
         Accrued expenses                       1,012              (1,344)
         Accrued clinical trial expenses         (818)             (5,512)
         Deferred revenue                     (55,120)             (4,111)
         Other liabilities                       (729)               (995)
      Net cash used in operating
       activities                            $(54,116)           $(71,077)

    Cash flows from investing
     activities:
         Purchases of investments            (218,275)           (186,016)
         Sales of investments                   8,197               7,627
         Maturities of investments            241,256             221,948
         Transaction costs from Novartis
          pulmonary asset sale                      -              (4,440)
         Purchases of property and equipment   (8,796)             (7,999)
                                               ------              ------
      Net cash provided by investing
       activities                             $22,382             $31,120

    Cash flows from financing
     activities:
         Payments of loan and capital lease
          obligations                            (731)               (616)
         Proceeds from issuances of common
          stock                                 6,148                  90
                                                -----                 ---
      Net cash provided by (used in)
       financing activities                    $5,417               $(526)
                                               ------               -----
      Effect of exchange rates on cash
       and cash equivalents                       (36)               (109)
                                                  ---                ----
      Net decrease in cash and cash
       equivalents                           $(26,353)           $(40,592)
      Cash and cash equivalents at
       beginning of period                     49,597             155,584
      Cash and cash equivalents at end of
       period                                 $23,244            $114,992
                                              =======            ========


SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics

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