Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.

Cash, cash equivalents, and investments at June 30, 2011 were $481.8 million as compared to $315.9 million at December 31, 2010.

Revenue for the second quarter of 2011 decreased to $17.3 million as compared to $42.6 million in the second quarter of 2010.  This decrease in revenue year over year is primarily attributable to the completion as of December 31, 2010 of the amortization of the $125.0 million upfront payment received in 2009 from AstraZeneca for the NKTR-118 and NKTR-119 license agreement.  

"Nektar continued to advance our pipeline programs in the second quarter of 2011," said Howard W. Robin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nektar. "In June, we finalized our pivotal study design for NKTR-102 in metastatic breast cancer with the FDA. AstraZeneca's Phase 3 KODIAC program for NKTR-118 is continuing with the first regulatory filing planned for 2013.  We completed our first clinical study of NKTR-181, our novel opioid candidate, with positive proof-of-concept results.  Finally, we are on track to introduce a new IND candidate later this year."

Total operating costs and expenses in the second quarter of 2011 increased by 27% to $51.6 million, compared to $40.7 million in the second quarter of 2010.  This increase was primarily a result of higher development expenses related to the advancement of multiple programs in clinical development.  Research and development expense increased to $32.3 million in the second quarter of 2011 as compared to $25.6 million for the second quarter in 2010.  General and administrative expense increased to $11.2 million in the second quarter of 2011 from $10.2 million in the second quarter of 2010.

Net loss for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011 was $36.4 million or $0.32 loss per share as compared to a net loss of $0.5 million or $0.01 loss per share in the second quarter of 2010.

Nektar also announced several upcoming data presentations for NKTR-102 and NKTR-181:

Phase 2 data for NKTR-102 in metastatic breast cancer will be presented in an oral session at the 2011 ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium on September 9, 2011:

• Abstract #269: "Final results of NKTR-102, a topoisomerase I inhibitor-polymer conjugate, in patients (Pts) with pretreated metastatic breast cancer (MBC) demonstrating significant antitumor activity," A. A. Garcia, et al.

Phase 1 data for NKTR-181 will be presented at American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) Annual Clinical Meeting on September 21, 2011:

• "Phase 1 Study of Oral NKTR-181, a Novel Opioid Analgesic Molecule with Reduced Abuse Potential and Favorable Safety Profile," Lynn Webster, MD, et al.
• "NKTR-181: A Novel Mu-Opioid Agonist That Exhibits Reduced Abuse Potential and Maintains Full Analgesic Activity Following Repeat Dosing in Preclinical Rodent Models," Stephen D. Harrison, PhD, et al.

Conference Call to Discuss Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results

Nektar management will host a conference call to review the results beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)/2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) today, Thursday, August 4, 2011.

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. The web broadcast of the conference call will be available for replay through Friday, September 2, 2011.

To access the conference call, follow these instructions:
Dial: (877) 299-4454 (U.S.); (617) 597-5447 (international)
Passcode: 93854703 (Nektar Therapeutics is the host)

An audio replay will also be available shortly following the call through Friday, September 2, 2011 and can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 (U.S.); or (617) 801-6888 (international) with a passcode of 53256804.

In the event that any non-GAAP financial measure is discussed on the conference call that is not 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 NKTR-118, an investigational drug candidate, being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical studies as a once-daily, oral tablet for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation.  The agreement also includes NKTR-119, an earlier stage development program that is a co-formulation of NKTR-118 and an opioid.  NKTR-181, a novel mu-opioid analgesic molecule, is being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical studies.  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.  

Nektar's technology has enabled seven approved products in the U.S. or Europe through partnerships with leading biopharmaceutical companies, including 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 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, the value and potential of Nektar's technology platform, the timing of the commencement of clinical trials and regulatory submissions, 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 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 related regulatory submissions) 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 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 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2011 and the Current Report on Form 8-K filed today.  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