View Filing Data

Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 12, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NEWLINK GENETICS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001126234
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q4
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		25,602,804
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 194,431,787

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 20,250	$ 39,490
Certificates of deposit	1,494	2,490
Prepaid expenses	907	409
State research and development credit receivable	542	202
Other receivables	196	197
Total current assets	23,389	42,788
Leasehold improvements and equipment:
Leasehold improvements	5,085	4,459
Computer equipment	636	710
Lab equipment	3,297	3,333
Total leasehold improvements and equipment	9,018	8,502
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,978)	(2,911)
Leasehold improvements and equipment, net	6,040	5,591
Total assets	29,429	48,379
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	972	1,670
Accrued expenses	1,659	1,867
Deferred rent	84	913
Note payable to Iowa Department of Economic Development	0	6,000
Obligations under capital leases	55	121
Current portion of long term debt	149	93
Total current liabilities	2,919	10,664
Long term liabilities:
Royalty obligation payable to Iowa Economic Development Authority	6,000	0
Obligations under capital leases	38	94
Deferred rent, excluding current portion	1,405	0
Total long-term liabilities	8,583	942
Total liabilities	11,502	11,606
Equity (deficit):
Blank check preferred stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares — 5,000,000 at December 31, 2012 and 2011; issued and outstanding shares — 0 at December 31, 2012 and 2011	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized shares — 38,833,334 at December 31, 2012 and 2011; issued and outstanding shares — 20,985,192 at December 31, 2012, and 20,591,240 at December 31, 2011	210	206
Additional paid-in capital	122,514	118,043
Deficit accumulated during the development stage	(104,797)	(81,476)
Total equity	17,927	36,773
Total liabilities and equity	29,429	48,379
Iowa State University Research Park [Member]
Long term liabilities:
Notes Payable, Noncurrent	840	548
City of Ames [Member]
Long term liabilities:
Notes Payable, Noncurrent	$ 300	$ 300

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stockholders' Equity:
Blank check preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Blank check preferred stock, authorized shares	5,000,000	5,000,000
Blank check preferred stock, issued shares	0	0
Blank check preferred stock, outstanding shares	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, authorized shares	38,833,334	38,833,334
Common stock, issued shares	20,985,192	20,591,240
Common stock, outstanding shares	20,985,192	20,591,240

Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Grant revenue	$ 1,687	$ 1,872	$ 2,079	$ 7,404
Operating expenses:
Research and development	17,838	14,255	12,666	78,156
General and administrative	7,108	5,679	6,074	36,943
Total operating expenses	24,946	19,934	18,740	115,099
Loss from operations	(23,259)	(18,062)	(16,661)	(107,695)
Other income and expense:
Miscellaneous income	(38)	5	71	320
Forgiveness of debt	0	0	0	449
Interest income	14	11	75	1,767
Interest expense	(38)	(42)	(47)	(181)
Other (expense) income, net	(62)	(26)	99	2,355
Net loss	(23,321)	(18,088)	(16,562)	(105,340)
Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	1	349	583
Net loss attributable to NewLink	$ (23,321)	$ (18,087)	$ (16,213)	$ (104,757)
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$ (1.12)	$ (2.98)	$ (4.84)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted	20,779,450	6,064,542	3,352,331

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Weighted-average common shares outstanding, diluted) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)	20,779,450	6,064,542	3,352,331

- Definition

The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

+ References + Details

Consolidated Statement of Equity (Deficit) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock Series A [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Notes Receivable for Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Deficit Accumulated During the Development Stage [Member]	Total NewLink Genetics Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Jun. 04, 1999	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Balance (shares) at Jun. 04, 1999			0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued	27		$ 19	21	(13)			27
Stock issued (shares)			1,904,762
Reduction of IPO offering costs	27		$ 19	21	(13)			27
Net loss	(64)						(64)	(64)
Balance at Dec. 31, 1999	(37)	0	$ 19	21	(13)	0	(64)	(37)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 1999			1,904,762
Balance at Jun. 04, 1999	0	0	$ 0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Balance (shares) at Jun. 04, 1999			0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	(113)
Net loss	(105,340)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 17,927	0	$ 210	122,514	0	0	(104,797)	17,927	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	20,985,192		20,985,192
Balance at Dec. 31, 1999	$ (37)	0	$ 19	21	(13)	0	(64)	(37)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 1999			1,904,762
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued	47		$ 6	145	(104)			47
Stock issued (shares)			686,762
Receipt of payment on note receivable	13				13			13
Preferred stock issued	989	989						989
Reduction of IPO offering costs	47		$ 6	145	(104)			47
Net loss	(236)						(236)	(236)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2000	776	989	$ 25	166	(104)	0	(300)	776	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2000			2,591,524
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued	50		$ 1	49				50
Stock issued (shares)			95,238
Repurchase of common stock	(15)				18	(33)		(15)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)			(131,806)
Reduction of IPO offering costs	50		$ 1	49				50
Deemed dividend		41					(41)
Net loss	(1,448)						(1,448)	(1,448)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2001	(637)	1,030	$ 26	215	(86)	(33)	(1,789)	(637)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2001			2,554,956
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Receipt of payment on note receivable	33							33
Exercise of stock options	13		$ 1	12				13
Exercise of stock options (shares)			23,810
Stock awards	14							14
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	(6)							(6)
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			20,998
Net loss	(2,253)						(2,253)	(2,253)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2002	(2,836)	1,030	$ 27	235	(53)	(33)	(4,042)	(2,836)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2002			2,599,764
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Receipt of payment on note receivable	7				7			7
Stock compensation	46			46				46
Stock compensation (shares)			9,524
Exercise of stock options	1,112		$ 2	1,110				1,112
Exercise of stock options (shares)			235,537
Stock awards	15			15				15
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	(5)			(5)				(5)
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			20,998
Net loss	(2,979)						(2,979)	(2,979)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2003	(4,640)	1,030	$ 29	1,401	(46)	(33)	(7,021)	(4,640)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2003			2,865,823
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Receipt of payment on note receivable	5				5			5
Stock awards	57			57				57
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	(5)			(5)				(5)
Net loss	(3,669)						(3,669)	(3,669)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2004	(8,252)	1,030	$ 29	1,453	(41)	(33)	(10,690)	(8,252)	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2004			2,865,823
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Receipt of payment on note receivable	1				1			1
Stock compensation	51			51				51
Stock compensation (shares)			8,946
Stock awards	2			2				2
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	(82)			(82)				(82)
Issuance of common stock for acquisition	354		$ 1	353				354
Issuance of common stock for acquisition (shares)			61,953
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			41,995
Noncontrolling interest	2,278								2,278
Net loss	(4,770)						(4,770)	(4,770)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2005	(10,418)	1,030	$ 30	1,777	(40)	(33)	(15,460)	(12,696)	2,278
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2005			2,978,717
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred stock	257								257
Stock compensation	22			22				22
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	(4)			(4)				(4)
Issuance of common stock for acquisition	130		$ 1	129				130
Issuance of common stock for acquisition (shares)			61,953
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			20,996
Net loss	(5,318)						(5,318)	(5,318)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2006	(15,331)	1,030	$ 31	1,924	(40)	(33)	(20,778)	(17,866)	2,535
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2006			3,061,666
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Receipt of payment on note receivable	2				2			2
Stock compensation	58			58				58
Exercise of stock options	12			12				12
Exercise of stock options (shares)			15,476
Stock issued for licensing (shares)			11,905
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			20,996
Retire treasury stock				(33)		33
Noncontrolling interest	8								8
Net loss	(7,582)						(7,582)	(7,582)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2007	(22,833)	1,030	$ 31	1,961	(38)	0	(28,360)	(25,376)	2,543
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2007			3,110,043
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock compensation	86			86				86
Exercise of stock options	19			19				19
Exercise of stock options (shares)			15,298
Stock issued for licensing	5			5				5
Stock issued for licensing (shares)			2,381
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			21,000
Noncontrolling interest	(1)								(1)
Net loss	(8,842)						(8,842)	(8,842)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	(31,566)	1,030	$ 31	2,071	(38)	0	(37,202)	(34,108)	2,542
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2008			3,148,722
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued	3								3
Stock compensation	929			929				929
Exercise of stock options	15			15				15
Exercise of stock options (shares)			7,138
Issuance of stock dividend			$ 1	(1)
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			20,998
Preferred stock issued	40								40
Reduction of IPO offering costs	3								3
Net loss	(10,207)						(9,974)	(9,974)	(233)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	(40,786)	1,030	$ 32	3,014	(38)	0	(47,176)	(43,138)	2,352
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			3,176,858
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued	2								2
Receipt of payment on note receivable	146				25			25	121
Repurchase of common stock	(469)		$ (1)	(374)				(375)	(94)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)			(102,110)
Stock compensation	1,525			1,525				1,525
Exercise of stock options	82		$ 1	81				82
Exercise of stock options (shares)			141,573
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	(2)			(2)				(2)
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock	114			114				114
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock (shares)			14,915
Exercise of warrants	2,000		$ 2	1,998				2,000
Exercise of warrants (shares)			178,571
Issuance of common stock for acquisition	819		$ 2	817				819
Issuance of common stock for acquisition (shares)			173,469
Stock issued for licensing	201			201				201
Stock issued for licensing (shares)			23,810
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			20,996
Preferred stock issued	911								911
Reduction of IPO offering costs	2								2
Net loss	(16,562)						(16,213)	(16,213)	(349)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	(52,019)	1,030	$ 36	7,374	(13)	0	(63,389)	(54,962)	2,943
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			3,628,082
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued	37,555		$ 62	37,493				37,555
Stock issued (shares)			6,200,000
Receipt of payment on note receivable	13				13			13
Stock compensation	2,545			2,545				2,545
Stock compensation (shares)			11,905
Exercise of stock options	19			19				19
Exercise of stock options (shares)			9,320
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	(8)			(8)				(8)
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock	75,390	(1,030)	$ 107	76,313				75,390
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock (shares)			10,719,353
Issuance of stock dividend			$ 1	(1)
Issuance of stock dividend (shares)			22,580
Noncontrolling interest	(8,634)			(5,692)				(5,692)	(2,942)
Reduction of IPO offering costs	37,555		$ 62	37,493				37,555
Net loss	(18,088)						(18,087)	(18,087)	(1)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 36,773	0	$ 206	118,043	0	0	(81,476)	36,773	0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	20,591,240		20,591,240
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued	$ 158			158				158
Repurchase of common stock	(4)			(4)				(4)
Stock compensation	3,195			3,195				3,195
Stock compensation (shares)			13,000
Exercise of stock options	$ 887		$ 4	883				887
Exercise of stock options (shares)	341,429		341,429
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	$ 0
Sale of shares under stock purchase plan	239			239				239
Sale of shares under stock purchase plan (shares)			39,523
Reduction of IPO offering costs	158			158				158
Net loss	(23,321)						(23,321)	(23,321)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 17,927	$ 0	$ 210	$ 122,514	$ 0	$ 0	$ (104,797)	$ 17,927	$ 0
Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	20,985,192		20,985,192

