NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS

Previous wording

We previously relied on Lilly (through the Lilly Agreement) to initiate, properly conduct, and prioritize clinical trials and other development-related activities for rezpegaldesleukin. In February 2023, we announced that the Phase 2 Lupus Study of rezpegaldesleukin in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) conducted by Lilly did not meet the study’s primary endpoint and that Lilly did not intend to advance rezpegaldesleukin to Phase 3 development in SLE. On April 27, 2023, we announced that we would be regaining the full rights to rezpegaldesleukin from Lilly, and the Lilly Agreement subsequently terminated. Following the return of our rights to develop rezpegaldesleukin, we bear all costs of development. We have initiated two Phase 2b rezpegaldesleukin studies: one in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, and another in patients with severe-to-very severe alopecia areata, and will collaborate with TrialNet to conduct a Phase 2 study of rezpegaldesleukin in patients with new onset stage 3 TID. We will also explore other autoimmune indications for the development of rezpegaldesleukin. While we believe we currently have the documents, records, and data that are necessary for us to continue clinical development of rezpegaldesleukin, we may need or benefit from additional documents, records and data that Lilly generated as part of the early development of rezpegaldesleukin under the Lilly Agreement and for which Lilly has not yet transferred to us. In the event Lilly fails to promptly and completely transfer to us any additional needed materials or we are not able to independently source these documents, records and data (e.g., from vendors or third parties who may also have these materials), the continued clinical development of rezpegaldesleukin and our business may be significantly harmed. Even if the applicable agreement provides us with enforcement or other curative rights to address the harm caused by Lilly’s action (or failure to act), our efforts in pursuing a remedy would be costly and there is no guarantee that these efforts would succeed or be sufficient to fully address the harm. If continued development of rezpegaldesleukin is not ultimately successful, our market valuation, prospects, financial condition and results of operations would be materially harmed.

Current wording

We previously relied on Lilly (through the Lilly Agreement) to initiate, properly conduct, and prioritize clinical trials and other development-related activities for rezpegaldesleukin. In February 2023, we announced that the Phase 2 Lupus Study of rezpegaldesleukin in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) conducted by Lilly did not meet the study’s primary endpoint and that Lilly did not intend to advance rezpegaldesleukin to Phase 3 development in SLE. On April 27, 2023, we announced that we would be regaining the full rights to rezpegaldesleukin from Lilly, and the Lilly Agreement subsequently terminated. Following the return of our rights to develop rezpegaldesleukin, we bear all costs of development. We have initiated two Phase 2b rezpegaldesleukin studies: one in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, and another in patients with severe-to-very severe alopecia areata, and will collaborate with TrialNet to conduct a Phase 2 study of rezpegaldesleukin in patients with new onset stage 3 Type 1 diabetes mellitus. We will also explore other autoimmune indications for the development of rezpegaldesleukin. While we believe we currently have the documents, records, and data that are necessary for us to continue clinical development of rezpegaldesleukin, we may need or benefit from additional documents, records and data that Lilly generated as part of the early development of rezpegaldesleukin under the Lilly Agreement and for which Lilly has not yet transferred to us. In the event Lilly fails to promptly and completely transfer to us any additional needed materials or we are not able to independently source these documents, records and data (e.g., from vendors or third parties who may also have these materials), the continued clinical development of rezpegaldesleukin and our business may be significantly harmed. Even if the applicable agreement provides us with enforcement or other curative rights to address the harm caused by Lilly’s action (or failure to act), our efforts in pursuing a remedy would be costly and there is no guarantee that these efforts would succeed or be sufficient to fully address the harm. If continued development of rezpegaldesleukin is not ultimately successful, our market valuation, prospects, financial condition and results of operations would be materially harmed.

Previous wording

Additionally, promising results from earlier trials may not predict similarly favorable outcomes in subsequent trials. For example, our drug candidates (particularly those being evaluated in the oncology setting) have been tested in clinical trials that utilize an “open-label” trial design. An “open-label” clinical trial is one where both the patient and investigator know whether the patient is receiving the investigational drug candidate or either an existing approved drug or placebo. Most typically, open-label clinical trials test only the investigational drug candidate and sometimes may do so at different dose levels. Open-label clinical trials are subject to various limitations that may exaggerate any therapeutic effect as patients in open-label clinical trials are aware when they are receiving treatment. Open-label clinical trials may be subject to a “patient bias” where patients perceive their symptoms to have improved merely due to their awareness of receiving an experimental treatment. In addition, open-label clinical trials may be subject to an “investigator bias” where those assessing and reviewing the physiological outcomes of the clinical trials are aware of which patients have received treatment and may interpret the information of the treated group more favorably given this knowledge. The results from an open-label trial may not be predictive of future clinical trial results with any of our drug candidates for which we include an open-label clinical trial when studied in a controlled environment with a placebo or active control. Also, results from “double blinded” studies where both the patient and investigator do not know whether the patient is receiving the investigational drug candidate may not be predictive of future clinical trial results. One or more clinical failures of our drug candidates would jeopardize and could materially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Current wording

