02:02 PM EDT, 03/20/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were mixed Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index rising 0.3% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) fractionally lower.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 1.1%.

In corporate news, Aspire Biopharma ( ASBP ) shares rose 2.3% after it said Thursday its contract manufacturer Glatt Air Techniques produced the first clinical batch of pharmaceutical-grade oral mucosal form of aspirin with Aspire's formulation ahead of a bioavailability study expected to begin in April.

OptiNose ( OPTN ) shares surged 52% after the company overnight said it agreed to be acquired by Paratek Pharmaceuticals in a deal valued at up to $330 million.

Aptevo Therapeutics ( APVO ) shares added 1.1% after it said Thursday that two additional acute myeloid leukemia patients achieved remission within 30 days of treatment in a trial evaluating mipletamig with standard therapy for patients unfit for intensive chemotherapy.