09:19 AM EDT, 06/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were flat to lower premarket Tuesday, with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) down 0.2% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) unchanged.

Silk Road Medical ( SILK ) and Boston Scientific ( BSX ) have signed a deal under which Boston Scientific ( BSX ) will acquire Silk Road Medical ( SILK ) for $27.50 per share, the companies said. Silk Road Medical ( SILK ) shares were up over 23% pre-bell.

Merck ( MRK ) stock was up 0.8% after the company said overnight that the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Keytruda with carboplatin and paclitaxel for the treatment of adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.

Pfizer ( PFE ) is facing a lawsuit filed by the state government of Kansas for allegedly misleading the public about the safety and efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine. Pfizer ( PFE ) shares were down 0.2% pre-bell.