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flows From Development Activities
Net loss	$ (23,321)	$ (18,088)	$ (16,562)	$ (105,340)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in development activities:
Share-based compensation	3,195	2,545	1,525	8,544
Depreciation and amortization	788	687	655	3,749
Loss on sale of fixed assets	38	0	819	38
In-process research and development expenses	0	0	201	1,629
Forgiveness of debt	0	0	0	(449)
Forgiveness of notes receivable from related parties	0	0	350	350
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses	498	(550)	849	907
State research and development credit receivable	340	(28)	60	542
Other receivables	0	(416)	(797)	196
Accounts payable	(700)	637	(528)	(260)
Accrued expenses and deferred rent	367	276	382	3,148
Net cash used in development activities	(20,471)	(12,949)	(13,270)	(90,236)
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Purchase of certificates of deposit	(1,992)	(2,490)	(277)	(13,282)
Sale of certificates of deposit	2,988	2,269	0	11,788
Notes receivable from related parties	0	0	500	(350)
Purchase of equipment	(1,323)	(281)	(2,932)	(8,092)
Proceeds on sale of fixed assets	50	0	0	50
Cash paid for OncoRx	0	0	0	(120)
Net cash used in investing activities	(277)	(502)	(2,709)	(10,006)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Cash received from noncontrolling interest investment	0	0	911	3,479
Issuance of common stock, net of offering costs	1,285	37,574	2,082	42,445
Repurchase of common stock	(4)	0	(468)	(505)
Repayments of notes receivable for common stock	0	13	25	0
Proceeds from subsidiary common stock option exercise	0	0	121	0
Proceeds from preferred stock	0	5,000	7,723	67,743
Proceeds from notes payable	456	0	1,100	8,215
Principal payments on debt	(107)	(92)	(67)	(476)
Payments under capital lease obligations	(122)	(126)	(93)	(409)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,508	42,369	11,334	120,492
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(19,240)	28,918	(4,645)	20,250
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	39,490	10,572	15,217
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	20,250	39,490	10,572	20,250
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information:
Cash paid for interest	38	42	44	142
Noncash financing and investing activities:
Accretion on redeemable preferred stock	0	8	2	113
Purchased leasehold improvements and equipment in accounts payable	53	481	0	53
Common stock issued to shareholders of OncoRx as part of acquisition	0	0	932	1,654
Issuance of common stock dividend to Series AA preferred shareholders	0	1	1	6
Assets acquired under capital lease	0	$ 80	$ 282	542
Reduction of IPO offering costs	$ 158			$ 158

Description of Business and Development Stage Activities	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Development Stage Enterprises [Abstract]
Description of Business and Development Stage Activities	Description of Business and Development Stage Activities On June 4, 1999, NewLink Genetics Corporation (NewLink) was incorporated as a Delaware corporation. NewLink was formed for the purpose of developing treatments for cancer and other diseases. NewLink initiated operations in April of 2000, which primarily consist of research and development. In 2005, NewLink created a wholly owned subsidiary, BioProtection Systems Corporation (BPS). NewLink contributed certain licensing agreements and other intangible assets for BPS to create vaccines against potential biological terror threats. On January 7, 2011, NewLink acquired all of the minority interest in BPS, by merging a newly-formed subsidiary of NewLink with BPS, with BPS as the surviving corporation resulting in NewLink owning all the outstanding capital stock of BPS. See note 14. NewLink and its subsidiary (the Company) are development stage enterprises and are devoting substantially all of their efforts toward research and development. The Company has never earned revenue from sales of its drugs under development. The Company incurred a net loss of $23.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, and from June 4, 1999 (inception) through December 31, 2012 has generated a cumulative deficit of $104.8 million. The Company has managed its liquidity needs during its development stage to date through a series of capital market transactions. On November 16, 2011, the Company completed its initial public offering (IPO) of common stock pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 that was declared effective on November 10, 2011. The Company sold 6,200,000 shares of common stock at a price of $7.00 per share raising a total of $37.6 million in net proceeds after underwriting discounts and commissions of $3.0 million and offering expenses of $2.9 million. Costs directly associated with the IPO were capitalized and recorded as deferred IPO costs prior to the closing of the IPO. These costs have been recorded as a reduction of the proceeds received in arriving at the amount to be recorded in additional paid-in capital. Upon the closing of the IPO, 14,270,113 shares of the Company’s convertible preferred stock automatically converted into 10,719,353 shares of common stock, which also reflected conversion price adjustments to our preferred stock. During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company received equity financing of $1.3 million and $42.6 million, respectively. On February 4, 2013, the Company completed a follow-on offering of its common stock. The Company sold 4,600,000 shares of common stock at a price of $11.40 per share raising a total of $49.0 million in net proceeds. See note 17. The accompanying financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As noted above, the company successfully raised net proceeds of $37.6 million from its IPO and completed a follow-on offering of its common stock raising net proceeds of $49.0 million. See note 17. Our cash and cash equivalents after the February offering are expected to be adequate to satisfy the Company's liquidity requirements through December 31, 2014, although not through commercialization and launch of revenue producing products. If available liquidity becomes insufficient to meet the Company’s operating obligations as they come due, management’s plans include pursuing alternative funding arrangements and/or reducing expenditures as necessary to meet the Company’s cash requirements. However, there is no assurance that, if required, the Company will be able to raise additional capital or reduce discretionary spending to provide the required liquidity. Failure by the Company to successfully execute its plans or otherwise address its liquidity needs may have a material adverse effect on its business and financial position, and may materially affect the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for all or part of the detailed information required for development stage enterprises. The information may also be disclosed on an element-by-element basis. Information may include an identification of the current or prior year financial statements of the entity, its development stage subsidiaries, or its investees as those of one or more development stage enterprises; a description of the nature of the development stage activities in which each enterprise is engaged; and in the first fiscal year in which each enterprise is no longer considered a development stage enterprise, a statement that in prior years the enterprise had been in the development stage.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 915
-SubTopic 230
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472471&loc=d3e38015-110924

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 915
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472506&loc=d3e38932-110933

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 915
-SubTopic 215
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472370&loc=d3e38297-110927

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 915
-SubTopic 210
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472335&loc=d3e37729-110921

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 915
-SubTopic 215
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472370&loc=d3e38313-110927

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 915
-SubTopic 225
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472436&loc=d3e38614-110930

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 915
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472506&loc=d3e38942-110933

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 7
-Paragraph 11, 12, 13
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Significant Accounting Policies (a) Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (b) Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of NewLink and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. (c) Cash and Cash Equivalents For the purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents of $20.3 million and $39.5 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, consist of money market accounts and treasury bills. (d) Certificates of Deposit Certificates of deposit have original maturities of greater than three months. Certificates of deposit are classified as held-to-maturity with due dates through 2013 and are presented at amortized cost, which approximates fair value. (e) Leasehold Improvements and Equipment Leasehold improvements and equipment are capitalized as we believe they have alternative future uses and are stated at cost. Equipment under capital leases is stated at the present value of minimum lease payments. Depreciation on all leasehold improvements and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Computer equipment has useful lives of three to five years and lab equipment has useful lives of three to seven years. Deferred rent reflects improvement allowances form our lessors deferred to be recognized as part of lease expense, which is recognized on a straight-line basis. During 2012, the Company added leasehold improvements to a new facility under an operating lease. As part of the lease, the lessor approved a tenant improvement allowance of $622,000 for improvements made to the facility. The improvement allowance is recorded as deferred rent on the financial statements and will reduce rent expense over the remaining term of the lease. Total deferred rents were $1.5 million and $913,000 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. (f) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group, primarily relating to proceeds for selling the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. (g) Revenue Recognition The Company receives payments from government entities under its grants and contracts with the National Institute of Health and the Department of Defense. These agreements provide the Company cost reimbursement for certain types of expenditures in return for research and development activities over a contractually defined period. Revenues are recognized in the period during which the related costs are incurred, provided that the conditions under which the cost reimbursement was provided have been met and we have only perfunctory obligations outstanding. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 and from inception through December 31, 2012, the Company has earned $1.7 million, $1.9 million, $2.1 million and $7.4 million in grant revenue, respectively. (h) Expenses Accrued Under Contractual Arrangements with Third Parties; Accrued Clinical Expenses The Company estimates its accrued expenses through a process of reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with personnel to identify services that have been performed and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service that may not be invoiced from the provider. The estimates of accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date are based on facts and circumstances known at that time. Such estimates are periodically confirmed with the service providers to verify accuracy. The Company bases its expenses related to clinical trials on estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple research institutions and contract research organizations that conduct and manage clinical trials on behalf of the Company. Invoicing from third-party contractors for services performed can lag several months. We accrue the costs of services rendered in connection with third-party contractor activities based on our estimate of management fees, site management and monitoring costs and data management costs. Differences between actual clinical trial costs and estimated clinical trial costs have not been material and are adjusted for in the period in which they become known. (i) Research and Development Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Certain research and development expenses are refundable from the state of Iowa without regard to income. State research and development credits of $283,000, $160,000, $230,000 and $2.1 million at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and from inception through December 31, 2012, respectively, are reflected as a reduction of research and development expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. (j) Patents The Company generally applies for patent protection on processes and products. Patent application costs are expensed as incurred as a component of general and administrative expense, as recoverability of such expenditures is uncertain. (k) Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operating results in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company has not recognized any uncertain tax positions. (l) Stock Option Valuation The Company is required to estimate the grant-date fair value of stock options issued to employees and recognize this cost over the period these awards vest. The Company estimates the fair value of each option granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Generally, the Company has issued employee awards with a graded vesting schedule that vest over time. For these awards, the Company records compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. The Company has issued awards to nonemployee consultants and advisors. All grants to nonemployees are valued using the same fair value method that the Company uses for grants to employees. The cost recognized on these awards is determined on the later of the vesting of the award or completion of services by the nonemployee. Following is a description of the inputs for the Black-Scholes model: Exercise Price The Company’s stock options granted prior to the IPO were granted with an exercise price as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith with the assistance of a third-party appraisal report and an evaluation of milestones achieved. Subsequent to the IPO, the Company uses the quoted market price as listed on the public exchange on the date of grant. If Incentive Stock Options (ISO) are granted to a 10% stockholder in the Company, the exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the common stock’s fair market value on the date of grant. Expected Term (in Years) The expected term of a stock option is the period of time for which the option is expected to be outstanding. The Company has a large number of options outstanding and has no secondary market. Therefore, the Company used the simplified method under current SEC guidance to estimate the expected term. The simplified method uses the midpoint between the fully vested date and the forfeiture date as the expected term for the employee and nonemployee director grants. In the case of an ISO granted to a stockholder who owns more than 10% of the Company's outstanding stock, the life of options may not exceed five years. For grants to nonemployee consultants or advisors, the contractual life of the option is used. Risk-Free Interest Rate The Company uses the average yield on current U.S. Treasury instruments with terms that approximate the expected term of the stock options being valued. Expected Dividend Yield The expected dividend yield for all of the Company’s stock option grants is 0%, as the Company has not declared a cash dividend since inception and has no plans to declare a dividend. Expected Volatility The Company estimates future expected volatility for each stock option valuation utilizing volatility rates of similar publicly traded companies considered to be in the same peer group. We plan to continue using peer group data until we have sufficient information to estimate our own volatility. Forfeitures The share-based compensation expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The estimated forfeiture rate is based on historical experience of the Company’s option plan, which the Company expects to continue at the current level, and any adjustments in the forfeiture rate in the future will result in a cumulative adjustment in the period that this estimate is changed. Ultimately, the total compensation expense recognized for any given stock-based award over its vesting period will only be for those shares that actually vest. (m) Segments The Company operates in one segment. NewLink and its subsidiary BPS conduct research and development activities based from facilities located in Ames, Iowa. The Ames location also includes corporate headquarters for NewLink and BPS. The companies conduct preclinical and clinical research in the biopharmaceutical industry. Management uses cash flow as the primary measure to manage its business and does not segment its business for internal reporting or decision-making. (n) Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, certificates of deposit, prepaid expenses, receivables, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities, which are recorded at cost, approximate fair value based on the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The fair value of notes payable and capital lease obligations was $1.4 million and $7.2 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and was determined using Level 3 inputs. The Company is unable to estimate the fair value of the royalty obligation as the timing of payments is uncertain. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, and certificates of deposit. Cash and cash equivalents are held by financial institutions and are federally insured up to certain limits. At times, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance exceeds the federally insured limits. To limit the credit risk, the Company invests its excess cash primarily in high quality securities such as money market funds. (o) Recent Accounting Pronouncements In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ASU 2011-05, an amendment of the Codification Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. ASU 2011-05 requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 will be effective retrospectively. ASU 2011-5 was adopted as of January 1, 2012, and had no impact as we have no amounts recorded as comprehensive income.

