01:38 PM EDT, 03/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were higher Monday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) each rising 1.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) added 1.3%.

In corporate news, AstraZeneca ( AZN ) on Monday agreed to buy Belgian biotech company EsoBiotec in a deal worth up to $1 billion as it looks to boost its cell therapies portfolio. AstraZeneca ( AZN ) shares were fractionally lower.