Note 1 — Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

We are a research-based biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Francisco, California and incorporated in Delaware. We are developing a pipeline of drug candidates that utilize our advanced polymer conjugate technology platforms, which are designed to enable the development of new molecular entities that target known mechanisms of action. Our research and development pipeline of new investigational drugs includes treatments for cancer, autoimmune disease and chronic pain.

Our research and development activities have required significant ongoing investment to date and are expected to continue to require significant investment. As a result, with the exception of the income resulting from the upfront payment in April 2018 from our collaboration agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Company (BMS), we expect to continue to incur substantial losses and negative cash flows from operations in the future. We have financed our operations primarily through cash generated from licensing, collaboration and manufacturing agreements and financing transactions. At September 30, 2018, we had approximately $2.0 billion in cash and investments in marketable securities and debt of $250.0 million in principal of senior secured notes due in October 2020.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of our wholly-owned subsidiaries: Nektar Therapeutics (India) Private Limited (Nektar India) and Nektar Therapeutics UK Limited. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

We prepared our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements following the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for interim reporting. As permitted under those rules, certain footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for annual periods can be condensed or omitted. In the opinion of management, these financial statements include all normal and recurring adjustments that we consider necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position and operating results.

Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are denominated in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, changes in exchange rates between the applicable foreign currency and the U.S. dollar will affect the translation of each foreign subsidiary’s financial results into U.S. dollars for purposes of reporting our consolidated financial results. Translation gains and losses are included in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the stockholders’ equity section of the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. To date, such cumulative currency translation adjustments have not been significant to our consolidated financial position.

Our comprehensive income (loss) consists of our net income (loss) plus our foreign currency translation gains and losses and unrealized holding gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, neither of which were significant during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. In addition, there were no significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to the statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

The accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited. The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of December 31, 2017 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on March 1, 2018. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes to those financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities can vary during each quarter of the year. The results and trends in these interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any other period.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Accounting estimates and assumptions are inherently uncertain. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates and assumptions. Our estimates include those related to estimated selling prices of performance obligations and estimates of variable consideration in collaboration agreements, estimated royalty revenue, other estimates required for revenue recognition as described further below, the net realizable value of inventory, the impairment of investments, goodwill and long-lived assets, contingencies, accrued clinical trial, contract manufacturing and other expenses, estimated non-cash royalty revenue and non-cash interest expense from our liability related to our sale of future royalties, stock-based compensation, and ongoing litigation, among other estimates. We base our estimates on historical experience and on other assumptions that management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities when these values are not readily apparent from other sources. As appropriate, estimates are assessed each period and updated to reflect current information and any changes in estimates will generally be reflected in the period first identified.

Reclassifications

Certain items previously reported in specific financial statement captions have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications do not materially impact previously reported revenue, operating income (loss), net income (loss), total assets, liabilities or stockholders’ equity.

Segment Information

We operate in one business segment which focuses on applying our technology platform to develop novel drug candidates. Our business offerings have similar economics and other characteristics, including the nature of products and manufacturing processes, types of customers, distribution methods and regulatory environment. We are comprehensively managed as one business segment by our Chief Executive Officer.

Significant Concentrations

Our customers are primarily pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that are located in the U.S. and Europe and with whom we have multi-year arrangements. Our accounts receivable balance contains billed and unbilled trade receivables from product sales, milestones, other contingent payments and royalties, as well as reimbursable costs from collaborative research and development agreements. When appropriate, we provide for an allowance for doubtful accounts by reserving for specifically identified doubtful accounts. We generally do not require collateral from our customers. We perform a regular review of our customers’ payment histories and associated credit risk. We have not experienced significant credit losses from our accounts receivable and our allowance for doubtful accounts was not significant at either September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

We are dependent on our suppliers and contract manufacturers to provide raw materials and drugs of appropriate quality and reliability and to meet applicable contract and regulatory requirements. In certain cases, we rely on single sources of supply of one or more critical materials. Consequently, in the event that supplies are delayed or interrupted for any reason, our ability to develop and produce our drug candidates or our ability to meet our supply obligations could be significantly impaired, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Adoption of New Accounting Principle

On January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, Revenue Recognition - Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASC 606 supersedes the guidance in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. Under ASC 606, an entity recognizes revenue when its customer obtains control of promised goods or services, in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for units of account that an entity determines are within the scope of ASC 606, the entity performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. In our adoption, we used the practical expedients to analyze only those contracts that were still active contracts as of January 1, 2018 and evaluated those contracts based on the cumulative contract modifications through that date. We do not believe that the use of the practical expedients has or will have a material impact on our transition adjustment or our prospective accounting. We adopted ASC 606 on a modified retrospective basis under which we recognized the cumulative effect of adoption as a transition adjustment to opening accumulated deficit. Therefore, the periods prior to the adoption date of ASC 606 have not been restated.

