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June 8 (Reuters) - Incyte INCY said on Monday it has agreed to acquire Vega Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Therapeutics, in a deal worth up to $2 billion, expanding its pipeline for blood disorder therapies.

The deal includes $1.25 billion in upfront cash and up to $750 million in milestone payments, the U.S. drugmaker said.

The acquisition gives Incyte a late-stage asset in bleeding disorders, helping bolster its pipeline as it faces future pressure on its top-selling drug Jakafi when patent protections begin to wane.

Star Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing antibody therapies for hematologic and immunologic diseases, with a focus on bleeding disorders.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.