Nektar Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2010 Financial Results

SAN CARLOS, Calif., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at September 30, 2010 were $303.3 million as compared to $396.2 million at December 31, 2009.

Revenue for the third quarter of 2010 increased to $37.9 million as compared to $10.2 million in the third 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 partnership agreement for NKTR-118.

Total operating costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2010 were $44.2 million compared to $39.1 million in the third quarter 2009. The increase in total operating costs and expenses was primarily due to an increase in research and development expenses.

Research and development expenses were $27.7 million and increased by 20% in the third quarter of 2010 as compared to $23.0 million for the same quarter in 2009. General and administrative expense increased slightly to $10.2 million in the third quarter 2010 from $9.9 million in the third quarter of 2009.

Nektars continued productivity in research and development has resulted in a deep pipeline of programs that range from those in preclinical research to those preparing for Phase 3, said Howard W. Robin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nektar. With our Phase 2 data this year from our exciting oncology candidate, NKTR-102, and the preclinical data from our new opioid candidate, NKTR-181, we continue to demonstrate the value of Nektars proprietary polymer conjugate technology.

Net loss for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010 decreased to $8.7 million or $0.09 per share as compared to a net loss of $31.0 million or $0.33 per share in the third quarter of 2009.

Conference Call to Discuss Third Quarter 2010 Financial Results

A conference call to review the financial results will be held today, Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 2 PM Pacific 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. The web broadcast of the conference call will be available for replay through Friday, November 19, 2010.


To access the conference call, follow these instructions:




Dial: (800) 798-2864 (U.S.); (617) 614-6206 (international)


Passcode: 87996589 (Nektar is the host)



An audio replay will also be available shortly following the call through Friday, November 19, 2010 and can be accessed by dialing (888) 286-8010 (U.S.); or (617) 801-6888 (international) with a passcode of 55049373.

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 value and potential of Nektar's pipeline of drug candidates, the value and potential of 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 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 delays and 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 platforms to potential new drug candidates is therefore very 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; (vi) if Nektar is unable to establish and maintain collaboration partnerships on attractive commercial terms (such as for NKTR-102), our business, results of operations and financial condition could suffer; and (vii) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in Nektar's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 filed with the SEC on July 28, 2010, the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC today, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 to be filed with the SEC on or about November 4, 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

September 30, 2010


December 31, 2009 (1)

Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents

$ 12,906


$ 49,597


Short-term investments

290,396


346,614


Accounts receivable

5,553


4,801


Inventory

11,460


6,471


Other current assets

6,119


6,183



Total current assets

$ 326,434


$ 413,666







Property and equipment, net

97,686


78,263

Goodwill

76,501


76,501

Other assets

1,855


7,088


Total assets

$ 502,476


$ 575,518







LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY










Current liabilities:





Accounts payable

$ 4,403


$ 3,066


Accrued compensation

10,552


10,052


Accrued expenses

12,352


4,354


Accrued clinical trial expenses

12,759


14,167


Deferred revenue, current portion

40,232


115,563


Interest payable

58


1,805


Other current liabilities

4,476


4,009



Total current liabilities

$ 84,832


$ 153,016







Convertible subordinated notes

214,955


214,955

Capital lease obligations

17,402


18,800

Deferred revenue

69,033


76,809

Deferred gain

4,371


5,027

Other long-term liabilities

4,936


4,544



Total liabilities

$ 395,529


$ 473,151







Commitments and contingencies










Stockholders' equit

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