NewLink Genetics Prices Public Offering of Common

AMES, Iowa, Oct. 03, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NewLink Genetics Corporation (“NewLink Genetics”) (Nasdaq: NLNK ), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced the pricing of its underwritten public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $10.25 per share.  All of the shares of common stock to be sold in the offering will be offered by NewLink Genetics. NewLink Genetics has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares of its common stock sold in the public offering on the same terms and conditions.  

NewLink Genetics intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund its research and development efforts to further advance its pipeline of product candidates, including the continued clinical development of indoximod, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

The offering is expected to close on or about October 6, 2017, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

BofA Merrill Lynch and Stifel are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Baird is acting as co-manager for the offering.

A shelf registration statement relating to the shares of common stock offered in the public offering described above was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 25, 2015 and declared effective by the SEC on July 28, 2015.  The offering is being made only by means of a written prospectus and prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement.  A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering has been filed with the SEC and is available on the SEC’s website at  www.sec.gov .  A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at  www.sec.gov .  Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, when available, may also be obtained by contacting BofA Merrill Lynch, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC  28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department, Email: dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com ; or from Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Attention: Syndicate, One Montgomery Street, Suite 3700, San Francisco, CA 94104, or by telephone at (415) 364-2720, or by email at syndprospectus@stifel.com .

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities being offered, nor shall there be any sale of the securities being offered in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About NewLink Genetics Corporation

NewLink Genetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing and commercializing novel immuno-oncology product candidates to improve the lives of patients with cancer.  NewLink Genetics’ IDO pathway inhibitors are designed to harness multiple components of the immune system to combat cancer. Indoximod is being evaluated in combination with treatment regimens including anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents, cancer vaccines, and chemotherapy across multiple indications such as melanoma, prostate cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and pancreatic cancer.  

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements of NewLink Genetics that involve substantial risks and uncertainties.   Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for NewLink Genetics, including statements about NewLink Genetics’s anticipated public offering and anticipated use of proceeds are forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "target," "potential," "will," "could," "should," "seek" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all as well uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials.  For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to NewLink Genetics’s business in general, please refer to NewLink Genetic’s preliminary prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on October 3, 2017, including the documents incorporated by reference therein. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent NewLink Genetics' views as of the date of this press release. NewLink Genetics anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its views to change. However, while NewLink Genetics may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing NewLink Genetics' views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Investors: NewLink Genetics Lisa Miller, 515-598-2555 Director of Investor Relations lmiller@linkp.com or Media: LaVoieHealthScience Andrew Mastrangelo, 617-374-8800, ext. 108 AVP, Public & Media Relations amastrangelo@lavoiehealthscience.com