Healthcare stocks rose late Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index adding 0.9% and the State Street Healthcare Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) increasing 0.7%.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.3%.
In corporate news, Corcept Therapeutics (CORT) shares rose past 11% after UBS Securities upgraded the stock to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $72 per share from $44.
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (IRWD) fell 10% after the company said Gregory Martini is resigning from his role as chief financial officer, effective May 15.
Personalis (PSNL) shares jumped 6% after the firm said the Molecular Diagnostic Services Program of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has expanded coverage for its NeXT Personal minimal residual disease test.
Assertio (ASRT) shares rose 3.4% after the company said Wednesday it has agreed to be acquired by Zydus Lifesciences subsidiary Zydus Worldwide DMCC in an all-cash tender offer valued at about $166.4 million.