Incyte said it will buy Vega Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Therapeutics, for $1.25 billion upfront, with Star eligible for up to $750 million more tied to sales milestones. That puts the total potential value of the deal at $2.0 billion.
The acquisition adds VGA039, a phase 3 monoclonal antibody being developed for von Willebrand disease, to Incyte’s hematology portfolio. The drug is now in the VIVID-6 study, a global single-arm cross-over trial in patients with every type of von Willebrand disease.
The company said the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, pending Hart-Scott-Rodino review and other customary conditions. Incyte said it expects to record an R&D charge of about $1.25 billion in the third quarter and full year 2026 results.
Incyte has a market in which about 135,000 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with von Willebrand disease, and current prophylactic treatment often requires 2 to 3 intravenous infusions a week. VGA039 is designed as a subcutaneous, once-monthly therapy.
The deal was approved by both companies’ boards. Incyte said it will discuss the acquisition on a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on June 8, 2026. Today the company's shares have moved -1.64% to a price of $100.70. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.
