02:06 PM EDT, 06/03/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were rising Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index up 0.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.4%.

In corporate news, MoonLake Immunotherapeutics ( MLTX ) shares jumped nearly 20% after the Financial Times reported that Merck ( MRK ) has held talks for an over $3 billion acquisition of the Swiss biotech company. Merck ( MRK ) shares rose 0.6%.

ReShape Lifesciences ( RSLS ) shares surged 57% after it said Tuesday its quality management system and medical devices portfolio in the EU and the UK were certified under the EU Medical Device Regulation and UK Conformity Assessment.

Hims & Hers Health ( HIMS ) said Tuesday it plans to buy Zava, a European digital health platform, in a deal that will mark its official entry into the UK, Germany, France and Ireland, with more markets expected to follow. Hims & Hers Health ( HIMS ) shares were down 3.6%.