03:57 PM EST, 11/12/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were in the red late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.9% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) falling 1.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) slumped 2.4%.

In corporate news, the US Department of Justice and the attorneys general of Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey and New York filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block UnitedHealth's ( UNH ) planned $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys ( AMED ) , the DOJ said Tuesday. UnitedHealth ( UNH ) shares fell 1.4%, and Amedisys ( AMED ) dropped 1.8%.

Alcon ( ALC ) shares tumbled 5.4% following its Q3 results and guidance.

Elanco Animal Health ( ELAN ) has agreed to pay $15 million to settle antifraud charges by the US Securities and Exchange Commission related to incentivized sales practices that distorted revenue growth, the agency said. Elanco shares were shedding 0.5%.

Pfizer ( PFE ) is exploring a sale of its hospital drugs unit as it looks to divest non-core assets amid pressure from activist investor Starboard Value, Reuters reported. Pfizer ( PFE ) shares were 0.2% lower.