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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): February 8, 2008
NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-24006 94-3134940
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
201 Industrial Road
San Carlos, California 94070
(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (650) 631-3100
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))
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Item 2.05 Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.
On February 8, 2008, the executive management of Nektar Therapeutics (the
"Company") approved a plan to reduce the Company's workforce by approximately
110 employees, or approximately 20 percent of its regular full-time staff. On
February 11, 2008, the Company notified the affected employees impacted by this
plan. In addition, the Company has also eliminated approximately 40 open
positions as a result of the plan. The plan and restructuring is designed to
streamline the Company, consolidate corporate functions, and strengthen
decision-making and execution within the business units. In addition, as part of
the plan, the Company has preserved the necessary technical and manufacturing
personnel and capabilities to support its ongoing effort to forge a new
partnership for its inhaled insulin programs.
The Company currently estimates a pre-tax restructuring charge in 2008 of
approximately $7.0 to 8.0 million, almost all of which is related to one-time
severance costs estimated to be incurred in connection with the above described
reduction in workforce plan. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
This Current Report contains forward-looking statements regarding
management's plans and expectations for the Company's organizational development
and impact on its business objectives and its proprietary and partner product
candidates currently in clinical development. These forward-looking statements
involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: (i)
the Company may not realize the anticipated benefits to its business from the
organizational developments described in this press release, (ii) the risk of
failure of any product candidate that is in clinical development and prior to
regulatory approval, such as the NKTR-102, NKTR-118, and NKTR-061, remains high
and can occur at any stage due to efficacy, safety or other factors, (iii)
clinical trials for the company's proprietary product candidates such as
NKTR-102, NKTR-118 and NKTR-061 are long, expensive and uncertain processes,
(iv) the ability of the Company to the to obtain regulatory approval of
NKTR-102, NKTR-118 and NKTR-061 is difficult to predict at any stage of
development, (v) the Company's patent applications for its technology platforms
and proprietary or partner product candidates may not issue, patents that have
issued may be unenforceable, or intellectual property licenses from third
parties may be required in the future, and (vi) the Company may be unable to
secure a new partner for its inhaled insulin programs (Exubera(R) and its
inhaled insulin development program) on commercially favorable terms or at all.
Other important risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Company's reports
and other filings with the SEC; including its most recent Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of
Certain Officers.
(b) On February 8, 2008, Hoyoung Huh, M.D./Ph.D, the Company's Chief
Operating Officer and Head of the PEGylation Business Unit, resigned from his
positions with the Company effective as of February 29, 2008.
(d) On February 11, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company met and
appointed Dr. Huh as a new director to fill the vacancy created by resolution of
the Board of Directors at the same meeting to increase the authorized number of
directors from 10 to 11. Dr. Huh will serve until the 2009 annual meeting of
stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
Dr. Huh, age 38, was appointed to serve as the Chief Operating Officer and
Head of the PEGylation Business Unit in May 2007, responsible for the Company's
worldwide business development, marketing, manufacturing and leading Nektar's
PEGylation business. Since March 2005, he served as the Company's Senior Vice
President of Business Development and Marketing. From September 1997 to February
2005, Dr. Huh was a leader in the healthcare and biotechnology practice at
McKinsey and Company, a management consulting firm, where he was elected partner
in 2003. He currently serves on the Board of BayBio, a biotechnology industry
association. Dr. Huh holds an M.D. from Cornell University Medical College, a
Ph.D. in Genetics and Cell Biology from the Cornell University/Sloan Kettering
Institute, and an A.B. in Biochemistry from Dartmouth College. Dr. Huh intends
to join BiPar Sciences, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on
oncology therapeutics, as President and Chief Executive Officer in March 2008.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Dr. Huh and any other
persons pursuant to which he was selected as a director. Effective as of March
1, 2008, Dr. Huh will participate in the Company's Amended and Restated
Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors filed by the Company on February
23, 2007 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a Current Report on Form
8-K. In connection with his resignation as Chief Operating Officer and Head of
the PEGylation Business Unit, all of Dr. Huh's equity awards will cease vesting
as of February 29, 2008, and he will have three months to exercise any vested
stock options, after which time all of his stock options, if not exercised, will
automatically expire in accordance with the terms of his stock option agreements
and the Company's equity incentive plan. Dr. Huh is not a party to any
transaction with the Company that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of
Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation S-K.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
Nektar announced via press releases the above described reduction in
workforce and resignation and appointment of Dr. Huh on February 12, 2008.
Nektar hereby incorporates by reference into this Item 7.01 the information set
forth in such press release, a copy of which is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and
99.2 to this Current Report. Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC,
such exhibit and the information set forth therein and herein are deemed to be
furnished and shall not be deemed to be "filed" under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits:
Exhibit No. Description
- ------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
99.1 Press release titled "Nektar Announces Restructuring to
Complete its Transition to a Therapeutics Drug Development
Organization," issued on February 12, 2008.
99.2 Press release titled "Nektar Appoints Hoyoung Huh,
M.D., Ph.D., To Serve on the Company's Board of Directors;
Huh To Step Down as COO and Head of PEGylation Business
Unit," issued on February 12, 2008.
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/ Gil M. Labrucherie
--------------------------------
Gil M. Labrucherie
General Counsel and Secretary
Date: February 12, 2008
Nektar Announces Restructuring to Complete its Transition to a
Therapeutics Drug Development Organization
San Carlos, Calif, February 12, 2008 - Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR)
announced a restructuring today designed to complete its transition from a drug
delivery service provider to a therapeutics drug development organization. The
restructuring will streamline the company, consolidate corporate functions, and
strengthen decision-making and execution within the business units.
