Description of Business (Notes)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business On June 4, 1999, NewLink Genetics Corporation (NewLink) was incorporated as a Delaware corporation. NewLink was formed for the purpose of developing treatments for patients with cancer and other diseases. NewLink initiated operations in April 2000. In 2005, NewLink created a partially owned subsidiary, BioProtection Systems Corporation (BPS). NewLink contributed certain licensing agreements and other intangible assets for BPS to create vaccines against potential biological terror threats. On January 7, 2011, NewLink acquired all of the minority interest in BPS by merging a newly formed subsidiary of NewLink with BPS, with BPS as the surviving corporation, resulting in NewLink owning all the outstanding capital stock of BPS. In 2013, NewLink created a wholly-owned subsidiary, NewLink International (NI). NewLink plans to conduct all or a portion of its operations outside of the United States through NI. In 2014, NewLink created another wholly owned subsidiary, NewLink Global (NG), which was subsequently merged into NewLink during 2014. NewLink and its subsidiaries (the Company) are devoting substantially all of their efforts toward research and development. The Company has never earned revenue from commercial sales of its drugs. The Company incurred a net loss of $32.4 million and $56.1 million for the three and six months ended ended June 30, 2016, respectively. In May 2016, the Company announced that its Phase 3 clinical trial IMPRESS (IMmunotherapy for Pancreatic RESectable cancer Study) of algenpantucel-L for patients with resected pancreatic cancer did not achieve its primary endpoint. On May 25, 2016, the Company's management adopted a restructuring plan designed to better align the Company's workforce and operating costs to its revised pipeline development plans and operating needs. The restructuring plan calls for the Company to reduce its workforce; exit or reduce certain leased facilities; and renegotiate or terminate contracts with certain third parties. In connection with the restructuring plan, the Company also discontinued the development of its commercial manufacturing capabilities for algenpantucel-L, discontinued programs supporting the future commercialization of algenpantucel-L, and recorded an impairment charge to fixed assets. The Company has retained some internal manufacturing ability to support the development of clinical supplies for its ongoing clinical trials of the other HyperAcute product candidates. The Company anticipates additional restructuring charges related to the closing or reduction of leased facilities during the remainder of 2016. Refer to Note 9 for more information. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2016 and for the three and six months ended have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company successfully raised net proceeds of $37.6 million from its IPO, completed a follow-on offering of its common stock raising net proceeds of $49.0 million, and raised an additional $58.7 million in net proceeds from the at the market (ATM) offering. In connection with two license and collaboration agreements the Company entered into during 2014, the Company received a nonrefundable upfront cash payment of $150.0 million from Genentech Inc., a member of the Roche Group, or Genentech, in 2014, and a nonrefundable upfront cash payment of $30.0 million from Merck, Sharpe and Dohme Corp., or Merck, in 2014, as well as a milestone payment of $20.0 million from Merck in February 2015. The Company's cash and cash equivalents after these agreements and offerings are expected to be adequate to satisfy the Company's liquidity requirements through 2018. If available liquidity becomes insufficient to meet the Company’s operating obligations as they come due, the Company's plans include pursuing alternative funding arrangements and/or reducing expenditures as necessary to meet the Company’s cash requirements. However, there is no assurance that, if required, the Company will be able to raise additional capital or reduce discretionary spending to provide the required liquidity. Failure by the Company to successfully execute its plans or otherwise address its liquidity needs may have a material adverse effect on its business and financial position, and may materially affect the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Description of Business

On June 4, 1999, NewLink Genetics Corporation (NewLink) was incorporated as a Delaware corporation. NewLink was formed for the purpose of developing treatments for patients with cancer and other diseases. NewLink initiated operations in April 2000.

In 2005, NewLink created a partially owned subsidiary, BioProtection Systems Corporation (BPS). NewLink contributed certain licensing agreements and other intangible assets for BPS to create vaccines against potential biological terror threats. On January 7, 2011, NewLink acquired all of the minority interest in BPS by merging a newly formed subsidiary of NewLink with BPS, with BPS as the surviving corporation, resulting in NewLink owning all the outstanding capital stock of BPS.

In 2013, NewLink created a wholly-owned subsidiary, NewLink International (NI). NewLink plans to conduct all or a portion of its operations outside of the United States through NI. In 2014, NewLink created another wholly owned subsidiary, NewLink Global (NG), which was subsequently merged into NewLink during 2014.

NewLink and its subsidiaries (the Company) are devoting substantially all of their efforts toward research and development. The Company has never earned revenue from commercial sales of its drugs. The Company incurred a net loss of $32.4 million and $56.1 million for the three and six months ended ended June 30, 2016, respectively.

In May 2016, the Company announced that its Phase 3 clinical trial IMPRESS (IMmunotherapy for Pancreatic RESectable cancer Study) of algenpantucel-L for patients with resected pancreatic cancer did not achieve its primary endpoint. On May 25, 2016, the Company's management adopted a restructuring plan designed to better align the Company's workforce and operating costs to its revised pipeline development plans and operating needs. The restructuring plan calls for the Company to reduce its workforce; exit or reduce certain leased facilities; and renegotiate or terminate contracts with certain third parties. In connection with the restructuring plan, the Company also discontinued the development of its commercial manufacturing capabilities for algenpantucel-L, discontinued programs supporting the future commercialization of algenpantucel-L, and recorded an impairment charge to fixed assets. The Company has retained some internal manufacturing ability to support the development of clinical supplies for its ongoing clinical trials of the other HyperAcute product candidates. The Company anticipates additional restructuring charges related to the closing or reduction of leased facilities during the remainder of 2016. Refer to Note 9 for more information.

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2016 and for the three and six months ended have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company successfully raised net proceeds of $37.6 million from its IPO, completed a follow-on offering of its common stock raising net proceeds of $49.0 million, and raised an additional $58.7 million in net proceeds from the at the market (ATM) offering. In connection with two license and collaboration agreements the Company entered into during 2014, the Company received a nonrefundable upfront cash payment of $150.0 million from Genentech Inc., a member of the Roche Group, or Genentech, in 2014, and a nonrefundable upfront cash payment of $30.0 million from Merck, Sharpe and Dohme Corp., or Merck, in 2014, as well as a milestone payment of $20.0 million from Merck in February 2015. The Company's cash and cash equivalents after these agreements and offerings are expected to be adequate to satisfy the Company's liquidity requirements through 2018. If available liquidity becomes insufficient to meet the Company’s operating obligations as they come due, the Company's plans include pursuing alternative funding arrangements and/or reducing expenditures as necessary to meet the Company’s cash requirements. However, there is no assurance that, if required, the Company will be able to raise additional capital or reduce discretionary spending to provide the required liquidity. Failure by the Company to successfully execute its plans or otherwise address its liquidity needs may have a material adverse effect on its business and financial position, and may materially affect the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.