09:05 AM EST, 12/27/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were mixed pre-bell Friday as the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.1% higher and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) was down 0.2% recently.

UnitedHealth Group ( UNH ) and Amedisys ( AMED ) extended the deadline for closing their $3.3 billion merger agreement as the US Department of Justice scrutinizes the deal, a filing showed. Amedisys ( AMED ) shares rose past 4% premarket.

Takeda Pharmaceutical ( TAK ) shares were up over 1% after the company said the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has approved the use of Hyqvia in patients with agammaglobulinemia or hypogammaglobulinemia.

Exicure ( XCUR ) shares advanced by about 9% after the company said it signed a memorandum of understanding with GPCR Therapeutics for the acquisition of the South Korean company's US subsidiary, GPCR USA, to advance its growth as a clinical-stage biotech firm.