Acquisition of OncoRx Corporation	12 Months Ended
Acquisition of OncoRx Corporation	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred [Abstract]
Acquisition of OncoRx Corporation	Acquisition of OncoRx Corporation On June 21, 2005, NewLink acquired all of the outstanding shares of OncoRx Corporation (OncoRx) in order to gain access to certain small molecule technologies through the issuance of both cash and shares of common stock payable upon certain milestones. On July 29, 2010, the Company entered into an amendment of the stock purchase agreement with OncoRx to reduce the remaining shares payable by accelerating the final installment payment to the effective date of the amendment. In consideration for the accelerated stock payment, the Company received a 30% discount on the remaining shares payable, reducing total shares payable under the agreement by 74,344 shares. A total of 173,469 shares were issued with total fair value of $819,000. All cash and stock consideration paid to the OncoRx shareholders has been recorded as research and development expense at fair value when delivered as there is no alternative use for the acquired research and development activities. Through this acquisition, the Company acquired technology related to its IDO pathway inhibitor product candidates, subject to a licensing agreement with the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. The disclosure may include leverage buyout transactions (as applicable).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1497-128463

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1490-128463

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1392-128463

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e7008-128479

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1486-128463

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1500-128463

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1524-128463

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e7000-128479

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4922-128472

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4934-128472

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4926-128472

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7488404&loc=d3e6996-128479

Reference 15: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1383-128463

Reference 16: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 88-16
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 17: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph F4
-Subparagraph e
-Appendix F

Reference 18: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141
-Paragraph 51, 52
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 19: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 141R
-Paragraph 67-73
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Leases

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

(a) Capital Leases

The following is an analysis of the leased property under capital leases by major class (in thousands):



	Asset balances at December 31,
Class of property	2012		2011
Lab equipment	$	489	$	489
Leasehold improvements	27		27
Total property under capital leases	516		516
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	211		137
Capital leased assets, net	$	305	$	379

The depreciation and amortization reflected above has been recorded as depreciation and amortization expense in these consolidated financial statements.

The following is a schedule by years of the future minimum lease payments under capital leases together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):



Year ending December 31:
2013	$	60
2014	19
2015	18
2016	4
Total minimum lease payments	101
Less amount representing interest	8
Present value of net minimum lease payments	$	93

(b) Operating Leases

The Company has certain facilities operating leases that are being leased on a month-to-month basis. The Company entered into a new lease for additional space in October 2009 expiring in 2015. Under the terms of the lease, the Company has the option to extend the lease for three additional five-year periods upon the same terms as the base lease. Additionally, in November of 2011, the Company entered into an amendment to the October 2009 lease adding additional space and extending the term through 2017. The Company also leases laboratory space from one of its licensors. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis. Rental expense for operating leases during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and from inception through December 31, 2012, was $707,000, $601,000, $601,000 and $3.7 million respectively.

Future minimum lease payments under the noncancelable operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):



Year ending December 31:
2013	$	484
2014	441
2015	193
2016	170
2017	29
	$	1,317

- Definition

The entire disclosure for lessee entity's leasing arrangements including, but not limited to, all of the following: (a.) The basis on which contingent rental payments are determined, (b.) The existence and terms of renewal or purchase options and escalation clauses, (c.) Restrictions imposed by lease agreements, such as those concerning dividends, additional debt, and further leasing.

+ References + Details

Long-Term Debt Conversion to Royalty Obligation	12 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt Conversion to Royalty Obligation	Dec. 31, 2012
Long-Term Debt Conversion to Royalty Obligation [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt Conversion to Royalty Obligation	Long-Term Debt and Conversion to Royalty Obligation March 2005 Iowa Department of Economic Development Loan In March 2005, we entered into a $6.0 million forgivable loan agreement with the Iowa Department of Economic Development, or the IDED. Under the agreement, in the absence of default, there were no principal or interest payments due until the completion date for the project. The balance outstanding under the loan agreement was $6.0 million as of December 31, 2011. This loan was converted into a royalty obligation under the terms of a settlement agreement entered into on March 26, 2012, with the Iowa Economic Development Authority, or the IEDA. March 2012 Iowa Economic Development Authority Royalty Obligation As discussed above, on March 26, 2012 the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the Iowa Economic Development Authority ("IEDA") as the successor organization to IDED. Under the terms of the settlement agreement the Company agreed to pay a 0.5% royalty on future product sales up to a cap of $6.8 million in exchange for IEDA’s release of the Company's job creation and project expenditure obligations and their release of the security interest in substantially all of the Company's assets. As no payments are expected in the next 12 months, the entire accrued royalty obligation of $6.0 million is considered long-term as of December 31, 2012. 2009 and 2012 Iowa State University Research Park Loans In 2009, the Company executed a promissory note in favor of Iowa State University Research Park, or ISURP, in an original principal amount of $800,000, which is due in monthly installments through March, 2018. The note represents amounts owed by the Company to ISURP for certain improvements that were made to facilities the Company leases from ISURP. The principal and interest owed under the note is amortized over an eight-year period. Interest is payable monthly under this promissory note, initially at a rate of 3.0% per annum and increasing to 5.0% per annum after five years from the date the improvements were completed. ISURP may accelerate all amounts owed under the note upon an event of default, including the Company’s uncured material breach of the terms of the note or the lease or upon early termination of the lease. In the event of a default under the note, amounts owed under the note will bear interest at 8.0% per annum. The balance outstanding under the 2009 note was $546,000 and $641,000 at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. In 2012, the Company executed a promissory note in favor of Iowa State University Research Park, or ISURP, in an original principal amount of $456,000, which is due in monthly installments through September, 2020. The note represents amounts owed by the Company to ISURP for certain additional improvements that were made to facilities the Company leases from ISURP. The principal and interest owed under the note is amortized over an eight-year period. Interest is payable monthly under this promissory note, initially at a rate of 3.0% per annum and increasing to 5.0% per annum after five years from the date the improvements were completed. ISURP may accelerate all amounts owed under the note upon an event of default, including the Company’s uncured material breach of the terms of the note or the lease or upon early termination of the lease. In the event of a default under the note, amounts owed under the note will bear interest at 8.0% per annum. The balance outstanding under the 2012 note was $443,000 and $0 at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. March 2010 City of Ames Forgivable Loan In March 2010, the Company entered into a $400,000 forgivable loan agreement with the City of Ames, Iowa and the Ames Chamber of Commerce, jointly, as lenders. The project provides the Company with financial assistance to construct new facilities within the Ames city limits. In the absence of a default, there are no principal or interest payments due until the expected completion date for the project, which is March 10, 2015. The project calls for the Company to create or retain at least 70 full-time jobs located in Ames, Iowa as of March 10, 2012 and to create or maintain at least 150 full-time positions located in Ames, Iowa as of March 10, 2015. The agreement also calls for the Company to enter into a five-year building lease with the option for extension for an additional five years of not less than 20,000 square feet within the corporate limits of the City of Ames by March 10, 2015. If, as of March 10, 2015, the Company has fulfilled the terms of the loan agreement, the loan will be forgiven. If on March 10, 2012 and March 10, 2015, the Company has failed to create or retain at least 70 full-time jobs and 150 full-time jobs in Ames, Iowa, respectively, the Company will be required to repay approximately $3,100 per job not created or retained following the respective date. As of December 31, 2012, $300,000 of the total $400,000 forgivable loan was advanced to the Company with the final $100,000 pending certification to the City of Ames regarding the creation of a threshold level of jobs. In the event of default, including failure to repay any amounts under the loan when due, the Company will be required to repay the note, including 6.5% interest per annum, beginning at the date of default.

Common Stock	12 Months Ended
Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2012
Common Stock [Abstract]
Common Stock	Common Stock The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the NewLink stockholders. Subject to preferences applicable to outstanding preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the NewLink Board of Directors. In the event of liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of NewLink, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities subject to prior distribution rights of the preferred stock.

Preferred Stock

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Redeemable Preferred Stock

Preferred Stock

On November 16, 2011, the Company completed its IPO of common stock pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1that was declared effective on November 10, 2011. Upon the closing of the IPO, 14,270,113 shares of the Company’s convertible preferred stock automatically converted into 10,719,353 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2012 the Company had no outstanding preferred stock. Prior to the IPO, the outstanding preferred stock had various preferences, including voting rights, dividend rights and conversion rights and liquidation preferences.

Prior to the IPO, NewLink’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorized the issuance of 17,166,666 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value including 1,388,889 shares of blank check preferred stock, $0.01 par value. Subsequent to the IPO, NewLink’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorized the issuance of 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value. The NewLink Board of Directors has the authority to issue the preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the voting power and such designations, preferences, and rights subject to approval of outstanding preferred series shareholders. No preferred stock was outstanding at December 31, 2012 and 2011.

Following is a summary of all redeemable preferred stock activity for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:



	Redeemable Preferred Stock (in 000's)
	Series AA			Series AAA			Series B			Series BB			Series C			Series D			Series E
Balance at December 31, 2010	2,191			849			5,478			8,004			30,000			7,500			7,723
Issuance of 436,304 shares of Series E preferred stock (January 7, 2011 and June 20, 2011)	—			—			—			—			—			—			13,635
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	—			—			—			—			—			—			8
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock	(2,191		)	(849		)	(5,478		)	(8,004		)	(30,000		)	(7,500		)	(21,366		)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

On January 7, 2011, NewLink acquired all of the minority interest in BPS by issuing 276,304 shares of Series E preferred stock. See note 14. On June 20, 2011, the Company issued and sold to an investor 160,000 shares of Series E preferred stock at a purchase price of $31.25 per share, for aggregate consideration of $5.0 million.

Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan

In April 2000, the stockholders approved NewLink’s 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2000 Plan”), and in July 2009, the stockholders approved NewLink’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”). Following the approval of the 2009 Plan, all options outstanding under the 2000 Plan are effectively included under the 2009 Plan. Under the provisions of the 2009 Plan, NewLink may grant the following types of common stock awards:


•	Incentive Stock Options


•	Nonstatutory Stock Options


•	Restricted Stock Awards


•	Stock Appreciation Rights

Awards under the 2009 Plan, as amended, may be made to officers, employees, Board of Directors, advisors, and consultants to NewLink. As of December 31, 2012 there were 4,895,139 shares of common stock authorized for the 2009 plan and 614,665 shares remained available for issuance. As of December 31, 2011 there were 4,071,490 shares of common stock authorized for the 2009 plan and 319,239 shares remained available for issuance.

On January 7, 2011, stockholders authorized an increase of 714,286 shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2009 Plan. On January 1, 2012 an additional 823,649 shares of common stock were added to the shares reserved for future issuance under the Company’s 2009 Equity Incentive Plan. Subsequent to year end, on January 1, 2013 an additional 838,375 shares of commons stock were added to the shares reserved for future issuance under the Company's 2009 Equity Incentive Plan. The shares added to the reserve on January 1, 2012 and January 1, 2013 were increased pursuant to an “evergreen provision” on January 1 of each year, from 2012 to (and including) 2019, in an amount equal to 4% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year.

Under the terms of the Company's 2010 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan, or Directors’ Plan, which became effective on November 10, 2011, 238,095 shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance. As of December 31, 2012, 164,297 shares remained available for issuance under the plan.

Under the terms of the Company's 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or 2010 Purchase Plan, which became effective on November 10, 2011, 214,285 shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance. As of December 31, 2012, 174,762 shares remained available for issuance under the plan. During the year ending December 31, 2012, 39,523 shares of common stock were purchased under the terms of the plan.

Stock Options

Share-based employee compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and from inception through December 31, 2012 was $3.2 million, $2.5 million, $1.5 million and $8.5 million, respectively, and is allocated between research and development and general and administrative expenses within the consolidated statements of operations, giving rise to a related tax benefit of $0 for all periods. As of December 31, 2012, the total compensation cost related to nonvested option awards not yet recognized was $4.3 million and the weighted average period over which it is expected to be recognized was 2.3 years.

The NewLink Board of Directors determines the vesting period for each stock option award. Generally, stock options awarded to date under the 2009 Plan vest 20% or 25% on the first anniversary date of issuance with the remaining options vesting ratably over the next 36 to 48 months, though some options have effective vesting periods that begin prior to the date of grant. In such cases, compensation expense was recognized for the vested portion of the award upon grant. The stock options may include provisions for early exercise of options. If any shares acquired are unvested, they are subject to repurchase at NewLink’s discretion until they become vested.

The following table summarizes the stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2012:



	Number of options		Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average remaining contractual term (years)
Outstanding at beginning of period	3,515,051		$	3.51
Options granted	672,079		8.10
Options exercised	(341,429	)	2.60
Options forfeited	(86,296	)	6.88
Options expired	(6,992	)	2.94
Outstanding at end of period	3,752,413		$	4.34	7.2
Options exercisable at end of period	2,571,041		$	3.34	6.7

In the above table, options granted includes 13,000 shares of stock grants, which are fully vested at issuance.

Based on the December 31, 2012 price of $12.50 per share, the intrinsic value of stock options outstanding at December 31, 2012, was $30.8 million, of which $23.5 million and $7.3 million related to stock options that were vested and unvested, respectively, at that date.

The following table summarizes options that were granted during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and the range of assumptions used to estimate the fair value of those stock options using a Black-Scholes valuation model:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2012	2011	2010
Number of options granted	672,079	664,323	1,297,738
Risk-free interest rate	0.98%-2.05%	0.1%-3.1%	2.3%-3.5%
Expected dividend yield	—	—	—
Expected volatility	63.0%-73.6%	62.6%-67.9%	59.8%-68.1%
Expected term (in years)	5.8-7.0	5.0-7.5	5.0-7.5
Weighted average grant-date fair value per share	$5.02	$7.12	$2.90

The intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2012 was $3.6 million. The fair value of awards vested during the year ended December 31, 2012 was $2.5 million.

The intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2011 was $194,000. The fair value of awards vested during the year ended December 31, 2011 was $7.8 million.

The intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2010 was $82,000. The fair value of awards vested during the year ended December 31, 2010 was $3.7 million.

NewLink does not have a formal policy regarding the source of shares issued upon exercise of stock options. NewLink expects shares issued upon future stock option exercises to be new shares.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for compensation-related costs for equity-based compensation, which may include disclosure of policies, compensation plan details, allocation of equity compensation, incentive distributions, equity-based arrangements to obtain goods and services, deferred compensation arrangements, employee stock ownership plan details and employee stock purchase plan details.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 50
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6406099&loc=d3e25284-112666

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5444-113901

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 14

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph 64, 65, A240
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 93-6
-Paragraph 53
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and the deferred tax liability at December 31, 2012 and 2011 are presented below (in thousands):



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	19,853		$	16,007
Federal research credits	2,912			2,912
Deferred rent	313			—
Accrued compensation	76			—
Gross deferred tax assets	23,154			18,919
Less valuation allowance	(23,137		)	(18,858		)
Net deferred tax assets	17			61
Deferred tax liability:
Leasehold improvements and equipment	(17		)	(61		)
Total net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	—

The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 was $23.1 million and $18.9 million, respectively. The net change in the total valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 was an increase of $4.3 million and $3.9 million, respectively. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Valuation allowances have been established for the entire amount of the net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, due to the uncertainty of future recoverability.

Federal operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2012 of approximately $94.5 million and federal research credit carryforwards of approximately $2.9 million expire at various dates from 2020 through 2032. Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code limit a corporation’s ability to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes (including research credits) to offset any future taxable income or tax if the corporation experiences a cumulative ownership change of more than 50% over any rolling three year period. State net operating loss carryforwards (and certain other tax attributes) may be similarly limited. An ownership change can therefore result in significantly greater tax liabilities than a corporation would incur in the absence of such a change and any increased liabilities could adversely affect the corporation’s business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flow.

Based on a preliminary analysis, we believe that, from its inception through December 31, 2011, NewLink experienced Section 382 ownership changes in September 2001 and March 2003 and our subsidiary experienced Section 382 ownership changes in January 2006 and January 2011. These ownership changes limit NewLink's ability to utilize federal net operating loss carryforwards (and certain other tax attributes) that accrued prior to the respective ownership changes of NewLink and our subsidiary. Additional ownership changes may occur in the future as a result of events over which the Company will have little or no control, including purchases and sales of the Company’s equity by our 5% stockholders, the emergence of new 5% stockholders, additional equity offerings or redemptions of the Company’s stock or certain changes in the ownership of any of the Company’s 5% stockholders.

The Company incurred no income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and for the period from inception through December 31, 2012. Income tax expense differs from the amount that would be expected after applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate primarily due to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred taxes.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for income taxes. Disclosures may include net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, and tax uncertainties information.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 136, 172
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Article 4

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Net Loss per Common Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net Loss per Common Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period, without consideration of common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common share equivalents outstanding for the period determined using the treasury-stock method. For purposes of this calculation, preferred stock, stock options and warrants are considered to be common stock equivalents and are only included in the calculation of diluted net loss per share when their effect is dilutive.

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted net loss per common share (in thousands, except share and per share data):



	Years Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Historical net loss per share
Numerator
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$	(23,321	)	$	(18,087	)	$	(16,213	)
Denominator
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)	20,779,450			6,064,542			3,352,331
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$	(1.12	)	$	(2.98	)	(4.84		)

The numerator was not adjusted for the stock dividend paid on the Series AA preferred stock as the impact is not material. Potentially dilutive securities not included in the calculation of diluted net loss per common share because to do so would be anti-dilutive are as follows (in common equivalent shares):



	As of December 31,
	2012	2011	2010
Preferred stock(1)	—	—	8,438,417
Common stock warrants	—	—	—
Common stock options	3,752,413	3,515,051	2,932,673
	3,752,413	3,515,051	11,371,090


(1)	Amounts for the Series BB, C, D and E preferred stock conversions are computed based on the initial public offering price of 7.00 per share.

Licensing Agreements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Licensing Agreements [Abstract]

Licensing Agreements

The Company is subject to a number of licensing agreements with respect to certain of the technologies that underlie its intellectual property. Unless otherwise noted, these agreements typically provide that the Company has exclusive rights to the use and sublicensing of the technologies in question for the duration of the intellectual property patent protection in question, subject to the Company meeting its financial and other contractual obligations under the agreements. The Company expenses all payments made under the following agreements in the period the payments occurred. For additional information regarding how the Company records payments under these agreements, see note 2(i) above. Certain of the key licensing agreements include the following:

Central Iowa Health Systems. The Company is a party to a license agreement, or the CIHS Agreement, dated August 2, 2001, with the Central Iowa Health System, or CIHS. The CIHS Agreement grants the Company an exclusive, worldwide license to make, have made, use, import, sell and offer for sale products that are covered by certain CIHS patent rights, proprietary information and know-how relating to the Company’s HyperAcute immunotherapy technology. In partial consideration of the license under the CIHS Agreement, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with CIHS, under which the Company issued to CIHS shares of its common stock and granted CIHS certain rights related to ownership of such shares.

In addition, the Company must reimburse CIHS for out-of-pocket costs incurred for patent prosecution and maintenance. If the Company commercializes a licensed product, it also has the obligation to pay CIHS royalties as a low single-digit percentage of net sales of the licensed product, subject to annual minimum royalties and a reduction for any royalty payments the Company must make to third parties. If the Company grants a sublicense under the licenses granted by CIHS, it must pay to CIHS a percentage of certain consideration paid by the sublicensee to the Company. Under the CIHS Agreement, the Company must use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and commercialize licensed products, to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and to launch and market such products in specified markets.

Unless terminated earlier, the CIHS Agreement shall remain in effect until the expiration of all of the Company’s royalty obligations under the agreement. The Company may terminate the agreement, or specific patents covered by the agreement, on written notice to CIHS or for CIHS’ uncured material breach of the agreement. CIHS has the right to terminate for the Company’s uncured material breach of the agreement after written notice. Upon termination of the agreement the Company may sell its existing inventory of licensed products for a period of three months after such termination.

Drexel University. The Company is party to a license agreement, or the Drexel Agreement, dated October 13, 2004 with Drexel University, or Drexel. The Drexel Agreement grants the Company, and its affiliates, an exclusive, worldwide license, under specified Drexel patent rights relating to compositions and methods for vaccines based on alpha-galactosyl epitopes, to make, have made, use, import, sell and offer for sale vaccine products that are covered by such patent rights, or that use related Drexel technical information, for use in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, viral and other infectious disease.

In consideration of the Company’s license under the Drexel Agreement, it has paid and is obligated to continue to pay specified license fees, potential milestone payments in an aggregate amount up to approximately $1 million for each licensed product, annual license maintenance fees, reimbursement of patent prosecution costs, and royalty payments as a low single-digit percentage of “net sales” of any licensed product that is commercialized, subject to minimum royalty payments. Royalty rates vary depending on the type of licensed product, the territory where it is sold and whether the licensed product is combined with other technologies. In addition, if the Company grants a sublicense under the license granted by Drexel, it must pay Drexel a percentage of the consideration paid by the sublicensee to the Company. In accordance with a development plan included in the Drexel Agreement, the Company is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and market products covered by the license as soon as practicable.

