03:39 PM EDT, 07/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were rising late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index advancing 0.5% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding 0.6%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) edged up 0.1%.

In corporate news, 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals ( SXTP ) shares surged 30% after the company said Friday it has signed clinical trial agreements for its study of tafenoquine to treat people with the parasitic disease babesiosis.