Celgene acquiring cancer drug firm Juno Therapeutics for $9 bn

US biotech firm Celgene on Monday announced a deal to acquire the bio-pharmaceutical company Juno Therapeutics for $9 billion or $87 per share.

The Seattle-based Juno is a leader in developing treatments for incurable blood cancers such as lymphoma, Celgene CEO Mark J. Alles said in a statement.

"Juno's advanced cellular immunotherapy portfolio and research capabilities strengthen Celgene's global leadership in hematology and adds new drivers for growth beyond 2020," Alles said.

One Juno lymphoma treatment is expected to receive regulatory approval next year, with potential global sales of about $3 billion, the statement said.

The merger pushes Celgene deeper into cancer treatments. This month, it acquired the blood disease biotech firm Impact Biomedicines for $7 billion.

With its best-selling multiple myeloma drug Revlimid soon to face competition from generics, Celgene is diversifying to offset a potential dip in revenues.

Celgene has itself been rumored to be a takeover target. Analysts say it could prove enticing for the drug giant Pfizer, which may hope to boost revenues in the near term.

Celgene fell 1.2 percent in mid-morning trading on Monday while Juno gained 26.7 percent to just under the acquisition price of $87 per share.