On August 8, 2019 Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 (Press release, Nektar Therapeutics, AUG 8, 2019, View Source [SID1234538426]).

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Cash and investments in marketable securities at June 30, 2019 were $1.8 billion as compared to $1.9 billion at December 31, 2018.

"Nektar is making good progress advancing our multiple programs in immuno-oncology, immunology and pain," said Howard W. Robin, President and CEO of Nektar. "With our partner Bristol-Myers Squibb, although we’ve experienced some delays, we are working to finalize the development program for bempegaldesleukin in combination with nivolumab in a number of tumor types and which are designed to support registration for this unique I-O doublet. We have a number of registrational trials already started and we recently received a breakthrough designation from FDA for bempeg and nivo in the setting of first-line untreated metastatic melanoma. Our partner Eli Lilly will be initiating several new studies later this year for NKTR-358, our T regulatory stimulator candidate. These studies will expand the program with additional indications beyond lupus. We recently filed an IND with the FDA for NKTR-255, our IL-15 agonist, and will initiate our first-in-human clinical study this quarter in patients with relapsed, refractory NHL and in patients with multiple myeloma."

Nektar is hosting a conference call with analysts and investors today on which it will discuss quarterly results. On the call, the company will provide a specific update and discussion on its bempegaldesleukin clinical development program, including recent developments related to the manufacturing of bempegaldesleukin.

Revenue in the second quarter of 2019 was $23.3 million as compared to $1.088 billion in the second quarter of 2018. Year-to-date revenue for 2019 was $51.5 million as compared to $1.126 billion in the first half of 2018. Revenue was lower in the second quarter and first half of 2019 as compared to the same periods in 2018 primarily because of the recognition of $1.06 billion of license revenue from the Bristol-Myers Squibb collaboration agreement in the second quarter of 2018.

Total operating costs and expenses in the second quarter of 2019 were $134.3 million as compared to $114.1 million in the second quarter of 2018. Total operating costs and expenses in the first half of 2019 were $283.2 million as compared to $238.9 million in the first half of 2018. Total operating costs and expenses increased primarily as a result of increased research and development (R&D) expense.

R&D expense in the second quarter of 2019 was $106.7 million as compared to $88.3 million in the second quarter of 2018. For the first half of 2019, R&D expense was $225.1 million as compared to $187.8 million in the first half of 2018. R&D expense was higher in the second quarter and first half of 2019 as compared to the same periods in 2018 primarily because of expenses for our pipeline programs, including the continued development of bempegaldesleukin in Phase 2 and registrational studies and related manufacturing costs, costs related to Phase 1 clinical studies of NKTR-358 and IND-enabling activities for NKTR-255. These increases were partially offset by cost decreases related to the NKTR-181 New Drug Application and NKTR-181 pre-commercial manufacturing which were higher during the second quarter and first half of 2018.

General and administrative (G&A) expense was $22.6 million in the second quarter of 2019 as compared to $20.3 million in the second quarter of 2018. G&A expense in the first half of 2019 was $47.6 million as compared to $38.9 million in the first half of 2018. G&A expense was higher in the second quarter and first half of 2019 as compared to the same periods in 2018 primarily due to costs related to commercialization readiness activities for NKTR-181 and increased non-cash stock-based compensation.

Net loss in the second quarter of 2019 was $109.9 million or $0.63 basic and diluted loss per share as compared to a net income of $971.5 million or $5.33 diluted earnings per share in the second quarter of 2018. Net loss in the first half of 2019 was $228.4 million or $1.31 basic and diluted loss per share as compared to a net income of $875.7 million or $4.91 diluted earnings per share in the first half of 2018.

Second Quarter 2019 and Recent Business Highlights

·In August, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for bempegaldesleukin in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) for the treatment of patients with previously untreated unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
·In July, for NKTR-181, Nektar received a General Advice Letter from FDA that stated that it is postponing product-specific advisory committee meetings for opioid analgesics, including the one previously scheduled for August 21, 2019 to discuss the NDA for the NKTR-181 product, while the agency continues to consider a number of scientific and policy issues relating to this class of drugs. The FDA indicated that it will continue to review the NDA for NKTR-181 according to the existing Prescription Drug User Fee Act ("PDUFA") timeline; however, because of the postponed Advisory Committee Meeting, it is possible the agency may not be able to meet the PDUFA goal date of August 29, 2019.
·In June, Nektar presented data from a first-in-human Phase 1a study evaluating single-ascending doses of NKTR-358, supporting development of the candidate as a first-in-class T regulatory cell stimulator for the treatment of autoimmune and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
·In June, Nektar presented data for NKTR-181 at the 81st Annual Scientific Meeting of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. The data presented identified low rates of withdrawal and a low risk of abuse potential, diversion or addiction associated with NKTR-181 in Phase 3 trials according to the MADDERS system, the first standardized system for discerning abuse-related events.

·In June, Nektar presented biomarker and clinical data from the ongoing Phase 2 PIVOT-02 study for bempegaldesleukin in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) at the 2019 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting. Clinical data presented included 12 month follow-up for the Stage 4 first-line melanoma patient cohort and showed a deepening and durability of response over time. Registrational studies in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma and urothelial cancer are currently recruiting patients.
· In May, Nektar announced formation of Inheris Biopharma, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary responsible for launch preparation and commercialization for NKTR-181, a novel, first-in-class, investigational opioid molecule. NKTR-181 is currently under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The company also announced the following upcoming presentations during the second half of 2019:

CAR-TCR Summit, Boston, MA:

· Presentation: "Utilizing Next Generation Cytokines to Enhance Efficacy and Durability of CAR-Ts"
o Presenter: Mario Marcondes, M.D., Nektar Therapeutics
o Session: Enhancing Efficacy with Combinations
o Date and Time: September 11, 2019, 6:18 – 6:48 p.m. EDT
Oxford Global 2nd Annual Advances In Immuno-Oncology USA Congress, San Diego, CA:

· Presentation: "Harnessing Potent Cytokine Agonist Pathways by Polymer Engineering to Develop Novel Immune Therapeutic Agents"
o Presenter: Loui Madakamutil, Ph.D., Nektar Therapeutics
o Date and Time:October 9, 2019, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. PDT
American Conference on Pharmacometrics (ACoP) 2019, Orlando, FL:

· Poster Title: "NKTR-262 Released Below Quantifiable Levels of TLR 7/8 Agonist in Human Plasma in Phase 1b/2 Clinical Study as Predicted A-Priori by PK Modeling and Scaling to Humans", Bhasi, K., et al.
o Date: October 20 – 23, 2019
Conference Call to Discuss Second Quarter 2019 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 today, Thursday, August 8, 2019.

This press release and a live 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: View Source The web broadcast of the conference call will be available for replay through Monday, September 9, 2019.

To access the conference call, follow these instructions:

Dial: (877) 881-2183 (U.S.); (970) 315-0453 (international)
Passcode: 2879328 (Nektar Therapeutics is the host)

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 Investors page at the Nektar website as soon as practical after the conclusion of the conference call.