NewLink Genetics Awarded $18 Million Contract Option from BARDA
October 01 2015 - 07:00AM
NewLink Genetics Corporation (Nasdaq:NLNK) announced today that the
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of
the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has
exercised an $18 million option on NewLink Genetics’ existing
contract to support the scale-up of the manufacturing process
relating to its investigational rVSV-ZEBOV GP (Ebola) vaccine
candidate. BARDA made an initial $30 million contract award to
NewLink in late 2014 and is now providing additional funding to
continue development of the Ebola vaccine candidate. Merck
(NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, has
the license for research, development, manufacturing and
commercialization of the rVSV-ZEBOV GP (Ebola) vaccine.
“This additional funding by BARDA will help
NewLink and Merck accelerate large-scale production of this
Ebola vaccine candidate and demonstrates government
commitment to this important project," said Dr. Charles Link,
CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of NewLink Genetics. “In
collaboration with Merck, we will continue to work diligently
to bring this vaccine candidate to patients in need as
quickly as possible.”
The rVSV-ZEBOV GP (Ebola) vaccine candidate was
originally developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada
(PHAC) and was subsequently licensed to a subsidiary
of NewLink Genetics. In late 2014, Merck licensed the vaccine
from NewLink Genetics to apply Merck's vaccine expertise
to help accelerate the development of this vaccine candidate.
Clinical studies of the vaccine candidate are ongoing.
About NewLink Genetics Corporation
NewLink Genetics is a biopharmaceutical company
focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel
immuno-oncology products to improve treatment options for patients
with cancer. NewLink Genetics’ portfolio includes biologic and
small-molecule immunotherapy product candidates intended to treat a
wide range of oncology indications. NewLink Genetics’ product
candidates are designed to harness multiple components of the
immune system to combat cancer without significant incremental
toxicity, either as a monotherapy or in combination with other
treatment regimens.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements of NewLink Genetics that involve substantial risks and
uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical
facts, contained in this press release 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. These forward-looking statements include,
among others, statements about NewLink Genetics’ financial guidance
for 2015; enrollment in or results of its clinical trials for
product candidates; its timing of release of data from ongoing
clinical studies; its plans related to moving additional
indications into clinical development; NewLink Genetics’ future
financial performance, results of operations, cash position and
sufficiency of capital resources to fund its operating
requirements; and any other statements other than statements of
historical fact. Actual results or events could differ materially
from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the
forward-looking statements that NewLink Genetics makes due to a
number of important factors, including those risks discussed in
“Risk Factors” and elsewhere in NewLink Genetics’ Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and other reports
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 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 it 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.
Corporate Contact:
Jack Henneman
Chief Financial Officer
(515) 598-2561
Investor@linkp.com
Investor Contact:
Donna LaVoie or Kristina Coppola
LaVoieHealthScience
617-374-8800, ext. 107/105
dlavoie@lavoiehealthscience.com
kcoppola@lavoiehealthscience.com
Media:
David Connolly or Lindsay LeCain
LaVoieHealthScience
617-374-8800, ext. 108/106
dconnolly@lavoiehealthscience.com
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