01:37 PM EDT, 05/15/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 1.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) rising 1.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 1.6%.

In corporate news, Biogen (BIIB) and Eisai said late Tuesday that Eisai initiated a rolling submission of a biologics license application to the US Food and Drug Administration for a weekly maintenance treatment for early Alzheimer's disease. Biogen shares rose nearly 4%.