Unless terminated earlier, the Drexel Agreement shall remain in effect until the expiration or abandonment of all the licensed Drexel patents. The Company may terminate the Drexel Agreement on written notice to Drexel. Drexel has the right to terminate for the uncured breach of the Company’s obligations under the agreement or for certain other reasons. If the Drexel Agreement terminates the Company may, in certain circumstances, sell any remaining inventory of licensed products for a period of six months after termination.

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research—IDO-1. The Company is a party to a license agreement dated July 7, 2005, as amended May 22, 2006 and September 11, 2007, or the IDO-1 Agreement, with Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, or LIMR. The IDO-1 Agreement grants the Company an exclusive, worldwide license, under specified LIMR patent rights relating to inhibitors of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, or IDO-1, and related LIMR technology, to make, have made, use, import, sell and offer for sale products that are covered by such patent rights for use in the field of animal and human therapeutics and diagnostics.

In consideration of the license grant, the Company is obligated to pay to LIMR specified license fees, annual license maintenance fees, reimbursement of past patent prosecution costs, potential milestone payments in an aggregate amount up to approximately $1.36 million for each licensed product, and royalties as a low single-digit percentage of net sales of the licensed products if a licensed product is commercialized. In addition, if the Company grants a sublicense under the IDO-1 Agreement, it must to pay to LIMR a percentage of the consideration received by the Company from the sublicensee. Under the IDO-1 Agreement, the Company is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and market the licensed products, and to achieve certain milestones by agreed-upon deadlines.

Unless terminated earlier, the IDO-1 Agreement shall remain in effect until the expiration of the last licensed LIMR patents. LIMR may terminate the agreement for the Company’s failure to achieve specified milestones, failure to make payments due, bankruptcy or similar proceedings. Upon termination of the agreement, the Company may sell its current inventory of licensed products and those licensed products in the process of manufacture, subject to the terms of the agreement.

Georgia Health Sciences University. The Company is a party to a License Agreement dated September 13, 2005, or the GHS Agreement, with Georgia Health Sciences University, formerly known as the Medical College of Georgia Research Institute, or GHS, which was amended on April 27, 2006 and February 13, 2007. The GHS Agreement grants the Company, including its affiliates, an exclusive, worldwide license, under specified GHS patent rights and related technology to make, have made, use, import, sell and offer for sale products that are covered by licensed patent rights or incorporates or uses licensed technology in all medical applications.

In consideration of such license grant, the Company is obligated to pay to GHS specified license fees (including issuing shares of its common stock), annual license maintenance fees, reimbursement of patent prosecution costs, potential milestone payments in an aggregate amount up to approximately $2.8 million per licensed product, and royalties as a single-digit percentage of net sales of the licensed products, subject to minimum royalty payments and royalty rates depending on the type of license product. In addition, if the Company grants a sublicense under the license granted by GHS, it must pay to GHS a percentage of the consideration it receives from the sublicensee. Under the agreement, the Company is obligated to make certain investments toward the further development of licensed products within specified time periods.

Unless terminated earlier, the GHS Agreement will remain in effect until the expiration of the last licensed GHS patents. GHS may terminate this agreement for the Company’s uncured material breach, bankruptcy or similar proceedings. The Company may terminate this agreement for the uncured material breach of GHS. For a period of one year following the termination of the agreement, the Company may sell its licensed products that are fully manufactured and part of its normal inventory at the date of termination.

LIMR—IDO-2. The Company is a party to a license agreement, or the LIMR IDO-2 Agreement, executed December 21, 2007 with LIMR. The LIMR IDO-2 Agreement grants the Company an exclusive, worldwide license, under specified LIMR patent rights relating to inhibitors of the target Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase-2, or IDO-2, and under related LIMR know-how or technology, to make, have made, use, import, sell and offer for sale products and services that are covered by such patent rights, for all uses.

In consideration of the license grant, the Company has paid to LIMR an upfront license fee and annual license maintenance fees, and is obligated to pay LIMR annual license maintenance fees, potential milestone payments in an aggregate amount up to approximately $1.52 million per licensed product, subject to reductions if milestones also qualify under the IDO-1 Agreement, and, if a licensed product is commercialized, royalties as a low single-digit percentage of “net sales” of the licensed product, subject to reduction for the Company’s royalty payments to third parties. In addition, if the Company grants a sublicense under the licenses granted by LIMR, it must pay to LIMR a percentage of the consideration paid by the sublicensee to the Company. Under the LIMR IDO-2 Agreement, the Company has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to develop and exploit products covered by the license.

Unless terminated earlier, the LIMR IDO-2 Agreement shall continue until the expiration of the last valid LIMR patent licensed under the agreement. The Company may terminate the Agreement on written notice to LIMR. LIMR has the right to terminate for the Company’s uncured material breach, failure to pay, or bankruptcy or similar proceedings. Upon termination of the agreement, the Company may sell its current inventory of licensed products and those licensed products in the process of manufacture, subject to the terms of the agreement.

2009 LIMR Exclusive License Agreement. The Company is a party to a license agreement, or the 2009 LIMR Agreement, dated April 23, 2009 with LIMR. The 2009 LIMR Agreement grants the Company an exclusive, worldwide license, under specified LIMR patent rights relating to IDO inhibitors, and under related LIMR know-how or technology, to make, have made, use, import, sell and offer for sale products and services that are covered by such patent rights, for all uses. In consideration of such license grant, the Company is obligated to pay LIMR potential milestone payments in an aggregate amount up to approximately $610,000 per licensed product, subject to reductions if milestones also qualify under the IDO-1 Agreement or LIMR IDO-2 Agreement, and royalties as a low single-digit percentage of “net sales” of the licensed product, subject to reduction for the Company’s royalty payments to third parties and to LIMR under the IDO-1 Agreement or LIMR IDO-2 Agreement. In addition, if the Company grants a sublicense under the licenses granted by LIMR, it must pay to LIMR a percentage of the consideration paid by the sublicensee to us.

Unless terminated earlier, the LIMR IDO Agreement shall continue until the expiration of the last valid LIMR patent licensed under the agreement. The Company may terminate the Agreement on written notice to LIMR. LIMR has the right to terminate for the Company’s uncured material breach, failure to pay, or bankruptcy or similar proceedings. Upon termination of the agreement, the Company may sell its current inventory of licensed products and those licensed products in the process of manufacture, subject to the terms of the agreement.

Bresagen Patent License Agreement. The Company is a party to a license agreement, or the Bresagen Agreement, dated March 1, 2006 with Bresagen Xenograft Marketing Ltd, or Bresagen. The Bresagen Agreement grants the Company a non-exclusive, non-sublicensable license to specified Bresagen patent rights for use in testing microbial and cancer vaccines. In consideration of such license grant, the Company is obligated to pay Bresagen an up front license fee and an annual license fee.

Unless terminated earlier, the Bresagen Agreement shall continue for an initial period of eight years, which may be extended an additional five years upon agreement of the parties. Either party may terminate the Agreement at any time by agreement in writing, each party not to unreasonably withhold its consent for termination. Bresagen has the right to terminate for the Company’s uncured breach, insolvency, change of control without consent or similar proceedings. Upon termination of the agreement, all of the Company’s rights under the license are terminated.

Regents of the University of California License Agreement. The Company is a party to a license agreement dated July 29, 2008, or the California License, with the Regents of the University of California, or California. The California License grants the Company an exclusive, worldwide license, under specified California patent rights relating to technology based on yellow fever virus, to make, use, import, sell and offer for sale products that are covered by licensed patent rights in the field of human healthcare.

In consideration of the license grant, the Company must pay to California a specified license issue fee, annual license maintenance fees, patent prosecution costs, potential milestone payments in an aggregate amount up to approximately $285,000 per licensed product, and royalties as a low single-digit percentage of net sales of the licensed product, which royalty rate varies depending on the territory. The Company is obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to develop and market the licensed products, and to achieve certain milestones by agreed-upon deadlines.

Unless terminated earlier, the California License will remain in effect until the expiration or abandonment of the last of the California patent rights. This agreement will terminate automatically upon the filing, by or against the Company, for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code or upon the filing of a legal action, by or on behalf of the Company, claiming that any portion of the California License is invalid or unenforceable. California may terminate this agreement for the Company's uncured material breach. The Company may terminate this agreement upon written notice to California. Upon termination of the agreement, the Company may sell any previously made licensed product for a period of 120 days after termination.

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada License Agreement. The Company is a party to a license agreement dated May 4, 2010, or the Canada License, with the Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, or Canada. The Canada License grants the Company a worldwide, personal, non-transferable, sole, revocable, royalty-bearing license for commercialization of specified Canada patent rights relating to technology based on rVSV. The license is subject to Canada's retained right to use the Canada patent rights and technology to improve the patent rights, carryout educational purposes, and development of the patent rights where BPS cannot obtain regulatory approval or meet demand.

In consideration of the license grant, the Company must pay to Canada specified patent and signing fees, annual license maintenance fees, patent prosecution costs, potential milestone payments in an aggregate amount up to approximately C$205,000 per licensed product, and royalties as a low single-digit percentage of the sales price of the licensed products sold by it, which royalty rate varies depending on the type of licensed product.

Unless terminated earlier, the Canada License will remain in effect until the expiration of the last of the Canada patent rights. Canada may terminate this agreement for BPS's failure to use commercially reasonable efforts to commercialize, failure to pay, breach of confidentiality, cessation of business, criminal conviction or other breach of its obligations under the agreement. BPS may not assign the Canada License to a third party without the prior written consent of Canada, not to be unreasonably withheld. This agreement will terminate automatically if BPS assigns the Canada License without prior written consent or if BPS files for bankruptcy or similar proceedings.

During 2010, the Company issued 23,810 shares to Reconstitute, LLC as consideration for terminating a licensing agreement and for performance of certain provisions of the license agreement prior to termination. The fair value of the shares issued was approximately $201,000.

Under the above license agreements we are obligated to make potential milestone payments as listed in the following table. These obligations are contingent upon achieving the applicable milestone event, the timing of which cannot presently be determined.



Licensor		Aggregate potential milestone payments
Drexel University		$1 million per licensed product

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research under the IDO-1 Agreement (1)		$1.36 million per licensed product

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research under the LIMR IDO-2 Agreement (1)		$1.52 million per licensed product, subject to reductions if milestones also qualify under the IDO-1 Agreement

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research under the 2009 LIMR Agreement (1)		$610,000 per licensed product, subject to reductions if milestones also qualify under the IDO-1 Agreement or LIMR IDO-2 Agreement

Georgia Health Sciences University		$2.8 million per licensed product

Regents of the University of California		$285,000 per licensed product

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada		C$205,000 per licensed product

We have made payments of approximately $255,000, $89,000, $391,000, and $2.8 million under all of the in-licensing agreements for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, 2010, and from inception, respectively, which is recorded as a component of general and administrative expenses.