"We are transforming Nektar into a world-class drug development company and
these changes are a natural progression on the path to achieving this vision,"
said Howard W. Robin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nektar. "This
restructuring aligns the organization with the future direction of our company
and strengthens our ability to drive programs rapidly through the clinic."
Approximately 150 positions have been eliminated as a result of the
restructuring. Importantly, Nektar has preserved the necessary technical and
manufacturing personnel and capabilities to support its ongoing effort to forge
a new partnership for its inhaled insulin programs.
Nektar has made significant progress this past year in advancing its proprietary
pipeline. The company recently initiated phase 2 clinical trials for its two
leading PEGylated small molecule programs, NKTR-102 (PEG-irinotecan) for solid
tumors and NKTR-118 (oral PEG-naloxol) for opioid bowel dysfunction. NKTR-061
(inhaled amikacin), which is being co-developed with Bayer AG to treat
hospital-acquired pneumonia, is expected to enter Phase 3 trials this year.
The company will release its full financial results for the fourth quarter and
full year 2007 on February 27, 2008. At that time, it will host a conference
call for investors and analysts beginning at 2:00 PM PT/5:00 PM ET. Information
on the dial-in details and Webcast of the call will be posted on the Investor
Relations section of the Nektar website, www.nektar.com.
About Nektar
Nektar
Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and enables
differentiated therapeutics with its industry-leading PEGylation and pulmonary
drug development platforms. Nektar PEGylation and pulmonary technology,
expertise, manufacturing capabilities have enabled ten approved products for
partners, which include the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology
companies. Nektar also develops its own products by applying its PEGylation and
pulmonary technology platforms to existing medicines with the objective to
enhance performance, such as improving efficacy, safety and compliance.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding management's
plans and expectations for Nektar's organizational development and impact on its
business objectives and its proprietary and partner product candidates currently
in clinical development. These forward-looking statements involve substantial
risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: (i) the company may not
realize the anticipated benefits to its business from the organizational
developments described in this press release, (ii) the risk of failure of any
product candidate that is in clinical development and prior to regulatory
approval, such as the NKTR-102, NKTR-118, and NKTR-061, remains high and can
occur at any stage due to efficacy, safety or other factors, (iii) clinical
trials for the company's proprietary product candidates such as NKTR-102,
NKTR-118 and NKTR-061 are long, expensive and uncertain processes, (iv) the
ability of the company to the to obtain regulatory approval of NKTR-102,
NKTR-118 and NKTR-061 is difficult to predict at any stage of development, (v)
the company's patent applications for its technology platforms and proprietary
or partner product candidates may not issue, patents that have issued may be
unenforceable, or intellectual property licenses from third parties may be
required in the future, and (vi) the company may be unable to secure a new
partner for its inhaled insulin programs (Exubera(R) and its inhaled insulin
development program) on commercially favorable terms or at all. Other important
risks and uncertainties are detailed in the company's reports and other filings
with the SEC; including its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
Contacts:
Tim Warner (650) 283-4915 or twarner@nektar.com
Stephan Herrera (415) 488-7699 or sherrera@nektar.com
Jennifer Ruddock (650) 631-4954 or jruddock@nektar.com
TO BUSINESS, HEALTH AND MEDICAL EDITORS:
Nektar Appoints Hoyoung Huh, M.D., Ph.D.,
to Serve on the Company's Board of Directors
Huh To Step Down as COO and Head of PEGylation Business Unit
SAN CARLOS, Calif., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nektar Therapeutics
(Nasdaq: NKTR) announced today that Hoyoung Huh, M.D., Ph.D, is newly appointed
to serve on the Board of Directors of the company. Dr. Huh will step down as
Nektar's Chief Operating Officer and Head of the PEGylation Business Unit,
having accepted a new leadership role as President and Chief Executive Officer
at BiPar Sciences, a private biopharmaceutical company.
"Hoyoung will continue to play a strong leadership role at Nektar as a
member of our Board of Directors," said Howard W. Robin, President and CEO of
Nektar. "His contribution as a Board member will allow us to continue to benefit
from his deep knowledge of our organization, technology platforms and
development pipeline."
"The decision to step down as a COO was a difficult one," said Dr. Huh.
"Nektar is positioned for great success in the future with its leading
PEGylation and Pulmonary technology platforms and a deep pipeline of innovative
and promising therapeutics in development. I am pleased to play an active role
in the transformation of Nektar into a drug development company."
About Nektar
Nektar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and
enables differentiated therapeutics with its industry-leading PEGylation and
pulmonary drug development platforms. Nektar PEGylation and pulmonary
technology, expertise, manufacturing capabilities have enabled ten approved
products for partners, which include the world's leading pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies. Nektar also develops its own products by applying its
PEGylation and pulmonary technology platforms to existing medicines with the
objective to enhance performance, such as improving efficacy, safety and
compliance.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the
company's current views as to its board of directors and business prospects.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including but
not limited to: (i) the company's proprietary product candidates and those of
certain of its partners are in the early phases of clinical development and the
risk of failure is high and can occur at any stage prior to regulatory approval,
(ii) the company's or its partner's ability to obtain regulatory approval for
product candidates, (iii) the success of the company's partners in sales and
marketing efforts to generate from approved products and future products (if
any), and (iv) the company's patent applications for its technology platforms
and proprietary or partner product candidates may not issue, patents that have
issued may not be enforceable, or intellectual property licenses from third
parties may be required in the future. Important risks and uncertainties are
detailed in the company's reports and other filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and
Annual Report on Form 10-K. Actual results could differ materially from the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release. The company
undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Tim Warner (650) 283-4915 or twarner@nektar.com
Stephan Herrera (415) 488-7699 or sherrera@nektar.com
Jennifer Ruddock (650) 631-4954 or jruddock@nektar.com
SOURCE Nektar Therapeutics