01:52 PM EDT, 05/15/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 1.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) rising 1.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 1.4%.

In corporate news, Biogen (BIIB) and Eisai said late Tuesday that Eisai initiated a rolling submission of a biologics license application to the US Food and Drug Administration for a weekly maintenance treatment for early Alzheimer's disease. Biogen shares rose 4%.

GoodRx ( GDRX ) shares jumped more than 9% after the company said it has signed a direct contracting agreement with supermarket operator Kroger (KR) to deliver lower prescription prices at over 2,200 Kroger pharmacy locations in the US.

CASI Pharmaceuticals ( CASI ) said Wednesday that it has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a phase 1/2 trial of CID-103 in adults with chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia, a type of platelet disorder. Its shares popped 5.1%.