01:53 PM EDT, 09/30/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Tuesday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 1.8% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) climbing 1.7%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advanced 1%.

In corporate news, President Donald Trump said that Pfizer ( PFE ) agreed to provide some of its most popular medications at "heavily discounted prices." Pfizer ( PFE ) shares climbed 5.2%.

Merck ( MRK ) said a phase 3 trial showed its experimental drug Winrevair significantly reduced the risk of clinical worsening events by 76% in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension at intermediate or high risk, compared with placebo. Merck ( MRK ) shares jumped 5%.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) said it offered revised employment terms for certain staff after Bloomberg reported that some workers were given a choice between demotion and termination. Novo shares fell 1.1%.