Sec Form 4 Filing - HENNEMAN JOHN B III @ NEWLINK GENETICS CORP - 2018-01-02

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 HENNEMAN JOHN B III 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NEWLINK GENETICS CORP [ (NLNK)] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP, Chief Financial Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O NEWLINK GENETICS CORPORATION, 2801 VIA FORTUNA, SUITE 520 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 01/02/2018 (Street) AUSTIN, TX78746 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 01/02/2018 F 164 ( 1 ) D $ 8.47 58,859 ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) D Common Stock 01/04/2018 F 1,323 ( 7 ) D $ 10.06 57,536 ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ) ( 5 ) ( 6 ) 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

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other HENNEMAN JOHN B III C/O NEWLINK GENETICS CORPORATION 2801 VIA FORTUNA, SUITE 520 AUSTIN, TX78746 EVP, Chief Financial Officer Signatures /s/ Ryan Trytten, attorney-in-fact 01/04/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Represents shares of Common Stock withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of its tax withholding obligation with respect to the vesting of 500 previously reported restricted stock units ("RSUs") granted to the Reporting Person. ( 2 )Includes 10,198 RSUs previously reported as holdings of the Reporting Person granted under the Issuer's 2009 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The RSUs will vest, and shares will be delivered to the Reporting Person in one installment on October 1, 2018, provided in each case that the Reporting Person's continuous service to the Issuer has not been terminated as defined in or as determined under the Plan. ( 3 )Includes 500 RSUs previously reported as holdings of the Reporting Person granted under the Plan. The RSUs will vest, and shares will be delivered to the Reporting Person in one installment on January 2, 2019, provided in each case that the Reporting Person's continuous service to the Issuer has not been terminated as defined in or as determined under the Plan. ( 4 )Includes 8,101 RSUs previously reported as holdings of the Reporting Person granted under the Plan. The RSUs will vest, and shares will be delivered to the Reporting Person in two successive annual installments with the next installment occurring on January 4, 2019, provided in each case that the Reporting Person's continuous service to the Issuer has not been terminated as defined in or as determined under the Plan. ( 5 )Includes 2,100 shares acquired under the NewLink Genetics Corporation 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on June 30, 2017. ( 6 )Includes 379 shares acquired under the NewLink Genetics Corporation 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on December 31, 2017. ( 7 )Represents shares of Common Stock withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of its tax withholding obligation with respect to the vesting of 4,050 previously reported RSUs granted to the Reporting Person.

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).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

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