01:42 PM EDT, 09/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index rising 0.4% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.5%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.9%.

In corporate news, Longboard Pharmaceuticals ( LBPH ) shares jumped past 12% after its investigational drug bexicaserin to treat Dravet syndrome received rare pediatric disease and orphan drug designations from the US Food and Drug Administration.