08:53 AM EDT, 06/05/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were edging higher pre-bell Thursday with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.2% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) recently advancing by 0.1%.

Alvotech ( ALVO ) and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (RDY) said they have entered a collaboration and license agreement to co-develop, manufacture and commercialize a biosimilar candidate to Merck's ( MRK ) Keytruda. Shares of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories were up 2% premarket.