Full Press Release Details
Reports Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results
SAN FRANCISCO, August 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/
-- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Cash and investments in marketable securities
at June 30, 2023, were $409.4 million as compared to $505.0 million at December 31, 2022. Nektar's cash and marketable securities
are expected to support strategic development activities and operations into at least the middle of 2026.
corrected strong clinical data for REZPEG, we look forward to initiating a Phase 2b study of rezpegaldesleukin in patients with
atopic dermatitis and achieving our objective to have initial data from this study in the first half of 2025, "said Howard W.
Robin, President and CEO of Nektar. "We also are working to advance our next pipeline candidates in immunology with an IND
filing in 2024. And finally, we are continuing our Phase 2 studies of NKTR-255 in liquid and solid tumors as we evaluate strategic
partnership pathways."
Summary of Financial Results
Revenue in the second quarter of 2023 was
$20.5 million as compared to $21.6 million in the second quarter of 2022. Revenue for the first half of 2023 was $42.1 million as compared
to $46.4 million in the first half of 2022.
Total operating costs and expenses in the
second quarter of 2023 were $71.1 million as compared to $174.4 million in the second quarter of 2022. Total operating costs and expenses
in the first half of 2023 were $227.4 million as compared to $315.8 million in the first half of 2022. Operating costs and expenses for
both the second quarter and first half of 2023 decreased due to decreases in research and development expense, general and administrative
expense and restructuring, impairment and costs of terminated program. For the first half of 2023, these decreases were partially offset
by $76.5 million in non-cash goodwill impairment and $26.5 million in other non-cash impairment charges primarily related to lease assets.
R&D expense in the second quarter of 2023
was $29.7 million as compared to $42.7 million for the second quarter of 2022. For the first half of 2023, R&D expense was $60.2 million
as compared to $150.0 million in the first half of 2022. R&D expense decreased for both the second quarter and first half of 2023
due to due to the wind down of the bempegaldesleukin program.
G&A expense was $17.9 million in the second
quarter of 2023 as compared to $20.5 million in the second quarter of 2022. For the first half of 2023, G&A expense was $39.0 million
as compared to $47.9 million in the first half of 2022. G&A expense decreased for both the second quarter and first half of 2023 due
to the wind down of the bempegaldesleukin program.
Restructuring, impairment and costs of terminated
program were $16.6 million in the second quarter of 2023 as compared to $106.0 million in the second quarter of 2022. The amount for the
second quarter of 2023 includes $13.3 million in non-cash lease impairment charges, $1.9 million in severance, and $1.4 million for the
wind down of the bempegaldesleukin program. The amount for the second quarter of 2022 includes $57.3 million in non-cash lease and equipment
impairment charges, $27.8 million in severance and $20.4 million for the wind down of the bempegaldesleukin program.
of 2023, restructuring, impairment and costs of terminated program were $37.7 million. This amount includes $26.5 million in
non-cash lease and equipment impairment charges, $7.4 million in severance and $3.0 million for the wind down of the
bempegaldesleukin program. The amounts for the first half of 2022 are consistent with the amounts for the second quarter of
Net loss for the second quarter of 2023 was
$51.1 million or $0.27 basic and diluted loss per share as compared to a net loss of $159.1 million or $0.85 basic and diluted loss per
share in the second quarter of 2022. Net loss in the first half of 2023 was $188.1 million or $0.99 basic and diluted loss per share as
compared to a net loss of $249.5 million or $1.34 basic and diluted loss per share in the first half of 2022. Excluding the $103.0 million
in non-cash goodwill and other impairment charges, net loss, on a non-GAAP basis for the first half of 2023 was $85.1 million or $0.45
basic and diluted loss per share.
Second Quarter 2023 and Recent Business
Conference Call to Discuss Second Quarter
2023 Financial Results
Nektar management will host a conference call
to review the results beginning at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time/2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, August 8, 2023.
This press release and live audio-only webcast
of the conference call can be accessed through a link that is posted on the Home Page and Investors section of the Nektar website: http://ir.nektar.com/.
The web broadcast of the conference call will be available for replay through September 8, 2023.
To access the conference call, please pre-register
at Nektar Earnings Call Registration. All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call.
