About ONSET

John Patton

Founder and Chief Scientific Officer
Nektar Therapeutics
(formerly Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc.)
San Carlos, CA
ONSET Ventures Sponsor: Terry Opdendyk

In 1990, John Patton was a scientist at Genentech with a dream. He wanted to convert Genentech's injectable product into an inhalable one. "Let's face it," says John. "People don't like shots."

At that time, though, Genentech management thought the costs of such an endeavor would be too high. John decided to start his own company to make his dream of commercializing a new way to deliver drugs come true.

John's simple – yet elegant – idea gave birth to Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc., a company founded in 1990 that went public in 1994 and in January 2003 became Nektar Therapeutics to reflect its broader focus on drug delivery. But John – who is the company's Chief Scientific Officer – says, "It was by no means an easy ride."

"I had three kids ready for college and my wife wasn't working," says John. "I had to leave Genentech to start this company and I sold my stock options so we'd have something to live on."

John and his partner, Bob Platz, wrote a business plan and made the rounds of entrepreneur conferences and venture capitalists. "Each time we had a meeting, the VCs would say 'go away, make these changes and come back,'" says John. "I was running out of money."

Then John and Bob met Terry Opdendyk and Rob Kuhling. "At first, Terry and Rob were cautious, too," says John. "But when all the other VCs were saying 'too risky', Terry was saying 'that's a great idea.' I can honestly say that without Terry, Inhale [Nektar] never would have happened."

Terry helped Inhale develop a business strategy and hire a CEO who seemed unobtainable. Also with Terry's help, Inhale established and met a series of milestones that gave investors confidence in Inhale's ability to perform as a company.

"Once Terry decided to work with us, his commitment was fierce," says John. "It was that unfailing support that I appreciate most of all."