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan, which includes a defined contribution feature. The Company's defined contribution was $136,000, $157,000, $137,000 and $801,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and from inception through December 31, 2012, respectively. The Company made discretionary contributions to the plan of $152,000, $136,000, $119,000 and $842,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and from inception through December 31, 2012, respectively. On October 29, 2010, the Company approved employment agreements for certain executives that provide for the payment of 24, 12 or 6 months of base salary upon termination of the executive in certain circumstances and group health insurance premiums plus accrued obligations. The agreements include provisions to accelerate the vesting of stock options subject to certain events including those related to a change in control.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for pension and other postretirement benefits.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2235017

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Implementation Guide (Q and A)
-Number FAS88
-Paragraph 63
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 106
-Paragraph 518
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 03-2
-Paragraph 8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 87
-Paragraph 264
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph q
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph h
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph m
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5, 6, 7, 8
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 12: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 158
-Paragraph 7, 21, 22
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 13: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number FAS106-2
-Paragraph 20, 21, 22
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 14: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 30
-Paragraph 26
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions	Dec. 31, 2012
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related-Party Transactions On January 7, 2011, we acquired all of the minority interest in BPS, by merging a newly-formed subsidiary of ours with BPS, with BPS as the surviving corporation. In connection with this transaction, we issued an aggregate of 276,304 shares of our Series E preferred stock to the former holders of BPS Series B common stock, BPS Series A preferred stock and BPS Series B preferred stock (other than the Company). As a result of this transaction, BPS became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and our note was converted into Series B preferred stock of BPS. All options to purchase shares of BPS stock became options to purchase a total of 50,513 shares of our common stock. Certain purchasing activities are outsourced to a company owned by an immediate family member of the Company’s VP of Finance. Total purchases through this related party were $35,000, $22,000 and $40,000 and $327,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and from inception through December 31, 2012. The Company paid fees to this related party for consulting services of approximately $0, $0, $0 and $7,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 and from inception through December 31, 2012, respectively. Amounts payable were $2,000 and $0 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for related party transactions. Examples of related party transactions include transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiary; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) and entity and its principal owners; and (d) affiliates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39603-107864

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39622-107864

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39678-107864

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 850
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39691-107864

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph b
-Article 3A

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph k
-Article 4

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 57
-Paragraph 1-4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Acquisition of BioProtection Systems Corporation	12 Months Ended
Acquisition of BioProtection Systems Corporation	Dec. 31, 2012
Acquisition of BioProtection Systems Corporation [Abstract]
Acquisition of BioProtection Systems Corporation	Acquisition of BioProtection Systems Corporation On January 7, 2011, NewLink acquired all of the minority interest in BPS, by merging a newly-formed subsidiary of NewLink’s with BPS, with BPS as the surviving corporation. In connection with this transaction, NewLink issued an aggregate of 276,304 shares of NewLink’s Series E preferred stock with a value of $8.6 million to the former holders of BPS Series B common stock, Series A preferred stock and Series B preferred stock (other than NewLink). As a result of this transaction, BPS became a wholly-owned subsidiary of NewLink. All options to purchase shares of BPS common stock became options to purchase NewLink’s common stock. The net assets of BPS had a book value of $2.9 million. The remaining amount paid of $5.7 million was recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital. No gain or loss was recorded as a result of this transaction.

Reverse Stock Split	12 Months Ended
Reverse Stock Split	Dec. 31, 2012
Reverse Stock Split [Abstract]
Reverse Stock Split	Reverse Stock Split On October 19, 2011, the Company’s board of directors approved a 2.1-for-one reverse split of the Company’s common stock to be effected prior to the effective date of the Company’s IPO. In connection with the reverse split, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware on October 25, 2011 making the reverse split effective. All share and per share amounts have been retroactively restated in the accompanying financial statements and notes for all periods presented.

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Information

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)



	First			Second			Third			Fourth
	(In thousands, except per share data)

Year Ended December 31, 2012
Grant revenue	$	471		$	590		$	327		$	299
Loss from operations	(4,817		)	(6,301		)	(5,848		)	(6,293		)
Net loss	(4,842		)	(6,309		)	(5,851		)	(6,319		)
Net loss per share	$	(0.23	)	$	(0.31	)	$	(0.28	)	$	(0.30	)

Year Ended December 31, 2011
Grant revenue	$	604		$	537		$	430		$	301
Loss from operations	(3,892		)	(4,394		)	(3,972		)	(5,804		)
Net loss	(3,898		)	(4,394		)	(3,986		)	(5,810		)
Net loss per share	$	(1.07	)	$	(1.20	)	$	(1.09	)	$	(0.44	)

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the quarterly financial data in the annual financial statements. The disclosure may include a tabular presentation of financial information for each fiscal quarter for the current and previous year, including revenues, gross profit, income or loss before extraordinary items and earnings per share data. It also includes an indication if the information in the note is unaudited, comments on the aggregate effect of year-end adjustments, and an explanation of matters or transactions that affect comparability or are pertinent to an understanding of the information furnished.

+ References + Details

Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Subsequent Events	Dec. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events On February 4, 2013, the Company completed a follow-on offering of its common stock. The Company sold 4,600,000 shares of common stock at a price of $11.40 per share raising net proceeds of $49.0 million. On February 22, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved, subject to shareholder approval, an increase in the authorized number of shares of common stock from 38,833,334 shares to 75,000,000 shares. On February 22, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved, subject to shareholder approval, the increase in shares reserved under the 2010 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Award Plan from 238,095 shares to 400,000 shares of common stock. Additionally, on February 22, 2013, the Company’s Board of Directors approved, subject to shareholder approval, the increase in shares reserved under the 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan from 214,285 shares to 400,000 shares of common stock.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of NewLink and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents For the purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents of $20.3 million and $39.5 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, consist of money market accounts and treasury bills.
Certificates of Deposit	Certificates of Deposit Certificates of deposit have original maturities of greater than three months. Certificates of deposit are classified as held-to-maturity with due dates through 2013 and are presented at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.
Leasehold Improvements and Equipment	Leasehold Improvements and Equipment Leasehold improvements and equipment are capitalized as we believe they have alternative future uses and are stated at cost. Equipment under capital leases is stated at the present value of minimum lease payments. Depreciation on all leasehold improvements and equipment is calculated on the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Computer equipment has useful lives of three to five years and lab equipment has useful lives of three to seven years. Deferred rent reflects improvement allowances form our lessors deferred to be recognized as part of lease expense, which is recognized on a straight-line basis. During 2012, the Company added leasehold improvements to a new facility under an operating lease. As part of the lease, the lessor approved a tenant improvement allowance of $622,000 for improvements made to the facility. The improvement allowance is recorded as deferred rent on the financial statements and will reduce rent expense over the remaining term of the lease. Total deferred rents were $1.5 million and $913,000 as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group, primarily relating to proceeds for selling the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition The Company receives payments from government entities under its grants and contracts with the National Institute of Health and the Department of Defense. These agreements provide the Company cost reimbursement for certain types of expenditures in return for research and development activities over a contractually defined period. Revenues are recognized in the period during which the related costs are incurred, provided that the conditions under which the cost reimbursement was provided have been met and we have only perfunctory obligations outstanding. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011, and 2010 and from inception through December 31, 2012, the Company has earned $1.7 million, $1.9 million, $2.1 million and $7.4 million in grant revenue, respectively.
Expenses Accrued Under Contractual Arrangements with Third Parties; Accrued Clinical Expenses	Expenses Accrued Under Contractual Arrangements with Third Parties; Accrued Clinical Expenses The Company estimates its accrued expenses through a process of reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with personnel to identify services that have been performed and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service that may not be invoiced from the provider. The estimates of accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date are based on facts and circumstances known at that time. Such estimates are periodically confirmed with the service providers to verify accuracy. The Company bases its expenses related to clinical trials on estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple research institutions and contract research organizations that conduct and manage clinical trials on behalf of the Company. Invoicing from third-party contractors for services performed can lag several months. We accrue the costs of services rendered in connection with third-party contractor activities based on our estimate of management fees, site management and monitoring costs and data management costs. Differences between actual clinical trial costs and estimated clinical trial costs have not been material and are adjusted for in the period in which they become known.
Research and Development	Research and Development Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Certain research and development expenses are refundable from the state of Iowa without regard to income. State research and development credits of $283,000, $160,000, $230,000 and $2.1 million at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, and from inception through December 31, 2012, respectively, are reflected as a reduction of research and development expenses on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operating results in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. As of December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company has not recognized any uncertain tax positions.
Patents	Patents The Company generally applies for patent protection on processes and products. Patent application costs are expensed as incurred as a component of general and administrative expense, as recoverability of such expenditures is uncertain.
Stock Option Valuation	Stock Option Valuation The Company is required to estimate the grant-date fair value of stock options issued to employees and recognize this cost over the period these awards vest. The Company estimates the fair value of each option granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Generally, the Company has issued employee awards with a graded vesting schedule that vest over time. For these awards, the Company records compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. The Company has issued awards to nonemployee consultants and advisors. All grants to nonemployees are valued using the same fair value method that the Company uses for grants to employees. The cost recognized on these awards is determined on the later of the vesting of the award or completion of services by the nonemployee. Following is a description of the inputs for the Black-Scholes model: Exercise Price The Company’s stock options granted prior to the IPO were granted with an exercise price as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith with the assistance of a third-party appraisal report and an evaluation of milestones achieved. Subsequent to the IPO, the Company uses the quoted market price as listed on the public exchange on the date of grant. If Incentive Stock Options (ISO) are granted to a 10% stockholder in the Company, the exercise price shall not be less than 110% of the common stock’s fair market value on the date of grant. Expected Term (in Years) The expected term of a stock option is the period of time for which the option is expected to be outstanding. The Company has a large number of options outstanding and has no secondary market. Therefore, the Company used the simplified method under current SEC guidance to estimate the expected term. The simplified method uses the midpoint between the fully vested date and the forfeiture date as the expected term for the employee and nonemployee director grants. In the case of an ISO granted to a stockholder who owns more than 10% of the Company's outstanding stock, the life of options may not exceed five years. For grants to nonemployee consultants or advisors, the contractual life of the option is used. Risk-Free Interest Rate The Company uses the average yield on current U.S. Treasury instruments with terms that approximate the expected term of the stock options being valued. Expected Dividend Yield The expected dividend yield for all of the Company’s stock option grants is 0%, as the Company has not declared a cash dividend since inception and has no plans to declare a dividend. Expected Volatility The Company estimates future expected volatility for each stock option valuation utilizing volatility rates of similar publicly traded companies considered to be in the same peer group. We plan to continue using peer group data until we have sufficient information to estimate our own volatility. Forfeitures The share-based compensation expense has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. The estimated forfeiture rate is based on historical experience of the Company’s option plan, which the Company expects to continue at the current level, and any adjustments in the forfeiture rate in the future will result in a cumulative adjustment in the period that this estimate is changed. Ultimately, the total compensation expense recognized for any given stock-based award over its vesting period will only be for those shares that actually vest.
Segments	Segments The Company operates in one segment. NewLink and its subsidiary BPS conduct research and development activities based from facilities located in Ames, Iowa. The Ames location also includes corporate headquarters for NewLink and BPS. The companies conduct preclinical and clinical research in the biopharmaceutical industry. Management uses cash flow as the primary measure to manage its business and does not segment its business for internal reporting or decision-making.
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments and Concentrations of Credit Risk The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, certificates of deposit, prepaid expenses, receivables, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities, which are recorded at cost, approximate fair value based on the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The fair value of notes payable and capital lease obligations was $1.4 million and $7.2 million as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and was determined using Level 3 inputs. The Company is unable to estimate the fair value of the royalty obligation as the timing of payments is uncertain.
Concentration of Credit Risk	Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, and certificates of deposit. Cash and cash equivalents are held by financial institutions and are federally insured up to certain limits. At times, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance exceeds the federally insured limits. To limit the credit risk, the Company invests its excess cash primarily in high quality securities such as money market funds.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In June 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ASU 2011-05, an amendment of the Codification Topic 220, Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income and eliminates the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. ASU 2011-05 requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 will be effective retrospectively. ASU 2011-5 was adopted as of January 1, 2012, and had no impact as we have no amounts recorded as comprehensive income.

Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Leases [Abstract]

Capital Leased Assets

The following is an analysis of the leased property under capital leases by major class (in thousands):



	Asset balances at December 31,
Class of property	2012		2011
Lab equipment	$	489	$	489
Leasehold improvements	27		27
Total property under capital leases	516		516
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	211		137
Capital leased assets, net	$	305	$	379

Minimum Lease Payments for Capital Leases



Year ending December 31:
2013	$	60
2014	19
2015	18
2016	4
Total minimum lease payments	101
Less amount representing interest	8
Present value of net minimum lease payments	$	93

Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases

Future minimum lease payments under the noncancelable operating leases (with initial or remaining lease terms in excess of one year) as of December 31, 2012 are as follows (in thousands):



Year ending December 31:
2013	$	484
2014	441
2015	193
2016	170
2017	29
	$	1,317

Preferred Stock Preferred Stock (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Redeemable Preferred Stock

Redeemable Preferred Stock

Following is a summary of all redeemable preferred stock activity for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:



	Redeemable Preferred Stock (in 000's)
	Series AA			Series AAA			Series B			Series BB			Series C			Series D			Series E
Balance at December 31, 2010	2,191			849			5,478			8,004			30,000			7,500			7,723
Issuance of 436,304 shares of Series E preferred stock (January 7, 2011 and June 20, 2011)	—			—			—			—			—			—			13,635
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock	—			—			—			—			—			—			8
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock	(2,191		)	(849		)	(5,478		)	(8,004		)	(30,000		)	(7,500		)	(21,366		)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of temporary equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.

+ References + Details

Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Stock Option Activity

The following table summarizes the stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2012:



	Number of options		Weighted average exercise price		Weighted average remaining contractual term (years)
Outstanding at beginning of period	3,515,051		$	3.51
Options granted	672,079		8.10
Options exercised	(341,429	)	2.60
Options forfeited	(86,296	)	6.88
Options expired	(6,992	)	2.94
Outstanding at end of period	3,752,413		$	4.34	7.2
Options exercisable at end of period	2,571,041		$	3.34	6.7

Assumptions Used in Black-Scholes Pricing Model for New Grants



	Years Ended December 31,
	2012	2011	2010
Number of options granted	672,079	664,323	1,297,738
Risk-free interest rate	0.98%-2.05%	0.1%-3.1%	2.3%-3.5%
Expected dividend yield	—	—	—
Expected volatility	63.0%-73.6%	62.6%-67.9%	59.8%-68.1%
Expected term (in years)	5.8-7.0	5.0-7.5	5.0-7.5
Weighted average grant-date fair value per share	$5.02	$7.12	$2.90

Income Taxes Deferred Tax Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Valuation Allowance

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and the deferred tax liability at December 31, 2012 and 2011 are presented below (in thousands):



	Year Ended December 31,
	2012			2011
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	$	19,853		$	16,007
Federal research credits	2,912			2,912
Deferred rent	313			—
Accrued compensation	76			—
Gross deferred tax assets	23,154			18,919
Less valuation allowance	(23,137		)	(18,858		)
Net deferred tax assets	17			61
Deferred tax liability:
Leasehold improvements and equipment	(17		)	(61		)
Total net deferred tax assets	$	—		$	—

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of valuation allowances to reduce deferred tax assets to net realizable value, including identification of the deferred tax asset more likely than not will not be fully realized and the corresponding amount of the valuation allowance.

+ References + Details

Net Loss per Common Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Common Share

The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted net loss per common share (in thousands, except share and per share data):



	Years Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
Historical net loss per share
Numerator
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$	(23,321	)	$	(18,087	)	$	(16,213	)
Denominator
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)	20,779,450			6,064,542			3,352,331
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$	(1.12	)	$	(2.98	)	(4.84		)

Antidilutive Securities Not Included in Computation of Net Loss Per Share



	As of December 31,
	2012	2011	2010
Preferred stock(1)	—	—	8,438,417
Common stock warrants	—	—	—
Common stock options	3,752,413	3,515,051	2,932,673
	3,752,413	3,515,051	11,371,090


(1)	Amounts for the Series BB, C, D and E preferred stock conversions are computed based on the initial public offering price of 7.00 per share.

Licensing Agreements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Licensing Agreements [Abstract]

Licensing Agreements



Licensor		Aggregate potential milestone payments
Drexel University		$1 million per licensed product

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research under the IDO-1 Agreement (1)		$1.36 million per licensed product

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research under the LIMR IDO-2 Agreement (1)		$1.52 million per licensed product, subject to reductions if milestones also qualify under the IDO-1 Agreement

Lankenau Institute for Medical Research under the 2009 LIMR Agreement (1)		$610,000 per licensed product, subject to reductions if milestones also qualify under the IDO-1 Agreement or LIMR IDO-2 Agreement

Georgia Health Sciences University		$2.8 million per licensed product

Regents of the University of California		$285,000 per licensed product

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada		C$205,000 per licensed product

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) [Abstract]

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)



	First			Second			Third			Fourth
	(In thousands, except per share data)

Year Ended December 31, 2012
Grant revenue	$	471		$	590		$	327		$	299
Loss from operations	(4,817		)	(6,301		)	(5,848		)	(6,293		)
Net loss	(4,842		)	(6,309		)	(5,851		)	(6,319		)
Net loss per share	$	(0.23	)	$	(0.31	)	$	(0.28	)	$	(0.30	)

Year Ended December 31, 2011
Grant revenue	$	604		$	537		$	430		$	301
Loss from operations	(3,892		)	(4,394		)	(3,972		)	(5,804		)
Net loss	(3,898		)	(4,394		)	(3,986		)	(5,810		)
Net loss per share	$	(1.07	)	$	(1.20	)	$	(1.09	)	$	(0.44	)

Description of Business and Development Stage Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 04, 2013	Nov. 16, 2011	Nov. 10, 2011
Development Stage Enterprises [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (23,321)	$ (18,087)	$ (16,213)	$ (104,757)
Deficit accumulated during the development stage	(104,797)	(81,476)		$ (104,797)
Financings
Pre-IPO convertible preferred stock							14,270,113
Post-IPO converted common stock							10,719,353
Financing received	$ 1,300	$ 42,600
Initial Public Offering
Financings
FInancing proceeds						$ 37,600
Financing price per share						$ 7.00
Financing shares						6,200,000
Financing underwriting discounts and commissions						$ 3,000
Financing offering expenses						$ 2,900
Follow-on Offering
Financings
FInancing proceeds					$ 49,000
Financing price per share					$ 11.40
Financing shares					4,600,000

Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Financial Instruments
Fair value and carrying value of notes payable and capital lease obligations	$ 1,400,000				$ 7,200,000				$ 1,400,000	$ 7,200,000		$ 1,400,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents	20,250,000				39,490,000				20,250,000	39,490,000		20,250,000
Leasehold Improvements and Equipment
Tenant improvement allowance									622,000
Deferred rents	1,500,000				913,000				1,500,000	913,000		1,500,000
Revenue Recognition
Grant revenue	$ 299,000	$ 327,000	$ 590,000	$ 471,000	$ 301,000	$ 430,000	$ 537,000	$ 604,000	1,687,000	1,872,000	$ 2,079,000	7,404,000
Research and Development
Iowa refundable research credit									$ 283,000	$ 160,000	$ 230,000	$ 2,100,000
Stock Option Valuation
ISO Stockholder Ownership Threshold									10.00%
Greater Than 10% Stockholder ISO Exercise Price Threshold									110.00%
Greater Than 10% Stockholder ISO Term									5

Acquisition of OncoRx Corporation (Details)	Jul. 29, 2010 USD ($) shares
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred [Abstract]
Accelerated stock payment discount	30.00%
Accelerated stock payment discount shares	74,344
Accelerated stock payment shares	173,469
Accelerated stock payment fair value \| $	$ 819,000

Leases (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
Leases (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Net Minimum Payments, Rolling Maturity [Abstract]
Capital Leases, Due in 2013	$ 60,000			$ 60,000
Capital Leases, Due in 2014	19,000			19,000
Capital Leases, Due in 2015	18,000			18,000
Capital Leases, Due in 2016	4,000			4,000
Capital Leases, Minimum Payments Due	101,000			101,000
Capital Leases, Interest Included in Payments	8,000			8,000
Capital Leases, Minimum Payments, Present Value	93,000			93,000
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net	707,000	$ 601,000	$ 601,000	3,700,000
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Lab equipment	489,000	489,000		489,000
Leasehold improvements	27,000	27,000		27,000
Total property under capital leases	516,000	516,000		516,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	211,000	137,000		211,000
Capital leased assets, net	305,000	$ 379,000		305,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable [Abstract]
Operating Leases, Due in 2013	484,000			484,000
Operating Leases, Due in 2014	441,000			441,000
Operating Leases, Due in 2015	193,000			193,000
Operating Leases, Due in 2016	170,000			170,000
Operating Leases, Due in 2017	29,000			29,000
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	$ 1,317,000			$ 1,317,000

Long-Term Debt Conversion to Royalty Obligation (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Amount \| Iowa Department of Economic Development Loan 2005
Debt Instrument
Original Balance	$ 6,000,000
Outstanding Balance		$ 6,000,000
Amount \| Iowa Economic Development Authority Royalty Obligation 2012
Debt Instrument
Outstanding Balance	6,000,000
Revised Royalty Maximum Amount	6,800,000
Amount \| Iowa State University Research Park Loan 2009
Debt Instrument
Original Balance	800,000
Outstanding Balance	546,000	641,000
Amount \| Iowa State University Research Park Loan 2012
Debt Instrument
Original Balance	456,000
Outstanding Balance	443,000	$ 0
Amount \| City of Ames Forgivable Loan 2010 [Member]
Debt Instrument
Original Available Balance	400,000
Remaining Available Balance	$ 100,000
Jobs by March 10, 2012	70
Jobs by March 10, 2015	150
Lease square feet	20,000
Repayment per job	$ 3,100
Outstanding Balance Forgivable Loan	$ 300,000
Percent \| Iowa Economic Development Authority Royalty Obligation 2012
Debt Instrument
Revised Royalty Rate	0.50%
Percent \| Iowa State University Research Park Loan 2009
Debt Instrument
Interest rate initial	3.00%
Interest rate after five years	5.00%
Interest rate in default	8.00%
Percent \| Iowa State University Research Park Loan 2012
Debt Instrument
Interest rate initial	3.00%
Interest rate after five years	5.00%
Interest rate in default	8.00%
Percent \| City of Ames Forgivable Loan 2010 [Member]
Debt Instrument
Interest rate in default	6.50%

