Incyte has agreed to acquire Vega Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Star Therapeutics, in a transaction valued at up to $2bn, reinforcing its presence in haematology with the addition of a late-stage treatment candidate for bleeding disorders. Under the terms of the deal, Incyte will pay $1.25bn upfront and could provide up to $750m in additional payments tied to future sales milestones. Through the Vega Acquisition, Incyte gains rights to VGA039, a novel therapy currently being studied in the pivotal Phase III VIVID-6 trial (NCT07115004) for von Willebrand disease (VWD).
VGA039, also known as latarcibart, is a self-administered subcutaneous therapy developed to modulate Protein S, a protein involved in regulating blood clotting. By limiting Protein S activity as a cofactor in selected coagulation pathways, the therapy is designed to support platelet adhesion and improve the deposition of fibrous proteins, helping restore normal clotting mechanisms. Vega has stated that the approach could benefit patients across all forms of VWD and potentially other bleeding disorders. While development efforts beyond VWD remain underway, those programmes are currently in the preclinical stage.
According to Star Therapeutics founder and CEO Adam Rosenthal, Incyte will take responsibility for advancing VGA039 as it moves through late-stage development. If approved, the therapy would enter a market that is largely served by intravenous factor-based treatments, including Takeda’s Vonvendi and Octapharma USA’s Wilate. Regulatory authorities have approved only one subcutaneous treatment for VWD to date, desmopressin, a selective vasopressin 2 receptor agonist commonly used in clinical practice as a prophylactic therapy.
Incyte said VGA039’s once-monthly dosing schedule may offer a significant convenience advantage for patients who currently depend on frequent intravenous infusions, potentially improving quality of life and treatment adherence. Chief executive Bill Meury stated that the therapy’s first-in-class profile and “compelling early data” could provide an important future growth opportunity for the company’s haematology business. Following the Vega Acquisition, VGA039 would join Jakafi (ruxolitinib) in Incyte’s US haematology portfolio if approved. Jakafi is expected to begin losing patent protection in 2028, while Novartis markets the medicine outside the US under the name Jakavi.
