09:11 AM EDT, 10/09/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were steady pre-bell Wednesday as the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) and iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) were inactive recently.

Clearside Biomedical ( CLSD ) shares advanced by over 10% after the company said its topline data from its phase 2b clinical trial of CLS-AX for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration showed the drug achieved both primary and secondary outcomes.

Viking Therapeutics ( VKTX ) shares were up more than 2% in after the company said it received positive data from a phase 1b clinical trial of VK0214 for patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy.

Novavax ( NVAX ) shares were up more than 2% after the company said the European Commission granted the marketing authorization for its updated Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine for use in individuals of at least 12 years old.