01:46 PM EDT, 04/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were mixed in Wednesday afternoon trading, with the NYSE Health Care Index fractionally higher and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) slightly lower.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was down 0.1%.

In corporate news, Vanda Pharmaceuticals ( VNDA ) shares surged more than 30% after the firm said its board adopted a rights plan to protect shareholder interests and maximize value. Separately, Vanda said its board rejected all unsolicited proposals from Future Pak to buy its shares, including the most recent proposal from April 1, for $7.25 to $7.75 per share.

Celldex Therapeutics ( CLDX ) gained 3.5% after it said Wednesday that enrollment of patients has been completed in its phase 2 trial of barzolvolimab to treat cold urticaria and symptomatic dermographism, the two most common types of chronic inducible urticarial.

NeuroBo Pharmaceuticals ( NRBO ) spiked 3.5% as it said Wednesday the first patient has been dosed in part 1 of its two-part early-stage trial of DA-1726 for the treatment of obesity.