Nektar Receives Patent Covering Pulmonary Targeted A...( U.S. Patent Encompassing Tobram...)

U.S. Patent Encompassing Tobramycin Inhalation Powder and Other

Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Issued to Nektar

SAN CARLOS, Calif., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent No. 7,368,102, which covers compositions and methods for creating and delivering Tobramycin Inhalation Powder (TIP) and other aminoglycoside antibiotics delivered via Nektar's proprietary Dry Powder Inhaled Technology. This patent extends through the year 2022.

TIP is being co-developed by Nektar and Novartis and is currently in Phase 3 development for the prevention and treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. Cystic fibrosis patients are susceptible to chronic infection by P. aeruginosa, which is responsible for high rates of illness and death in this patient population. Nektar's Dry Powder Inhaled Technology has the capability to administer high local lung concentrations of TIP that may provide significant benefits to patients suffering from this debilitating disease.

"Issuance of this patent further demonstrates the power of Nektar's pulmonary technology platform, as well as our industry leadership in the emerging field of targeted anti-infective therapeutics," said Nektar President and Chief Executive officer, Howard W. Robin. "Nektar will continue to aggressively file patents to ensure that the company remains at the forefront of our fields."

About Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease. About 30,000 people in the United States and about 70,000 people worldwide have CF. Patients with CF have abnormal movement of salt in and out of the cells lining their lungs, which leads to secretion of
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