ZURICH, Nov 26 (Reuters) -

Switzerland's Roche will acquire U.S. biopharma firm

Poseida Therapeutics ( PSTX ) in a cash deal worth up to $1.5

billion, the companies said on Tuesday.

Poseida is to be bought at $9 per share in cash, and

stockholders will also receive a non-tradeable contingent value

right for up to $4 per share if specific milestones are met,

taking the deal value to up to around $1.5 billion.

It is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025.

"We have worked closely with Roche through our collaboration

focused on hematologic malignancies, and we are excited to join

Roche to work as colleagues together across our pipeline and

future programs," said Kristin Yarema, president and CEO of the

San Diego-based Poseida, in a statement.

Poseida and its employees will join Roche as part of the

Swiss firm's pharmaceuticals division, Poseida said.

The acquisition will establish a new capability for

Roche in allogeneic cell therapy, with opportunities focused on

CAR-T programs covered by existing collaboration between Poseida

and Roche in hematologic malignancies, the U.S. firm said.

It will include CAR-T programs for solid tumours and

autoimmune diseases, along with Poseida's genetic engineering

platform and related pre-clinical medicines, it added.

(Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Tom Hogue and Miranda

Murray)