Sec Form 4 Filing - Raffin Thomas A. @ NEWLINK GENETICS CORP - 2015-04-07

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Raffin Thomas A. 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NEWLINK GENETICS CORP [ (NLNK)] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) X __ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O NEWLINK GENETICS CORPORATION, 2503 SOUTH LOOP DR., SUITE 5100 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 04/07/2015 (Street) AMES, IA50010 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 04/07/2015 M 7,142 A $ 2.1 69,801 ( 1 ) D Common Stock 04/07/2015 M 7,142 A $ 10.02 76,943 ( 1 ) D Common Stock 04/07/2015 M 3,205 A $ 1.96 80,148 ( 1 ) D Common Stock 04/07/2015 M 3,205 A $ 1.96 83,353 ( 1 ) D Common Stock 04/07/2015 S( 2 ) 800 D $ 53.18 ( 3 ) 82,553 ( 1 ) D Common Stock 04/07/2015 S( 2 ) 10,024 D $ 54.32 ( 4 ) 72,529 ( 1 ) D Common Stock 04/07/2015 S( 2 ) 9,870 D $ 55.03 ( 5 ) 62,659 ( 1 ) D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 2.1 04/07/2015 M 7,142 01/01/2008( 6 ) 08/05/2018 Common Stock 7,142 $ 0 0 D Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 10.02 04/07/2015 M 7,142 12/09/2011( 7 ) 12/08/2020 Common Stock 7,142 $ 0 0 D Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 1.96 04/07/2015 M 3,205 01/04/2009( 6 ) 12/03/2019 Common Stock 3,205 $ 0 0 D Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 1.96 04/07/2015 M 3,205 01/04/2010( 7 ) 12/03/2019 Common Stock 3,205 $ 0 0 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Raffin Thomas A. C/O NEWLINK GENETICS CORPORATION 2503 SOUTH LOOP DR., SUITE 5100 AMES, IA50010 X Signatures /s/ Ryan Trytten, attorney-in-fact 04/09/2015 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Includes 2,944 restricted stock units ("RSUs") previously reported as holdings of the Reporting Person granted under the Issuer's 2010 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Award Plan (the "Plan"). One hundred percent (100%) of the RSUs will vest on the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant and (ii) the date of the first Annual Meeting following the date of grant, in each case subject to the Reporting Person's continuous service as of such date. ( 2 )The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the Reporting Person on 3/24/2015. ( 3 )The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $52.62 to $53.29, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the ranges set forth in this footnote to this Form 4. ( 4 )The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $53.86 to $54.84, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the ranges set forth in this footnote to this Form 4. ( 5 )The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $54.87 to $55.28, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the ranges set forth in this footnote to this Form 4. ( 6 )Grant to the Reporting Person of a stock option under the Issuer's 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The option is fully vested. ( 7 )Grant to the Reporting Person of a stock option under the Plan. The option vests over a two-year period, with 50% of such option vesting on the one-year anniversary of the vesting commencement date and the remaining 50% of such option vesting in equal monthly installments over the next 12 months, provided that at the relevant vesting dates the Reporting Person's continuous service to the Issuer has not been terminated as defined in or as determined under the Plan. The option expires ten years after the date of grant.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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