01:28 PM EST, 11/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Monday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.8% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) increasing 0.6%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 1.2%.

In corporate news, Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) agreed to buy Halda Therapeutics for $3.05 billion in cash as the health-care products conglomerate aims to expand its portfolio of therapies for solid tumors, including prostate cancer. Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) shares rose 2.1%.

Merck ( MRK ) is anticipating a commercial opportunity of over $5 billion from the experimental flu drug CD388 of immunotherapy developer Cidara Therapeutics (CDTX), Reuters reported, citing Merck ( MRK ) executives during a company call. Merck ( MRK ) shares were up 1.2%.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) on Monday lowered the prices of its Wegovy obesity drug and Ozempic diabetes treatment for self-paying patients in the US, following a recent agreement with the Trump Administration to expand access to the products. Novo shares added 0.9%.