09:24 AM EDT, 10/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday, with The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) up 0.3% and The iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) 0.2% higher.

Burning Rock Biotech ( BNR ) shares were up past 2% after the company and Dizal said China's National Medical Products Administration has granted marketing approval for their jointly developed companion diagnostic for the non-small cell lung cancer treatment for sunvozertinib.

Sagimet Biosciences ( SGMT ) stock was over 1% higher after the company said its experimental drug, denifanstat, used to treat certain metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis patients, met its primary and secondary endpoints in a phase 2b study.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) is planning to boost its operations in India by hiring more officials in the country while forging partnerships with local artificial intelligence start-ups, Reuters reported, citing a company executive. Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) shares were up 1% pre-bell.