Preferred Stock Preferred Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Nov. 10, 2011	Jun. 20, 2011	Jan. 07, 2011
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Pre-IPO convertible preferred stock			14,270,113
Post-IPO converted common stock			10,719,353
Pre-IPO authorized preferred stock	17,166,666
Pre-IPO par value of preferred stock	$ 0.01
Pre-IPO blank check preferred	1,388,889
Pre-IPO par value of blank check preferred	$ 0.01
Blank check preferred stock, authorized shares	5,000,000	5,000,000
Blank check preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Series E preferred issued in acquisition (shares)					276,304
Series E preferred stock issued				160,000
Series E price per share		$ 31.25
Series E total proceeds		$ 5,000
Series AA
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2010		2,191
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock		(2,191)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	$ 0
Series AAA
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2010		849
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock		(849)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	0
Series B
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2010		5,478
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock		(5,478)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	0
Series BB
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2010		8,004
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock		(8,004)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	0
Series C
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2010		30,000
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock		(30,000)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	0
Series D
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2010		7,500
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock		(7,500)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	0
Series E
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at December 31, 2010		7,723
Issuance of Series E preferred stock		13,635
Accretion of redemption feature of preferred stock		8
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock		$ (21,366)
Balance at December 31, 2011 and 2012	$ 0

Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan (Details)	12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan (Details)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan
Total Compensation Cost Related to Non-vested Option Awards \| $	$ 4,300,000			$ 4,300,000
Weighted Average Vesting Period for Non-vested Option Awards, In Years	2.3
Share-based Compensation Expense \| $	$ 3,200,000	$ 2,500,000	$ 1,500,000	$ 8,500,000
Income Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense \| $	0	0	0
Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised \| $	3,600,000	194,000	82,000
Fair Value of Awards Vested \| $	$ 2,500,000	$ 7,800,000	$ 3,700,000
Intrinsic Value Price per Share Base \| $ / shares	$ 12.50			$ 12.50
Intrinsic Value Outstanding \| $	$ 30,800,000			$ 30,800,000
Intrinsic Value Vested \| $	23,500,000			23,500,000
Intrinsic Value Unvested \| $	$ 7,300,000			$ 7,300,000
Assumptions Used in Black Scholes Pricing Model for New Grants
Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Weighted average grant-date fair value per share \| $ / shares	$ 5.02	$ 7.12	$ 2.90
Stock Option Activity
Outstanding at beginning of period	3,515,051
Outstanding at beginning of period, weighted average exercise price \| $ / shares	$ 3.51
Grants	672,079	664,323	1,297,738
Grants, weighted average exercise price \| $ / shares	$ 8.10
Exercises	(341,429)
Exercises, weighted average exercise price \| $ / shares	$ 2.60
Forfeitures	(86,296)
Forfeitures, weighted average exercise price \| $ / shares	$ 6.88
Expirations	(6,992)
Expirations, weighted average exercise price \| $ / shares	$ 2.94
Outstanding at end of period	3,752,413	3,515,051		3,752,413
Outstanding at end of period, weighted average exercise price \| $ / shares	$ 4.34	$ 3.51		$ 4.34
Outstanding at end of period, weighted average remaining contractual term, in years	7.2			7.2
Exercisable	2,571,041			2,571,041
Exercisable, weighted average exercise price \| $ / shares	$ 3.34			$ 3.34
Exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual term, in years	6.7			6.7
Restricted Stock
Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan
Shares Issued	13,000
Minimum
Assumptions Used in Black Scholes Pricing Model for New Grants
Risk Free Interest Rate	0.98%	0.10%	2.30%
Volatility Rate	63.00%	62.60%	59.80%
Expected Term (in years)	5.8	5.0	5.0
Maximum
Assumptions Used in Black Scholes Pricing Model for New Grants
Risk Free Interest Rate	2.05%	3.10%	3.50%
Volatility Rate	73.60%	67.90%	68.10%
Expected Term (in years)	7.0	7.5	7.5
2009 Equity Incentive Plan
Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan
Number of Shares Authorized	4,895,139	4,071,490		4,895,139
Number of Shares Available for Grant	614,665	319,239		614,665
Increase in Number of Shares Authorized	838,375	823,649	714,286
Evergreen Increase Percentage	4.00%
2009 Equity Incentive Plan \| Minimum
Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan
First Year Vesting Percentage	20.00%
Remaining Vesting Period in Months	36
2009 Equity Incentive Plan \| Maximum
Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan
First Year Vesting Percentage	25.00%
Remaining Vesting Period in Months	48
2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan
Number of Shares Authorized	214,285			214,285
Number of Shares Available for Grant	174,762			174,762
Shares Issued	39,523
2010 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan
Common Stock Equity Incentive Plan
Number of Shares Authorized	238,095			238,095
Number of Shares Available for Grant	164,297			164,297

Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Tax Expense	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance	(23,137)	(18,858)		(23,137)
Change in Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance	4,300	$ 3,900
Federal Operating Loss Carryforwards	94,500			94,500
Federal Research Credit Carryforward	$ 2,900			$ 2,900

Income Taxes (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards	$ 19,853	$ 16,007
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Research	2,912	2,912
Deferred Tax Assets, Deferred Rent	313	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Accrued Compensation	76	0
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	23,154	18,919
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	23,137	18,858
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance	17	61
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Property, Plant and Equipment	(17)	(61)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	$ 0	$ 0

Net Loss per Common Share (Net Loss Per Share Computation) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$ (23,321)	$ (18,087)	$ (16,213)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)	20,779,450	6,064,542	3,352,331
Basic and diluted net loss per share	$ (1.12)	$ (2.98)	$ (4.84)

- Definition

+ References + Details

Net Loss per Common Share (Antidilutive Securities) (Details) - $ / shares

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Dec. 31, 2010

Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

Potentially dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted net loss per share

3,752,413

3,515,051

11,371,090

IPO price for conversion computations

$ 7.00

Convertible Preferred Stock

Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

Potentially dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted net loss per share

8,438,417

^[1]

Warrant

Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

Potentially dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted net loss per share

Stock Options

Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share

Potentially dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted net loss per share

3,752,413

3,515,051

2,932,673

[1]	Amounts for the Series BB, C, D and E preferred stock conversions are computed based on the initial public offering price of 7.00 per share.

- Definition

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Antidilution
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 07-4
-Paragraph 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 171
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Licensing Agreements (Details)	12 Months Ended					163 Months Ended
Licensing Agreements (Details)	Dec. 31, 2012 CAD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2008 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Licensing Agreements
Licensing Payments Under All In-Licensing Agreements		$ 255,000	$ 89,000	$ 391,000		$ 2,800,000
Licensing Payments [Abstract]
Stock issued for licensing				$ 201,000	$ 5,000
Stock issued for licensing (shares) \| shares				23,810
Drexel University
Licensing Agreements
Potential Milestone Payment per Licensed Product		1,000,000
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research IDO-1
Licensing Agreements
Potential Milestone Payment per Licensed Product		1,360,000
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research IDO-2
Licensing Agreements
Potential Milestone Payment per Licensed Product		1,520,000
Lankenau Institute for Medical Research 2009 Agreement
Licensing Agreements
Potential Milestone Payment per Licensed Product		610,000
Georgia Health Sciences University
Licensing Agreements
Potential Milestone Payment per Licensed Product		2,800,000
Regents of the University of California
Licensing Agreements
Potential Milestone Payment per Licensed Product		$ 285,000
Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada
Licensing Agreements
Potential Milestone Payment per Licensed Product	$ 205,000

Employee Benefit Plans (Details)	12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans (Details)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Maximum
Base Salary Continutation Upon Termintation
Duration of Payment, Months	24
Intermediate [Member]
Base Salary Continutation Upon Termintation
Duration of Payment, Months	12
Minimum
Base Salary Continutation Upon Termintation
Duration of Payment, Months	6
Defined Contribution
Defined Contribution Pension Plan
Defined Contribution Plan	$ 136,000	$ 157,000	$ 137,000	$ 801,000
Discretionary Contribution
Defined Contribution Pension Plan
Defined Contribution Plan	$ 152,000	$ 136,000	$ 119,000	$ 842,000

Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended			163 Months Ended
Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 07, 2011
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Total Purchases	$ 35,000	$ 22,000	$ 40,000	$ 327,000
Fees for Consulting Services	0	0	$ 0	7,000
Balance Outstanding	$ 2,000	$ 0		$ 2,000
Acquisition of Minority Interest in BPS
Series E preferred issued in acquisition (shares)					276,304
Options issued in acquisition					50,513

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of obligations due all related parties. For classified balance sheets, represents the current portion of such liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References + Details

Acquisition of BioProtection Systems Corporation (Details) $ in Millions	Jan. 07, 2011 USD ($) shares
Acquisition of BioProtection Systems Corporation [Abstract]
Series E preferred issued in acquisition (shares) \| shares	276,304
Series E preferred issued in acquisition	$ 8.6
Book value of net assets acquired	2.9
Reduction of additional paid-in capital	$ 5.7

Reverse Stock Split (Details)	12 Months Ended
Reverse Stock Split (Details)	Dec. 31, 2012 shares
Reverse Stock Split [Abstract]
Reverse Split Numerator	2.1
Reverse Split Denominator	1

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								7 Months Ended	12 Months Ended													163 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 1999	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008	Dec. 31, 2007	Dec. 31, 2006	Dec. 31, 2005	Dec. 31, 2004	Dec. 31, 2003	Dec. 31, 2002	Dec. 31, 2001	Dec. 31, 2000	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Grant revenue	$ 299	$ 327	$ 590	$ 471	$ 301	$ 430	$ 537	$ 604		$ 1,687	$ 1,872	$ 2,079											$ 7,404
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent	(6,293)	(5,848)	(6,301)	(4,817)	(5,804)	(3,972)	(4,394)	(3,892)		(23,259)	(18,062)	(16,661)											(107,695)
Net loss	$ (6,319)	$ (5,851)	$ (6,309)	$ (4,842)	$ (5,810)	$ (3,986)	$ (4,394)	$ (3,898)	$ (64)	$ (23,321)	$ (18,088)	$ (16,562)	$ (10,207)	$ (8,842)	$ (7,582)	$ (5,318)	$ (4,770)	$ (3,669)	$ (2,979)	$ (2,253)	$ (1,448)	$ (236)	$ (105,340)
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ (0.30)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.31)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.44)	$ (1.09)	$ (1.20)	$ (1.07)

- Definition

The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.21)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 52
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16381557&loc=d3e4984-109258

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1252-109256

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.19)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.23)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 18
-Article 7

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 36, 37, 38
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 07-4
-Paragraph 4
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 10: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 20
-Article 5

Reference 11: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 21
-Article 9

+ Details

- Definition

The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569616-111683

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4K
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733213&loc=SL4591552-111686

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (a),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4573702-111684

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 4J
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733213&loc=SL4591551-111686

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 29
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 38
-Subparagraph c(1)
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph b
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph A1, A4, A5
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 04, 2013
Subsequent Events
Current Common Stock Authorized	38,833,334
Pending Common Stock Authorized	75,000,000
2010 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan
Subsequent Events
Current Shares Reserved	238,095
Pending Shares Reserved	400,000
2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Subsequent Events
Current Shares Reserved	214,285
Pending Shares Reserved	400,000
Follow-on Offering
Subsequent Events
FInancing proceeds		$ 49.0
Financing shares		4,600,000
Financing price per share		$ 11.40