02:01 PM EDT, 04/28/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks edged up Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each adding 0.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.6%.

In corporate news, Pfizer ( PFE ) said Tuesday it entered into settlement agreements with three generic drug manufacturers regarding lawsuits filed in the US District Court for the District of Delaware for patent infringement related to Vyndamax, a cardiomyopathy transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis treatment. Pfizer ( PFE ) shares were down 0.8%.

Eli Lilly ( LLY ) has entered into a strategic partnership with Profluent to develop AI-designed recombinases for genetic medicines, Profluent said Tuesday. Lilly shares decreased 0.2%.

Novartis ( NVS ) reported Q1 core earnings Tuesday of $1.99 per share, down from $2.28 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $2.19. Net sales for the quarter ended March 31 were $13.11 billion, down from $13.23 billion a year earlier. For 2026, the company said it continues to expect a low-single-digit core operating income decline. Novartis ( NVS ) shares were fractionally lower.