Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4)

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 OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0287 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^* Vahanian Nicholas N.	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) President
(Last) (First) (Middle) C/O NEWLINK GENETICS CORPORATION, 2503 SOUTH LOOP DR., SUITE 5100	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 7/31/2019
(Street) AMES, IA 50010 (City) (State) (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _ X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. 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)
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned ( e.g.* , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)**
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. 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		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (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)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)			11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$10.55	7/31/2019		D			312500	⁽¹⁾	⁽²⁾	Common Stock	312500.0	⁽³⁾	0	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		48828		⁽⁴⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	48828.0	⁽³⁾	48828	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		25820		⁽⁵⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	25820.0	⁽³⁾	25820	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		19532		⁽⁴⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	19532.0	⁽³⁾	19532	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		19532		⁽⁴⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	19532.0	⁽³⁾	19532	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		19531		⁽⁴⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	19531.0	⁽³⁾	19531	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		19531		⁽⁴⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	19531.0	⁽³⁾	19531	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		3477		⁽⁵⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	3477.0	⁽³⁾	3477	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$7.85	7/31/2019		D			126500	⁽⁶⁾	⁽²⁾	Common Stock	126500.0	⁽³⁾	0	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		10542		⁽⁴⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	10542.0	⁽³⁾	10542	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		14926		⁽⁵⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	14926.0	⁽³⁾	14926	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		7907		⁽⁵⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	7907.0	⁽³⁾	7907	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		7907		⁽⁴⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	7907.0	⁽³⁾	7907	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		6158		⁽⁵⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	6158.0	⁽³⁾	6158	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		5275		⁽⁵⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	5275.0	⁽³⁾	5275	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		5269		⁽⁵⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	5269.0	⁽³⁾	5269	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		5269		⁽⁵⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	5269.0	⁽³⁾	5269	D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$1.77	7/31/2019		A		100000 ⁽⁷⁾		⁽⁸⁾	7/31/2026	Common Stock	100000.0	$0	100000	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	The option provided that 50% of the option grant would vest in a series of 48 successive equal monthly installments beginning on February 3, 2017 and the remaining 50% would vest upon specified performance objectives, in each case, 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.
(2)	Unless otherwise disclosed, the option expires ten years after the date of grant.
(3)	On July 31, 2019, the issuer cancelled this option grant pursuant to the issuer's option exchange program. In exchange, for every two cancelled options, the reporting person received a replacement option having an exercise price of $1.77 per share.
(4)	The option vests as to 50% on the first anniversary of grant date and the remaining 50% on the second anniversary of grant date.
(5)	The option vests as to 50% on the second anniversary of grant date and the remaining 50% on the third anniversary of grant date.
(6)	The option provided that 50% of the option grant would vest in a series of 48 successive equal monthly installments beginning on April 9, 2018 and the remaining 50% would vest upon specified performance objectives, in each case, provided that as 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.
(7)	This option grant was detailed in the proxy statement and approved by the stockholders at the Annual Meeting on May 9, 2019.
(8)	The option vests as to 50% on the second anniversary of grant date, 25% on the third anniversary of grant date and the remaining 25% on the fourth anniversary of grant date.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Vahanian Nicholas N. C/O NEWLINK GENETICS CORPORATION 2503 SOUTH LOOP DR., SUITE 5100 AMES, IA 50010			President

Signatures
/s/ Ryan Trytten, attorney-in-fact		8/2/2019
^** Signature of Reporting Person		Date

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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