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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;">UNITED STATES</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;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;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>


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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;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="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</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;">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 24.0pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities
Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 30.0pt;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;">April 1, 2004</font></b></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 24.0pt;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;"><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 56.0pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</font></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;">000-23556</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.0%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.0%;">
  <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="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:50.0%;">
  <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>

<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="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="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 12.0pt;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 12.0pt;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>

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


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

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<p align="center" style="font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 5.&#160; Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.</font></b></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On
April 1, 2004, Nektar Therapeutics issued a press release entitled &#147;Nektar
Therapeutics Announces Details of Redemption of 6&nbsp;3/4% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures due October 2006.&#148;&#160;
A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is
incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>

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

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in 12.0pt;text-align:left;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item
7.&#160; Financial Statements, Pro Forma
Financial Information and Exhibits.</font></b></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
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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;">Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.56%;">
  <p align="center" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="87%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:87.26%;">
  <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;">Description</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="10%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:10.16%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.56%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="87%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:87.26%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press Release, dated
  April 1, 2004, entitled &#147;Nektar Therapeutics Announces Details of Redemption
  of 6&nbsp;3/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due October 2006&#148;</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;">2</font></p>


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<p align="center" style="font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">&nbsp;</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="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;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 align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:25.08%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="23%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:23.6%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="51%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.32%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:25.08%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="23%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:23.6%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="51%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:51.32%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:25.08%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Dated:&nbsp;&nbsp;April
  1, 2004</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="23%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:23.6%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.26%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="46%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:46.06%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 20.0pt;text-align:left;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Ajit S. Gill</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:25.08%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="23%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:23.6%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.26%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:46.06%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 20.0pt;text-align:left;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="25%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:25.08%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="23%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:23.6%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:5.26%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="46%" valign="top" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:46.06%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 20.0pt;text-align:left;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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<p align="center" style="font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>

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

<p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><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%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="10%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:10.16%;">
  <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;">Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.56%;">
  <p align="center" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="87%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:87.26%;">
  <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;">Description</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="10%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:10.16%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:2.56%;">
  <p align="left" style="font-size:1.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;">&nbsp;</p>
  </td>
  <td width="87%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in .7pt 0in .7pt;width:87.26%;">
  <p align="left" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:left;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press Release, dated
  April 1, 2004, entitled &#147;Nektar Therapeutics Announces Details of Redemption
  of 6&nbsp;3/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due October 2006&#148;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:justify;"><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;">&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;">4</font></p>


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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit 99.1</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 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;">Nektar Therapeutics Announces Details of Redemption of 6 3/4%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due October 2006</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;text-autospace:none;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">San
Carlos, CA, April 1, 2004</font></b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> &#151; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Nektar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NKTR) today has called for the full
redemption on April 21, 2004 of its outstanding 6 3/4% convertible subordinated
debentures due October 2006 issued in October 1999.&#160; The aggregate principal amount outstanding of the debentures is
$7,760,000.&#160; The CUSIP numbers for these
debentures are 457191AC8 and 457191AA2.</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;">Prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on April 19,
2004, holders of these debentures may convert their debentures into shares of
Nektar common stock at a price of $16.00375 per share, or approximately 62.4853
shares of Nektar common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the
debentures.&#160; Cash will be paid in lieu
of fractional shares.&#160; On March 31,
2004, the closing price of Nektar common stock on the Nasdaq National Market
was $21.52 per share.</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;">Alternatively, holders of these debentures
may have their notes redeemed at a redemption price of $1,022.50 per $1,000
principal amount of debentures, together with any interest accrued but not paid
to the date of redemption, for a total redemption payment of $1,024.00 per such
$1,000 principal amount of debentures.&#160;
Any debentures not converted on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, on
April 19, 2004, will be automatically redeemed on April 21, 2004, after which
interest will cease to accrue.</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;">A notice of redemption is being mailed by
Nektar to all registered holders of the debentures.&#160; Copies of the notice of redemption and additional information
relating to the procedure for redemption may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Trust
Company, National Association by calling James Nagy at </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(415) 315-7533</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">.</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 debentures and shall not
constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such
offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.</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 release contains forward-looking
statements that reflect management&#146;s current views as to Nektar Therapeutics&#146;
business strategy, product and technology development plans and funding,
collaborative arrangements, clinical trials, and other future events and
operations.&#160; These forward-looking
statements involve uncertainties and other risks that are detailed in Nektar
Therapeutics&#146; reports and other filings with the SEC, including its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.&#160; Actual results could differ materially from
these forward-looking statements.</font></p>

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

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