Additionally, promising results from earlier trials may not predict similarly favorable outcomes in subsequent trials. For example, our drug candidates (particularly those being evaluated in the oncology setting and in connection with the placebo crossover patients in the Phase 2b REZOLVE-AD study) have been tested in clinical trials or parts of clinical trials that utilize an “open-label” approach. An “open-label” approach occurs where both the patient and investigator know whether the patient is receiving the investigational drug candidate or either an existing approved drug or placebo. Most typically, open-label clinical trials test only the investigational drug candidate and sometimes may do so at different dose levels. Open-label clinical trials are subject to various limitations that may exaggerate any therapeutic effect as patients in open-label clinical trials are aware when they are receiving treatment. Open-label clinical trials may be subject to a “patient bias” where patients perceive their symptoms to have improved merely due to their awareness of receiving an experimental treatment. In addition, open-label clinical trials may be subject to an “investigator bias” where those assessing and reviewing the physiological outcomes of the clinical trials are aware of which patients have received treatment and may interpret the information of the treated group more favorably given this knowledge. The results from an open-label trial may not be predictive of future clinical trial results with any of our drug candidates for which we include an open-label clinical trial when studied in a controlled environment with a placebo or active control. Also, results from “double blinded” studies where both the patient and investigator do not know whether the patient is receiving the investigational drug candidate may not be predictive of future clinical trial results. One or more clinical failures of our drug candidates would jeopardize and could materially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Previous wording

delays caused by changing standards of care or new treatment options; and

Current wording

delays caused by changing standards of care or new treatment options;

Previous wording

delays associated with third parties, such as a past collaboration partner, failing to provide us with all the necessary documents, data and materials necessary to conduct clinical trials.

Current wording

delays associated with third parties, such as a past collaboration partner, failing to provide us with all the necessary documents, data and materials necessary to conduct clinical trials; and

Previous wording

Our partnered and proprietary products and drug candidates compete with various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For rezpegaldesleukin, there are a number of competitors in various stages of clinical development that are working on programs which are designed to correct the underlying immune system imbalance in the body due to autoimmune disease. In particular, we expect to compete with therapies that could be cytokine-based, microbiome-based, or toleragenic-based therapies (Symbiotix, LLC, Apogee Therapeutics, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Tizona Therapeutics), regulatory T cell therapies (Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., Quell Therapeutics, Ltd, TxCell, Inc., Sonoma Biotherapeutics, Inc., GentiBio, Inc. Kyvema Therapeutics, Inc. and and Tract Therapeutics, Inc.), IL-2-based-therapies (Amgen Inc., BMS, Novartis, Inc., ILTOO Pharma, Xencor, Inc. Merck & Co, through its acquisition of Pandion Therapeutics, and Sanofi SA, through its acquisition of Synthorx, Inc.) or OX40/OX40L class (Sanofi SA and Amgen Inc.). For NKTR-255, we believe companies that are currently researching and developing engineered IL-15 biologics and cell therapies that could compete with this drug candidate include Artiva Biotherapeutics, Fate Therapeutics, ImmunityBio, Inc., Nkarta Therapeutics, NKMax America, and Roche/Genentech (through its partnership with Xencor, Inc.). For NKTR-0165, we believe companies targeting the TNFR2 pathway for the treatment of patients with autoimmune disease include Dualyx, TRexBio, Inc., Odyssey Therapeutics, Inc., and Pfizer, Inc. There can be no assurance that we or our partners will successfully develop, obtain regulatory approvals for and commercialize next-generation or new products that will successfully compete with those of our competitors. Many of our competitors have greater financial, research and development, marketing and sales, manufacturing and managerial capabilities. We face competition from these companies not just in product development but also in areas such as recruiting employees, acquiring technologies that might enhance our ability to commercialize products, establishing relationships with certain research and academic institutions, enrolling patients in clinical trials and seeking program partnerships and collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies. As a result, our competitors may succeed in developing competing technologies, obtaining regulatory approval or gaining market acceptance for products before we do. These developments could make our products or technologies noncompetitive or obsolete.

