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Date: Mar 21 2011

Nektar Initiates Phase 1 Clinical Study Evaluating NKTR-181, A Novel Opioid Molecule

Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NKTR) today announced that the first subjects were dosed in a new Phase 1 clinical study to evaluate NKTR-181, the company’s next-generation opioid analgesic candidate. NKTR-181 is being developed to effectively treat pain while addressing the abuse liability and serious CNS side effects associated with currently available opioid therapies. Read the full release.

Lynn R. Webster, MD, Primary Investigator for the Phase 1 Study and Medical Director of Lifetree Clinical Research, said, "New pain medicines are desperately needed that are as powerful as opioids, but without the usual serious risks such as respiratory depression and disabling sedation."