03:21 PM EDT, 10/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks advanced late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index up 0.4% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) rising 1.1%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 0.5%.

In corporate news, Pfizer ( PFE ) is readying to sue Metsera ( MTSR ) and potentially Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) after Novo submitted an unsolicited proposal to acquire Metsera ( MTSR ), outbidding Pfizer ( PFE ), Semafor reported Thursday. Pfizer ( PFE ) shares were up 0.7%, Novo fell 2.3%, and Metsera ( MTSR ) jumped 23%.