Current wording

Our partnered and proprietary products and drug candidates compete with various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For rezpegaldesleukin, there are a number of competitors in various stages of clinical development that are working on programs which are designed to correct the underlying immune system imbalance in the body due to autoimmune disease. In particular, we expect to compete with therapies that could be cytokine-based, microbiome-based, or toleragenic-based therapies (Symbiotix, LLC, Apogee Therapeutics, Janssen, AstraZeneca and Tizona Therapeutics), regulatory T cell therapies (Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc., Quell Therapeutics, Ltd, TxCell, Inc., Sonoma Biotherapeutics, Inc., GentiBio, Inc. Kyvema Therapeutics, Inc. and Tract Therapeutics, Inc.), IL-2-based-therapies (Amgen Inc., BMS, Novartis, Inc., ILTOO Pharma, Xencor, Inc. Merck & Co., through its acquisition of Pandion Therapeutics, and Sanofi SA, through its acquisition of Synthorx, Inc.) or OX40/OX40L class (Sanofi SA and Amgen Inc.). For NKTR-255, we believe companies that are currently researching and developing engineered IL-15 biologics and cell therapies that could compete with this drug candidate include Artiva Biotherapeutics, Fate Therapeutics, ImmunityBio, Inc., Nkarta Therapeutics, NKMax America, and Roche/Genentech (through its partnership with Xencor, Inc.). For NKTR-0165, we believe companies targeting the TNFR2 pathway for the treatment of patients with autoimmune disease include Dualyx, TRexBio, Inc., Odyssey Therapeutics, Inc. and Pfizer, Inc. There can be no assurance that we or our partners will successfully develop, obtain regulatory approvals for and commercialize next-generation or new products that will successfully compete with those of our competitors. Many of our competitors have greater financial, research and development, marketing and sales, manufacturing and managerial capabilities. We face competition from these companies not just in product development but also in areas such as recruiting employees, acquiring technologies that might enhance our ability to commercialize products, establishing relationships with certain research and academic institutions, enrolling patients in clinical trials and seeking program partnerships and collaborations with larger pharmaceutical companies. As a result, our competitors may succeed in developing competing technologies, obtaining regulatory approval or gaining market acceptance for products before we do. These developments could make our products or technologies noncompetitive or obsolete.

Previous wording

As of June 30, 2025, we had cash and investments in marketable securities valued at approximately $175.9 million. While we believe that our cash position will be sufficient to meet our liquidity requirements through at least the next 12 months, our future capital requirements will depend upon numerous unpredictable factors, including:

Current wording

As of September 30, 2025, we had cash and investments in marketable securities valued at approximately $270.2 million. While we believe that our cash position will be sufficient to meet our liquidity requirements through at least the next 12 months, our future capital requirements will depend upon numerous unpredictable factors, including:

Previous wording

In the United States and markets in other countries, patients generally rely on third party payers to reimburse all or part of the costs associated with their treatment. In both domestic and foreign markets, sales of our partnered and proprietary products that receive regulatory approval will depend in part on market acceptance among physicians and patients, pricing approvals by government authorities and the availability of coverage and payment or reimbursement from third party payers, such as government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid in the U.S., managed care providers, private health insurers and other organizations. However, eligibility for coverage does not necessarily signify that a drug candidate will be adequately reimbursed in all cases or at a rate that covers costs related to research, development, manufacture, sale, and distribution. Third party payers are increasingly challenging the price and cost effectiveness of medical products and services. Therefore, significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and pricing approvals for, and the payment or reimbursement status of, newly approved healthcare products. For more information, see “Business – Government Regulation – Coverage, Reimbursement, and Pricing.”

