01:40 PM EST, 01/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were higher Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) each rising about 1.4%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 2.6%.

In corporate news, Moderna ( MRNA ) shares were up over 6%. The company said late Friday that it has been awarded $590 million by the US Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate the development of mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccines.