01:42 PM EDT, 08/05/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index rising 1.1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) adding 1%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 0.9%.

In corporate news, Eli Lilly ( LLY ) shares rose 3.7% after it posted higher Q2 non-GAAP earnings and revenue in addition to raising its 2026 sales guidance. Separately, CVS Health ( CVS ) said Wednesday it revamped its direct-to-consumer weight management program, lowering the cost of virtual visits and expanding access to GLP-1 medications through a collaboration with Lilly. CVS shares were down 4.9%.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) said Wednesday it won a preliminary injunction in the Netherlands against Ceban Ziekenhuisfarmacie in a patent-infringement case involving its compounded semaglutide nasal spray. Novo shares rose 1.3%.

AstraZeneca ( AZN ) and Bristol Myers Squibb ( BMY ) are not engaged in discussions over a potential merger, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing a senior source close to the matter. AstraZeneca ( AZN ) shares rose nearly 4%, and Bristol Myers Squibb ( BMY ) fell 3.5%.