01:46 PM EST, 11/04/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.4% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) fractionally higher.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was decreasing 0.4%.

In corporate news, Metsera ( MTSR ) shares rose more than 20% after it said Tuesday its board determined that an amended acquisition proposal from Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) constitutes a "superior company proposal" as defined under its existing merger agreement with Pfizer ( PFE ) . Novo shares were down 1.9%, and Pfizer ( PFE ) was shedding 1.5%.

Merck ( MRK ) shares rose 1.1% after it said Tuesday that it has signed a $700 million funding agreement with Blackstone (BX) unit Blackstone Life Sciences to support the development of sacituzumab tirumotecan, an experimental cancer drug.

Inspire Medical Systems ( INSP ) shares jumped 15% after Wells Fargo upgraded the stock following better-than-expected Q3 results.