03:58 PM EST, 01/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.2% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.5%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 0.9%.

In corporate news, Citius Pharmaceuticals ( CTXR ) shares popped 9.5% after the company and its Citius Oncology unit announced plans to launch Lymphir commercially in H1 2025.

Verona Pharma ( VRNA ) shares gained 10.6% after it said Tuesday it expects Q4 net product sales of $36 million on the back of the commercial launch of Ohtuvayre, a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Stryker (SYK) agreed to buy medical technology maker Inari Medical ( NARI ) for $4.9 billion in cash. Stryker shares fell 1.7%, and Inari jumped past 22%.

Hoth Therapeutics ( HOTH ) shares soared 188% after interim results from a phase 2a trial of HT-001 showed that all patients met the primary efficacy endpoint.