Current wording

In the United States and markets in other countries, patients generally rely on third party payers to reimburse all or part of the costs associated with their treatment. In both domestic and foreign markets, sales of our partnered and proprietary products that receive regulatory approval will depend in part on market acceptance among physicians and patients, pricing approvals by government authorities and the availability of coverage and payment or reimbursement from third party payers, such as government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid in the U.S., managed care providers, private health insurers and other organizations. However, eligibility for coverage does not necessarily signify that a drug candidate will be adequately reimbursed in all cases or at a rate that covers costs related to research, development, manufacture, sale, and distribution. Third party payers are increasingly challenging the price and cost effectiveness of medical products and services. Therefore, significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and pricing approvals for, and the payment or reimbursement status of, newly approved healthcare products. For more information, see “Business – Government Regulation – Coverage, Reimbursement, and Pricing” section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Previous wording

For the six months ended June 30, 2025, we reported a net loss of $92.5 million. If and when we achieve profitability depends upon a number of factors, including the timing and recognition of milestones and other contingent payments and royalties received, the timing of revenue under our collaboration agreements, the amount of investments we make in our proprietary drug candidates and the regulatory approval and market success of our drug candidates. We may not be able to achieve and sustain profitability.

Current wording

For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, we reported a net loss of $128.0 million. If and when we achieve profitability depends upon a number of factors, including the timing and recognition of milestones and other contingent payments and royalties received, the timing of revenue under our collaboration agreements, the amount of investments we make in our proprietary drug candidates and the regulatory approval and market success of our drug candidates. We may not be able to achieve and sustain profitability.

Previous wording

In addition, government shutdowns, if prolonged, could significantly impact the ability of government agencies upon which we rely (such as the FDA and SEC) to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may slow the time necessary for new product candidates to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.

Current wording

In addition, government shutdowns (including continuation of the current shutdown of the U.S. federal government that began on October 1, 2025), if prolonged, could significantly impact the ability of government agencies upon which we rely (such as the FDA and SEC) to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may slow the time necessary for new product candidates to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.

Previous wording

On August 7, 2023, we filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (the Court) against Lilly alleging, among other claims, breach of contract and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (the Complaint), in connection with our collaboration with Lilly. Following the denial of its motion to dismiss the Complaint entirely, Lilly filed an answer that included counterclaims against us alleging breach of specified confidentiality provisions and defamation. Both we and Lilly have filed motions for summary judgment, and the court has not yet issued decisions on these motions. The Court has calendared October 27, 2025, as the starting date of the jury trial.

Current wording

On August 7, 2023, we filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (the Court) against Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) alleging, among other claims, breach of contract and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (the Complaint), in connection with our collaboration with Lilly. Following the denial of its motion to dismiss the Complaint entirely, Lilly filed an answer that included counterclaims against us alleging breach of specified confidentiality provisions and defamation. On September 19, 2025, Lilly filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss its counterclaims with prejudice, which the Court granted on October 7, 2025. Lilly has filed a motion for summary judgment, and the court has not yet issued a decision on this motion, as well as other pre-trial motions filed by both parties that remain pending before the Court. Following the shutdown of the federal government, on October 14, 2025, the Court postponed the previously calendared October 27, 2025, starting date of the jury trial, and scheduled a status conference for the parties on December 11, 2025, following which we expect to learn additional details concerning the new starting date of the jury trial.

Previous wording

Our stock price is volatile. During the three months ended June 30, 2025, based on closing prices on the NASDAQ Capital Market, the closing price of our common stock ranged from $7.36 to $29.68 per share (on a post-reverse split basis). In response to volatility in the price of our common stock in the past, plaintiffs’ securities litigation firms have sought information from us and/or shareholders as part of their investigation into alleged securities violations and breaches of duties (among other corporate misconduct allegations). Following their investigations, plaintiffs’ securities litigation firms have often initiated legal action, including the filing of class action lawsuits, derivative lawsuits, and other forms of redress. We expect our stock price to remain volatile and we continue to expect the initiation of legal actions by plaintiffs’ securities litigation firms following share price fluctuations. A variety of factors may have a significant effect on the market price of our common stock, including the risks described in this section titled “Risk Factors” and the following:

Current wording

Our stock price is volatile. During the three months ended September 30, 2025, based on closing prices on the NASDAQ Capital Market, the closing price of our common stock ranged from $21.68 to $60.33 per share (on a post-reverse split basis). In response to volatility in the price of our common stock in the past, plaintiffs’ securities litigation firms have sought information from us and/or shareholders as part of their investigation into alleged securities violations and breaches of duties (among other corporate misconduct allegations). Following their investigations, plaintiffs’ securities litigation firms have often initiated legal action, including the filing of class action lawsuits, derivative lawsuits, and other forms of redress. We expect our stock price to remain volatile and we continue to expect the initiation of legal actions by plaintiffs’ securities litigation firms following share price fluctuations. A variety of factors may have a significant effect on the market price of our common stock, including the risks described in this section titled “Risk Factors” and the following: