08:49 AM EDT, 09/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were leaning lower pre-bell Tuesday with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) down 0.2% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) recently declining by 0.1%.

Vaxcyte ( PCVX ) shares rose past 33% after it announced plans to launch by mid-2025 a phase 3 study for VAX-31 following "positive" topline results from a phase 1/2 trial assessing the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of the 31-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate.