03:51 PM EDT, 07/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose late Thursday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.3% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.7%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 2.4%.

In corporate news, Biodexa Pharmaceuticals ( BDRX ) shares soared 46% after the company said 12-month data from a mid-stage clinical trial showed the longevity of effect of eRapa in the treatment of precancerous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract.

Pennant (PNTG) shares popped 4.6% after it said Thursday it has signed asset purchase deals to buy assets of some affiliates of Signature Healthcare at Home for $80 million.

Salarius Pharmaceuticals ( SLRX ) shares sank nearly 13% after it said Thursday the US Food and Drug Administration has placed a trial assessing seclidemstat plus azacitidine in adults with myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia on partial clinical hold.

Pfizer ( PFE ) shares added 1.2% as it said Thursday it will conduct dose-optimization studies of danuglipron in H2 after selecting a once-daily, modified-release formulation of the drug candidate, intended to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and address obesity.