08:58 AM EDT, 07/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were steady pre-bell Wednesday with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) slightly higher and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) inactive recently.

Merck (MRK) has agreed to acquire Verona Pharma ( VRNA ) for $107 per American depositary share for a total transaction value of about $10 billion, the companies said. Shares of Verona Pharma ( VRNA ) were up more than 20% premarket.