01:33 PM EST, 02/11/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks dropped Tuesday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.2% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) shedding 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 1.4%.

In corporate news, Novartis ( NVS ) agreed to buy biopharmaceutical firm Anthos Therapeutics for up to $3.1 billion as the Swiss pharmaceutical giant expands its cardiovascular portfolio. Novartis ( NVS ) shares added 0.7%.