SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G
                                 (Rule 13d-102)

                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS
                   FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c), AND
                           (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO
                             FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)
                                (Amendment No. )*


                               Nektar Therapeutics
                         ------------------------------

                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
                         ------------------------------

                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    640268108
                         ------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                DECEMBER 31, 2006
             -------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

            Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant
                        to which this Schedule is filed:

                                (x) Rule 13d-1(b)
                                ( ) Rule 13d-1(c)
                                ( ) Rule 13d-1(d)

- ----------------
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
                        (Continued on following page(s))










1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
         I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

         TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC
         I.R.S. #13-3586142

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP     (a) ( )
                                                              (b) ( )


3. SEC USE ONLY


4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

         Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

         5. SOLE VOTING POWER          5,391,450

         6. SHARED VOTING POWER        0

         7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER     5,391,450

         8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER   0

9.       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                                    5,391,450

10.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
         SHARES ( )


11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

                                     5.97%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

                                       IA














1.       NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
         I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

         Teachers Advisors, Inc.
         I.R.S. # 13-3760073

2.       CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP     (a) ( )
                                                              (b) ( )


3.       SEC USE ONLY


4.       CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

         Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:

         5. SOLE VOTING POWER           363,921

         6. SHARED VOTING POWER         0

         7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER      363,921

         8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER    0

9.       AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                     363,921

10.      CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
         SHARES ( )


11.      PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

                                     0.40%

12.      TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

                                       IA

















Item 1(a).        NAME OF ISSUER:

                           Nektar Therapeutics

Item 1(b).        ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

                           150 Industrial Road
                           San Carlos, CA 94070


Items 2(a)-2(c).           NAME, ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE, AND
                           CITIZENSHIP OF PERSONS FILING:

                           TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC
                           ("Investment Management")
                           730 Third Avenue
                           New York, NY  10017
                           Citizenship:  Delaware

                           Teachers Advisors, Inc. ("Advisors")
                           730 Third Avenue
                           New York, NY  10017
                           Citizenship:  Delaware


Item 2(d).        TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:

                           Common Stock

Item 2(e).        CUSIP NUMBER:  640268108

Item 3.           IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b),
                  OR 13d-2(b) or (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

(a)    ( )    Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

(b)    ( )    Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.

(c)    ( )    Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange
              Act.

(d)    ( )    Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
              Company Act.

(e)    (x)    An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

(f)    ( )    An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
              Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

(g)    ( )    A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
              Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

(h)    ( )    A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
              Deposit Insurance Act.

(i)    ( )    A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
              investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
              Company Act.

(j)    ( )    Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).









ADVISORS

(a)    ( )    Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.

(b)    ( )    Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.

(c)    ( )    Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange
              Act.

(d)    ( )    Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
              Company Act.

(e)    (x)    An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

(f)    ( )    An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
              Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

(g)    ( )    A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
              Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

(h)    ( )    A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
              Deposit Insurance Act.

(i)    ( )    A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
              investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
              Company Act.

(j)    ( )    Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).


If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box. ( )


Item 4.           OWNERSHIP

                  (a) Aggregate amount beneficially owned: 5,755,371 (See
                      Exhibit A)

                  (b) Percent of class: 6.37 %

                  (c) Powers of shares:

                                    INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT            ADVISORS

Sole Voting Power:                  5,391,450                        363,921

Shared Voting Power:                0                                0

Sole Dispositive Power:             5,391,450                        363,921

Shared Dispositive Power:           0                                0

Item 5.           OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.

                  If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
                  the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the
                  beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of
                  securities, check the following ( ).

Item 6.           OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
                  PERSON.

                  See Exhibit A

Item 7.           IDENTIFICATION  AND  CLASSIFICATION  OF THE  SUBSIDIARY  WHICH
                  ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT
                  HOLDING COMPANY.




                  Not Applicable

Item 8.           IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

                  Not Applicable

Item 9.           NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.

                  Not Applicable


Item 10.          CERTIFICATION.

                  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
                  and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and
                  are held in the ordinary course of business and were not
                  acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
                  effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
                  the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
                  connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
                  that purpose or effect.


                  SIGNATURE.

                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
                  belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
                  statement is true, complete and correct.

                  Date: February 14, 2007

                                                        TIAA-CREF INVESTMENT
                                                        MANAGEMENT, LLC

                                                        By:  /s/ Paul Szeto
                                                             --------------
                                                        Paul Szeto
                                                        Managing Director


                                                        TEACHERS ADVISORS, INC.

                                                        By: /s/ Paul Szeto
                                                            --------------
                                                        Paul Szeto
                                                        Managing Director






                                    EXHIBIT A


ITEM 6.  OWNERSHIP.

TIAA-CREF Investment Management, LLC ("Investment Management") acts as an
investment adviser to the College Retirement Equities Fund ("CREF"), a
registered investment company, and may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of
5,391,450 shares of Issuer's common stock owned by CREF. Teachers Advisors, Inc.
("Advisors") is the investment adviser to four registered investment companies,
TIAA-CREF Institutional Mutual Funds ("Institutional Funds"), TIAA-CREF Life
Funds ("Life Funds"), TIAA-CREF Mutual Funds ("Mutual Funds") and TIAA Separate
Account VA-1 ("VA-1"), as well as the TIAA-CREF Asset Management Commingled
Funds Trust I ("TCAM Funds"), and may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of
363,921 shares of Issuer's common stock owned by Institutional Funds, Life
Funds, Mutual Funds, VA-1 and TCAM Funds. Investment Management and Advisors are
reporting their combined holdings for the purpose of administrative convenience.
These shares were acquired in the ordinary course of business, and not with the
purpose or effect of changing or influencing control of the Issuer. Each of
Investment Management and Advisors expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of
the other's securities holdings and each disclaims that it is a member of a
"group" with the other.