02:06 PM EDT, 08/21/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks advanced Wednesday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 0.2% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.8%.

In corporate news, Grifols ( GRFS ) shares jumped past 6%. Brookfield Asset Management ( BAM ) is seeking debt financing from banks totaling 9.5 billion euros ($10.6 billion) for a potential deal to take Grifols ( GRFS ) private, Bloomberg reported. Brookfield shares gained 0.4%.

Health care marketplace Sesame said Wednesday it will offer compounded versions of Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) weight-loss drug Wegovy to qualified customers for $249 per month as part of its new weight-loss program in the US. Novo shares were falling 1%.

Procept BioRobotics ( PRCT ) shares surged nearly 30% after the company said Wednesday it has secured clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for the Hydros Robotic System.