NewLink Genetics: A High-Conviction Play at the Intersection of Biodefense and Military-Driven Nuclear Energy

The U.S. defense sector is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by the dual imperatives of countering emerging biological threats and securing energy resilience for military operations. At the heart of this transformation lies NewLink Genetics (NLR), a biotech firm whose biodefense innovations are increasingly aligned with the Department of Defense's (DoD) strategic pivot toward advanced nuclear energy. While NewLink is not directly involved in nuclear reactor development, its role in safeguarding against biothreats and its partnerships with key defense agencies position it as an indirect beneficiary of the broader push for national security through technological dominance.

Biodefense as a Strategic Pillar

NewLink Genetics has long been a critical player in the U.S. biodefense ecosystem. In 2025, the company secured a $2.8 million base contract from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), with potential future funding totaling $6.3 million, to develop a multivalent vaccine targeting filoviruses such as Ebola Zaire, Sudan, and Marburg, according to a Marketscreener report. This work, conducted in collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., underscores NewLink's expertise in creating pathogen-agnostic medical countermeasures (MCMs) that align with the DoD's emphasis on rapid response to biological threats, according to a FiercePharma report.

The urgency for such innovations has only intensified. As noted in a 2025 Georgetown analysis, advances in genetic engineering have raised concerns about "genetic weapons"-biological agents that are difficult to detect and attribute. The DoD's GUIDE program, which leverages AI and machine learning to accelerate MCM development, aims to reduce timelines from years to under 100 days, according to the GUIDE program page. NewLink's vaccine pipeline, with its focus on broad-spectrum protection, complements these efforts and positions the company as a key partner in the biodefense industrial base.

Military-Driven Nuclear Energy: A Parallel Revolution

Simultaneously, the DoD is aggressively advancing its nuclear energy ambitions. The Janus Program, launched in October 2025, aims to deploy microreactors at military installations by 2028, ensuring energy resilience and reducing reliance on diesel generators, according to an Army announcement. This initiative, part of Executive Order 14299, mandates the operation of an Army-regulated nuclear reactor on a domestic base by 2028, per a White House announcement. Complementing this is the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program, which has selected eight companies-including Kairos Power, Oklo, and Westinghouse-to develop microreactor systems for military use, according to a DIU announcement.

These programs are not merely about energy; they are about strategic dominance. As the DoD's FY25 National Defense Authorization Act emphasizes, biotechnology and energy security are intertwined, according to a NatLawReview analysis. Microreactors, capable of operating for years without refueling, enable forward-deployed operations in contested environments, from the Indo-Pacific to Eastern Europe.

Indirect Synergies: Shared Agencies, Contractors, and Priorities

While NewLink is not listed among the ANPI or Janus Program contractors, its biodefense work shares critical overlaps with the nuclear energy initiatives. Both domains are funded and coordinated by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and the DTRA, agencies that prioritize cross-cutting technologies for national security, as a DatacenterFrontier report notes. For instance, the FY25 DoD budget allocated $3.676 billion to biodefense programs, while the ANPI program is part of a $1.01 trillion FY26 budget request that emphasizes energy independence, according to a Council on Strategic Risks article.

Moreover, the companies involved in nuclear microreactor development-such as BWXT Advanced Technologies and General Atomics-often engage in dual-use projects. BWXT, for example, has a history of supplying components for both nuclear reactors and defense systems, as shown on its defense solutions page. This overlap suggests that firms with expertise in one domain (e.g., nuclear engineering) are likely to contribute to the other (e.g., biodefense infrastructure), creating a network effect that benefits companies like NewLink.

Strategic Alignment and Investment Implications

The convergence of biodefense and nuclear energy is not coincidental. Both sectors are driven by the need to counter asymmetric threats-biological agents and energy vulnerabilities-through technological superiority. NewLink's DTRA contracts and its focus on multivalent vaccines align with the DoD's broader strategy of building resilient, adaptable systems. As the Janus and ANPI programs scale, the demand for companies that can navigate complex regulatory environments and deliver mission-critical solutions will grow.

For investors, this presents a compelling case. While NewLink is not a direct nuclear energy play, its role in the biodefense industrial base and its partnerships with agencies like DTRA position it to benefit from the same policy tailwinds driving nuclear innovation. The company's expertise in rapid vaccine development could also intersect with future DoD projects requiring bio-surveillance or countermeasure integration with energy systems.

Conclusion

NewLink Genetics may not be building microreactors, but its contributions to biodefense and its alignment with the DoD's strategic priorities make it a high-conviction play in the broader defense-technology ecosystem. As the U.S. military accelerates its transition to advanced nuclear energy and next-generation biotech, companies like NewLink will be essential in bridging the gap between innovation and operational readiness. For investors seeking exposure to the intersection of national security and cutting-edge science, NLR offers a unique and underappreciated opportunity.