About Nektar Therapeutics
Nektar Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical
company with a robust, wholly owned R&D pipeline of investigational medicines in immunology and oncology as well as a portfolio of
approved partnered medicines. Nektar is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional manufacturing operations in Huntsville,
Alabama. Further information about the company and its drug development programs and capabilities may be found online at http://www.nektar.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
This press release contains forward-looking
statements which can be identified by words such as: "will," "may," "advance," "support,"
"develop," "provide," "expect," "aim," "potential" and similar references
to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the therapeutic potential of, and
future development plans for rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and our other drug candidates in research programs, the prospects and plans for
our collaborations with other companies, the timing of the initiation of clinical studies and the data readouts for our drug candidates, and our expected
working capital and cash runway. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead,
they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies,
anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they
are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside
of our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should
not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: (i) our statements regarding the therapeutic potential of rezpegaldesleukin,
NKTR-255 and our other drug candidates are based on preclinical and clinical findings and observations and are subject to change as research
and development continue; (ii) rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and our other drug candidates are investigational agents and continued research
and development for these drug candidates is subject to substantial risks, including negative safety and efficacy findings in ongoing
clinical studies (notwithstanding positive findings in earlier preclinical and clinical studies); (iii) rezpegaldesleukin, NKTR-255 and
our other drug candidates 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; (iv) the timing of the commencement or end of clinical trials and the availability of clinical
data may be delayed or unsuccessful due to challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory delays, slower than anticipated patient
enrollment, manufacturing challenges, changing standards of care, 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; (v) we may not
achieve the expected cost savings we expect from our 2022 corporate restructuring and reorganization plan or our 2023 cost restructuring
plan and we may undertake additional restructuring and cost-saving activities in the future, (vi) patents may not issue from our patent
applications for our drug candidates, patents that have issued may not be enforceable, or additional intellectual property licenses from
third parties may be required; and (vii) certain other important risks and uncertainties set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2023. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only
on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to update any
forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future
developments or otherwise.
Vivian Wu of Nektar Therapeutics
David Rosen of Argot Partners
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| June 30, 2023 | December 31, 2022 (1) | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 50,728 | $ | 88,227 | ||||
| Short-term investments | 358,704 | 416,750 | ||||||
| Accounts receivable | 1,335 | 5,981 | ||||||
| Inventory, net | 20,689 | 19,202 | ||||||
| Other current assets | 9,602 | 15,808 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 441,058 | 545,968 | ||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 22,554 | 32,451 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 29,015 | 53,435 | ||||||
| Goodwill | - | 76,501 | ||||||
| Other assets | 1,652 | 2,245 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 494,279 | $ | 710,600 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 2,619 | $ | 12,980 | ||||
| Accrued expenses | 29,142 | 36,557 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current portion | 18,933 | 18,667 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 50,694 | 68,204 | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, less current portion | 105,817 | 112,829 | ||||||
| Liabilities related to the sales of future royalties, net | 135,659 | 155,378 | ||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 5,151 | 7,551 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 297,321 | 343,962 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock | - | - | ||||||
| Common stock | 19 | 19 | ||||||
| Capital in excess of par value | 3,592,722 | 3,574,719 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (6,450 | ) | (6,907 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated deficit | (3,389,333 | ) | (3,201,193 | ) | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 196,958 | 366,638 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 494,279 | $ | 710,600 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share information)
| Three months ended June 30, | Six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||||||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
| Product sales | $ | 4,658 | $ | 5,312 | $ | 9,376 | $ | 11,000 | ||||||||
| Non-cash royalty revenue related to the sales of future royalties | 15,832 | 16,264 | 32,693 | 33,825 | ||||||||||||
| License, collaboration and other revenue | 9 | 9 | 24 | 1,582 | ||||||||||||
| Total revenue | 20,499 | 21,585 | 42,093 | 46,407 | ||||||||||||
| Operating costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 6,994 | 5,115 | 14,054 | 10,430 | ||||||||||||
| Research and development | 29,681 | 42,740 | 60,150 | 149,993 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative | 17,869 | 20,521 | 38,950 | 47,860 | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring, impairment, and costs of terminated program | 16,554 | 106,045 | 37,747 | 107,520 | ||||||||||||
| Impairment of goodwill | - | - | 76,501 | - | ||||||||||||
| Total operating costs and expenses | 71,098 | 174,421 | 227,402 | 315,803 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (50,599 | ) | (152,836 | ) | (185,309 | ) | (269,396 | ) | ||||||||
| Non-operating income (expense): | ||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of development derivative liability | - | - | - | 33,427 | ||||||||||||
| Non-cash interest expense on liabilities related to the sales of future royalties | (6,152 | ) | (7,228 | ) | (12,557 | ) | (14,757 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest income and other income (expense), net | 5,582 | 1,096 | 9,616 | 1,491 | ||||||||||||
| Total non-operating income (expense), net | (570 | ) | (6,132 | ) | (2,941 | ) | 20,161 | |||||||||
| Loss before provision for income taxes | (51,169 | ) | (158,968 | ) | (188,250 | ) | (249,235 | ) | ||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | (47 | ) | 100 | (110 | ) | 226 | ||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (51,122 | ) | $ | (159,068 | ) | $ | (188,140 | ) | $ | (249,461 | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted net loss per share | $ | (0.27 | ) | $ | (0.85 | ) | $ | (0.99 | ) | $ | (1.34 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share | 189,656 | 186,800 | 189,268 | 186,323 |