Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
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.

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.

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.