The transition adjustment totaled $12.7 million, and included $10.7 million related to the recognition of royalty revenue. Previously, under ASC 605, we recognized certain of our royalty arrangements on a cash basis, generally one quarter in arrears. Beginning in the first quarter of 2018, we began to accrue our best estimate of these royalties earned based on our collaboration partners’ sales of the associated drug compounds. As a result, in the first quarter of 2018, we recognized $11.1 million of estimated royalty revenue associated with our partners’ sales of MOVANTIK^® and ADYNOVATE^® in the first quarter of 2018. Previously, in the fourth quarter of 2017, we recognized $9.6 million in royalty revenue associated with sales of MOVANTIK^® and ADYNOVATE^® in the third quarter of 2017. The transition between the two accounting methods results in the $10.7 million in royalties for sales of MOVANTIK^® and ADYNOVATE^® in the fourth quarter of 2017 being recognized as a direct reduction of our accumulated deficit instead of being recognized in the statement of operations. The transition adjustment also includes $2.0 million for the reduction of deferred revenue related to one of our collaboration arrangements.

The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet and Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):


	As reported			Adjustments			Balances Without the Adoption of Topic 606
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data as of September 30, 2018
Accounts receivable, net	$	31,937		$	(10,549	)	$	21,388
Deferred revenue, current portion		15,676			1,191			16,867
Deferred revenue, less current portion		11,410			187			11,597
Accumulated deficit		(1,325,839	)		(11,927	)		(1,337,766	)

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations data for the three months ended September 30, 2018
Product sales	$	4,256		$	—		$	4,256
Royalty revenue		10,259			(674	)		9,585
License, collaboration and other revenue		4,875			299			5,174
Total revenue		27,762			(375	)		27,387

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations data for the nine months ended September 30, 2018
Product sales	$	16,414		$	(192	)	$	16,222
Royalty revenue		29,898			195			30,093
License, collaboration and other revenue		1,082,848			767			1,083,615
Total revenue		1,153,497			770			1,154,267

Revenue Recognition

We derive our revenue from our arrangements with pharmaceutical and biotechnology collaboration partners. We enter into collaboration arrangements, under which we may grant licenses to our collaboration partners to further develop and commercialize one of our proprietary drug candidates or grant licenses to partners to use our technology to research and develop their own proprietary drug candidates. We may also perform research, development, manufacturing and supply activities under our collaboration agreements. Consideration under these contracts generally includes an upfront payment, development milestones and other contingent payments, royalties based on net sales of approved drugs, and commercial sales milestone payments. Additionally, these contracts may provide options for the customer to purchase our proprietary PEGylation materials, drug candidates or additional research and development services under separate contracts.

We assess which activities in our collaboration agreements are performance obligations that should be accounted for separately and determine the arrangement transaction price, which includes the assessment of the probability of achievement of future milestones and other potential consideration. For arrangements that include multiple performance obligations, such as granting a license and performing research and development activities, we allocate upfront and milestone payments under a relative standalone selling price method. Accordingly, we develop assumptions that require judgment to determine the standalone selling price for each performance obligation identified in the contract. These key assumptions may include revenue forecasts, clinical development timelines and costs, discount rates and probabilities of clinical and regulatory success.

Product Sales

Product sales are primarily derived from manufacturing and supply agreements with our customers. We have assessed our current manufacturing and supply arrangements and have generally determined that they provide the customer an option to purchase our proprietary PEGylation materials. Accordingly, we treat each purchase order as a discrete exercise of the customer’s option (i.e. a separate contract) rather than as a component of the overall arrangement. The pricing for the manufacturing and supply is generally at a fixed price and may be subject to annual producer price index (PPI) adjustments. We invoice and recognize product sales when title and risk of loss pass to the customer, which generally occurs upon shipment. Customer payments are generally due 30 days from receipt of invoice. We test our products for adherence to technical specifications before shipment; accordingly, we have not experienced any significant returns from our customers.

Royalty Revenue

Generally, we are entitled to royalties from our collaboration partners based on the net sales of their approved drugs that are marketed and sold, in one or more countries where we hold royalty rights. For arrangements that include sales-based royalties, including commercial milestone payments based on the level of sales, we have concluded that the license is the predominant item to which the royalties relate. Accordingly, we recognize royalty revenue, including for our non-cash royalties, when the underlying sales occur based on our best estimates of sales of the drugs. Our partners generally pay royalties or commercial milestones after the end of the calendar quarter in accordance with contractual terms.

License, collaboration and other revenue

License Grants: For collaboration arrangements that include a grant of a license to our intellectual property, we consider whether the license grant is distinct from the other performance obligations included in the arrangement. Generally, we would conclude that the license is distinct if the customer is able to benefit from the license with the resources available to it. For licenses that are distinct, we recognize revenues from nonrefundable, upfront payments and other consideration allocated to the license when the license term has begun and we have provided all necessary information regarding the underlying intellectual property to the customer, which generally occurs at or near the inception of the arrangement.

