<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>(MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks rose Tuesday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index adding 1.8% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) climbing 1.7%.</p><p> The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advanced 1%.</p><p> In corporate news, President Donald Trump said that Pfizer (PFE) agreed to provide some of its most popular medications at &#34;heavily discounted prices.&#34; Pfizer shares climbed 5.2%.</p><p> Merck (MRK) said a phase 3 trial showed its experimental drug Winrevair significantly reduced the risk of clinical worsening events by 76% in adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension at intermediate or high risk, compared with placebo. Merck shares jumped 5%.</p><p>Novo Nordisk (NVO) said it offered revised employment terms for certain staff after Bloomberg reported that some workers were given a choice between demotion and termination. Novo shares fell 1.1%.</p></div></div>

<p>Health care stocks experienced gains on Tuesday, with the NYSE Health Care Index up 1.8% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund rising 1.7%. Pfizer shares surged 5.2% after an announcement of discounted medications. Merck's shares increased by 5% following positive phase 3 trial results for its drug Winrevair. Conversely, Novo Nordisk's shares fell 1.1% after reports of employment term changes for staff.</p>

Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Gain Tuesday Afternoon