02:16 PM EDT, 07/12/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index gaining 1.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding about 0.9%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 1%.

In corporate news, SeaStar Medical ( ICU ) shares jumped almost 11% after the company reported the first commercial sale of the Quelimmune pediatric product to its US distribution partner Nuwellis (NUWE).

Immutep ( IMMP ) shares surged nearly 13% after the firm late Thursday reported "positive" results from group B of a phase 2b trial assessing its eftilagimod alfa plus Merck's (MRK) Keytruda to potentially treat head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Instil Bio ( TIL ) shares soared 33% after the company said Thursday its Complex Therapeutics unit signed AstraZeneca's (AZN) AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals as a tenant at its facility in Tarzana, California.