Health-care companies rose as traders rotated back into some of the sectors that had led the stock market before an inflation and interest-rate scare.

Merck and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said their Covid-19 pill molnupiravir was active against the Omicron variant in laboratory tests, an encouraging sign for a popular Covid treatment.

Biotech giant Biogen is selling its share in biosimilar joint venture Samsung Bioepis for at least $2.25 billion to partner Samsung Biologics, adding to its cash pile after the disappointing launch of its Alzheimer's disease drug Aduhelm.


Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-28-22 1710ET