Report: NewLink, Merck in talks on Ebola vaccine

NewLink Genetics is reportedly in talks with a larger drug company to scale production and development of its Ebola vaccine.

Bloomberg reported Thursday night that Ames-based NewLink is speaking with drugmaker Merck & Co., citing a person familiar with the matter. Merck, Bloomberg reported, has technology that could increase the manufacturing capacity of NewLink’s vaccine.

The report comes a few weeks after NewLink CEO Charles Link said the company is seeking to collaborate with a larger firm.

During an earnings call earlier this months, Link said NewLink is "exploring the potential for collaboration with a larger pharmaceutical company that could complement and enhance NewLink's development of the Ebola vaccine in this time of crisis and beyond."

NewLink, which primarily focuses on cancer therapies, licensed the Ebola vaccine from the Public Health Agency of Canada. It is currently going through first rounds of human trials to test the vaccine’s safety.

Neither Link nor a Merck spokeswoman would comment, Bloomberg reported.

Shares of NewLink were up 18 cents to $33.70 in early morning trading Friday.