Nektar Reports that Pfizer Inc and sanofi-aventis Announce Data Presented at American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions Support Exubera Efficacy and Safety Profile in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Business Wire, June 14, 2005

SAN DIEGO -- Results from three two-year studies presented at the 65th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association showed that Exubera(R) (human insulin powder), an inhaleable, short-acting, dry powder insulin, provided effective, sustained glycemic control and was well tolerated over two years in adults with type 2 diabetes. A fourth study showed that three months of Exubera therapy was well tolerated and as effective as subcutaneous (injectable) short-acting insulin in achieving tight glycemic control in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Nektar Therapeutics (Nasdaq:NKTR) developed the inhalers and the powdered insulin formulation for the Exubera product.

A pooled analysis of two Phase III studies involving 304 adults with type 2 diabetes showed that people who added Exubera to their treatment regimen maintained glycemic control for the two-year period and experienced no clinically important effects on pulmonary function compared to patients treated with oral agents alone. An additional analysis from a third study of 384 adults treated with Exubera during a two-year open-label extension further supported these findings.

"These studies showed that Exubera provided effective glycemic control and was well tolerated in adults with type 2 diabetes," said Dr. William Cefalu, lead study investigator and professor and chief of the division of nutrition and chronic diseases at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System. "Innovative new therapies are needed to encourage earlier use and acceptance of insulin, and these results suggest that Exubera may be a promising treatment option for people with diabetes."

A separate study involving 226 adults with type 1 diabetes showed that Exubera was well tolerated and as effective as subcutaneous (injectable), short-acting insulin in achieving tight glycemic control. Those who received Exubera for three months demonstrated improved glycemic control from baseline and experienced no clinically important effects on pulmonary function compared to adults treated with subcutaneous (injectable) insulin alone. Baseline glycemic (A1C) control was 7.5 percent. At week 12, patients treated with Exubera achieved a glucose level of 7.1 percent, compared with 7.0 percent for patients receiving subcutaneous (injectable) insulin.

The most common adverse events reported in the trials were hypoglycemia and cough. In two of the three studies in people with type 2 diabetes, hypoglycemia associated with inhaled insulin therapy was comparable to treatment with non-inhaled antidiabetic agents. Hypoglycemia rates were higher in the third study in people with type 2 diabetes, but in the setting of better glycemic control. In the fourth study in people with type 1 diabetes, hypoglycemia rates were comparable between the group receiving inhaled insulin and subcutaneous (injectable) insulin and the group receiving subcutaneous (injectable) insulin alone. Cough was generally mild and did not lead to discontinuation.

The product of a joint-development program between the sanofi-aventis Group and Pfizer, Exubera is a mealtime insulin that is inhaled through the mouth into the lungs prior to eating, using a proprietary inhalation device (and powdered insulin formulation) developed by Nektar Therapeutics. Exubera has been submitted for approval in the United States and the European Union for the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults. Pending approval, Exubera would represent the latest innovation in insulin delivery and would be the first non-injectable option available in the United States and Europe since the discovery of insulin.

About Nektar Advanced Pulmonary Delivery

Nektar Advanced Pulmonary Technology uses innovative molecular formulations and novel delivery devices to improve or enable administration of medicines to and through the lungs for both lung diseases and systemic conditions. Exubera is the most advanced product using Nektar Advanced Pulmonary Technology.

About Nektar

Nektar Therapeutics enables high-value, differentiated therapeutics with its industry-leading drug delivery technologies, expertise and manufacturing capabilities. The world's top biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are developing new and better therapeutics using Nektar's advanced technologies and know-how. Nektar also develops its own products by applying its drug delivery technologies and its expertise to existing medicines to enhance performance, such as improving efficacy, safety and compliance.

This release contains forward-looking information about a product candidate which is under review by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency that involves substantial risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, whether and when such regulatory authorities will approve the product candidate, their decisions regarding labeling and other matters that could affect its commercial potential as well as competitive developments.