content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
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      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001206869</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000906709</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>000-24006</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>455 MISSION BAY BOULEVARD SOUTH</com:street1>
          <com:city>SAN FRANCISCO</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>94158</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>4154825300</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>ROBIN HOWARD W</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>23208</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>15579.54</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>186103588</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>05/19/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>05/15/2025</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>23208</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>05/15/2025</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>Howard Robin</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>455 Mission Bay Boulevard South</com:street1>
            <com:city>San Francisco</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>94158</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>02/19/2025</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>23774</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>23983.21</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <remarks>Sale includes an amount necessary to cover a tax obligation resulting from the settlement of a vested equity award distribution.</remarks>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>05/19/2025</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ Jennifer Ruchti, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Howard Robin</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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text: 144
  0001206869
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000906709
  NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS
  000-24006
  455 MISSION BAY BOULEVARD SOUTH
  SAN FRANCISCO
  CA
  94158
  4154825300
  ROBIN HOWARD W
  Officer
  Director
  Common
  Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  900 Salem Street
  Smithfield
  RI
  02917
  23208
  15579.54
  186103588
  05/19/2025
  NASDAQ
  Common
  05/15/2025
  Restricted Stock Vesting
  Issuer
  N
  23208
  05/15/2025
  Compensation
  N
  Howard Robin
  455 Mission Bay Boulevard South
  San Francisco
  CA
  94158
  Common
  02/19/2025
  23774
  23983.21
  Sale includes an amount necessary to cover a tax obligation resulting from the settlement of a vested equity award distribution.
  05/19/2025
  /s/ Jennifer Ruchti, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Howard Robin