09:15 AM EDT, 08/03/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks were rising pre-bell Monday, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLV ) 1.2% higher and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advancing by 0.8%.

AstraZeneca ( AZN ) is in talks with Bristol Myers Squibb ( BMY ) about a potential combination that would create a pharmaceutical company valued at nearly $400 billion, the Financial Times reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Astrazeneca ( AZN ) stock was 7% lower, while Bristol Myers Squibb ( BMY ) shares were up more than 3% premarket.

Supernus Pharmaceuticals ( SUPN ) and Indivior Pharmaceuticals ( INDV ) said they will merge in a tax-free, all-stock deal. Shares of Supernus Pharmaceuticals ( SUPN ) were up more than 14% and Indivior Pharmaceuticals ( INDV ) stock advanced past 1% pre-bell.

KKR (KKR) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Integer (ITGR) through affiliated funds in an all-cash transaction at an enterprise value of $5.7 billion, the companies said. Integer shares were up more than 2% premarket.