Milestone Payments: At the inception of the arrangement and at each reporting date thereafter, we assess whether we should include any milestone payments or other forms of variable consideration in the transaction price, based on whether a significant reversal of revenue previously recognized is not probable upon resolution of the uncertainty. Since milestone payments may become payable to us upon the initiation of a clinical study or filing for or receipt of regulatory approval, we review the relevant facts and circumstances to determine when we should update the transaction price, which may occur before the triggering event. When we do update the transaction price for milestone payments, we allocate it on a relative standalone selling price basis and record revenue on a cumulative catch-up basis, which results in recognizing revenue for previously satisfied performance obligations in such period. Our partners generally pay development milestones subsequent to achievement of the triggering event.

Research and development services: For amounts allocated to our research and development obligations in a collaboration arrangement, we recognize revenue over time using a proportional performance model, representing the transfer of goods or services as we perform activities over the term of the agreement.

Our revenue recognition policies under ASC 605 are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Research and Development Expense

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and include salaries, benefits and other operating costs such as outside services, supplies and allocated overhead costs. We perform research and development for our proprietary drug candidates and technology development and for certain third parties under collaboration agreements. For our proprietary drug candidates and our internal technology development programs, we invest our own funds without reimbursement from a third party. Where we perform research and development activities under a clinical joint development collaboration, such as our collaboration with BMS, we record the cost reimbursement from our partner as a reduction to research and development expense when reimbursement amounts are due to us under the agreement.

We record accruals for the estimated costs of our clinical trial activities performed by third parties. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows to our vendors. Payments under the contracts depend on factors such as the achievement of certain events, successful enrollment of patients, and completion of certain clinical trial activities. We generally accrue costs associated with the start-up and reporting phases of the clinical trials ratably over the estimated duration of the start-up and reporting phases. We generally accrue costs associated with the treatment phase of clinical trials based on the total estimated cost of the treatment phase on a per patient basis and we expense the per patient cost ratably over the estimated patient treatment period based on patient enrollment in the trials. In specific circumstances, such as for certain time-based costs, we recognize clinical trial expenses using a methodology that we consider to be more reflective of the timing of costs incurred. Advance payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are capitalized as prepaid expenses and recognized as expense as the related goods are delivered or the related services are performed. We base our estimates on the best information available at the time. However, additional information may become available to us which may allow us to make a more accurate estimate in future periods. In this event, we may be required to record adjustments to research and development expenses in future periods when the actual level of activity becomes more certain. Such increases or decreases in cost are generally considered to be changes in estimates and will be reflected in research and development expenses in the period identified.

Long-Lived Assets

We assess the impairment of long-lived assets, primarily property, plant and equipment and goodwill, whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be fully recoverable. When such events occur, we determine whether there has been an impairment in value by comparing the carrying value of the asset with its fair value, as measured by the anticipated undiscounted net cash flows associated with the asset. In the case of goodwill impairment, we perform an impairment test at least annually, on October 1 of each year, and market capitalization is generally used as the measure of fair value. If an impairment in value exists, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value.

Income Taxes

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded an income tax provision at an effective tax rate of approximately 35% as a result of taxable income at our Nektar India operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as a result of expected taxable income in India and the U.S. for the full year of 2018 resulting primarily from income recognized from the upfront payment from BMS, we recorded a global income tax provision at an effective tax rate of approximately 0.4%. The income tax benefit for the three months ended September 30, 2018 reflects our pre-tax loss for the three months ended September 30, 2018. We expect to have tax liabilities in certain states where we do not have sufficient net operating losses to offset our estimated apportioned taxable income. Our effective tax rate is based on certain assumptions and other estimates regarding the apportionment of taxable income and the states in which we have nexus in 2018. Our apportionment of taxable income includes estimates of the apportionment of the BMS upfront payment based on estimates of activities to be carried out under the collaboration agreement with BMS, as well as estimates of the apportionment of other sources of income. We will refine our estimates in future periods as more information becomes available.

Our effective tax rate reflects the release of the valuation allowance of net operating loss carryforwards and other tax credits to offset U.S. federal and state taxable income. It also reflects a benefit of $2.0 million for stock-based compensation windfalls during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Our remaining deferred tax assets continue to be fully reserved, as we believe it is not more likely than not that the benefit of such assets will be realized in the future.

Our effective tax rate in 2018, including the benefit from utilization of net operating loss carryforwards and stock-based compensation windfalls, may vary based on changes in our estimates of taxable income, apportionment of the BMS upfront payment as well as other sources of income, and net operating loss carryforwards in states where we have not previously filed tax returns.

The U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted on December 22, 2017 and reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% in 2017 to 21% in 2018.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance to amend a number of aspects of lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize almost all leases with a term greater than one year as a right-of-use asset and corresponding liability, measured at the present value of the lease payments. The guidance will become effective for us beginning in the first quarter of 2019 and is required to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on our balance sheet through the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for our existing facilities leases. However, the initial asset and liability amounts recorded upon adoption will be subject to several factors that we are continuing to evaluate, including the timing of the delivery of additional space under our facilities lease agreements, the determination of whether any contracts contain embedded leases, and the selection of an appropriate discount rate.