NewLink Genetics Corp. and Merck & Co. Inc. recently received two Vaccine Industry Excellence awards during the 15th Annual World Vaccine Congress on April 8 in Washington, D.C. The ViE Awards honor the efforts, accomplishments, and positive contributions of companies and individuals in the vaccine industry. NewLink Genetics and Merck received top honors in both the “Best Vaccine License” and “Best Prophylactic Vaccine” categories. The “Best Vaccine License” finalists represented industry business combinations with the greatest potential for success in bringing innovative medicines to the market. In November 2014, Ames-based NewLink Genetics and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement on the investigational rVSV-EBOV (Ebola) vaccine candidate as well as any follow-on products. NewLink Genetics and Merck also received the “Best Prophylactic Vaccine” award for NewLink Genetics’ investigational Ebola vaccine candidate.