<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001104659-04-001642
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040122
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20040126
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS
<CIK>0000906709
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2834
<IRS-NUMBER>943134940
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-24006
<FILM-NUMBER>04541523
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>150 INDUSTRIAL RD
<CITY>SAN CARLOS
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94070
<PHONE>6506313100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>150 INDUSTRIAL ROAD
<CITY>SAN CARLOS
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94070
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19980723
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
<DATE-CHANGED>19940303
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a04-1487_18k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
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<p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></b></p>

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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C.&#160; 20549</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>


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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT
REPORT</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</font><br>
</b><b><font size="3" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities
Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">January 22, 2004</font></b></font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Nektar Therapeutics</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center">

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 <tr>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">000-23556</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">94-3134940</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission File No.)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="49%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(IRS Employer Identification No.)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

</div>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">150 Industrial Road</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">San Carlos, CA 94070</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">(650)
631-3100</font></b></font></p>

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<p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>


<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">

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<b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.&#160;
Regulation FD Disclosure.</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On January 22, 2004, Nektar
Therapeutics (the &#147;Company&#148;) and certain holders of the Company&#146;s outstanding
3.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due October 2007 (the &#147;3.5% Notes&#148;)
completed an exchange and cancellation of $9,000,000 in aggregate principal
amount of the 3.5% Notes held by such holders, for the issuance of an aggregate
of 575,605 shares of the Company&#146;s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share,
by the Company to such holders in a privately negotiated transaction.&#160; The shares of common stock issued are exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the &#147;1933 Act&#148;), pursuant to an exemption under Section 3(a)(9) of the 1933
Act.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">This announcement is neither an
offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and
shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which
such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>


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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURE</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
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  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.7%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="57%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:57.3%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.7%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="57%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:57.3%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.7%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="57%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:57.3%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
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  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated:&nbsp;January
  22, 2004</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="26%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:26.7%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;/s/ Ajit S. Gill</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.02%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.7%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="57%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:57.3%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 50.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ajit S. Gill</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.7%;">
  <p style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="57%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:57.3%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 50.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">President, Chief Executive Officer and
  Director</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3</font></p>


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