Healthcare stocks rose Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index adding 0.4% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) up 0.7%.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed up 1.7%.
In corporate news, Amgen (AMGN) shares gained 3.6% after the firm reported positive topline results from its phase 3 trial of dazodalibep in adults with Sjogren's disease and moderate-to-severe systemic disease activity.
Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) shares surged 29% after the firm said Tuesday VK2735 showed "superior weight maintenance" under less frequent dosing regiments compared with a placebo over a 12-week period in a clinical study.
Compass Therapeutics (CMPX) shares fell past 28% after the firm said the US Food and Drug Administration recommended a new trial showing survival benefit before submitting a biologics license application for tovecimig in patients with previously treated, advanced biliary tract cancer.