Biotech Rally Hits Extended Hours: Novo Nordisk Leads Weight Gainers in Healthcare Sector Surge

The biotech sector had quite the Monday evening, with healthcare stocks delivering impressive after-hours performance. The standout? Novo Nordisk’s 9.48% jump to $52.66, adding $4.56 per share—and there’s solid reason behind the move.

The Danish pharma giant just got FDA approval for its once-daily Wegovy pill, marking a major breakthrough as the first oral GLP-1 therapy cleared for weight management in the U.S. This is no small deal. The pill targets adults with obesity or those overweight with related health conditions, paired with lifestyle modifications. But here’s what really matters for cardiovascular-focused investors: Wegovy is also approved to slash the risk of serious heart events—think heart attack, stroke, or death—in obese or overweight patients with existing cardiovascular disease. That’s prescribing power beyond just weight gainers; it’s positioned as a cardiovascular protective tool.

The momentum didn’t stop there. IDEAYA Biosciences (IDYA) climbed 6.49% to $37.81, riding on recent progress in its OptimUM-02 Phase 2/3 trial. The company wrapped up enrollment of 435 patients testing darovasertib combined with Pfizer’s crizotinib for metastatic uveal melanoma. Expect progression-free survival data drops in Q1 2026—data that could potentially fast-track an FDA filing.

Neumora Therapeutics (NMRA) surged 16.02% to $2.10, though without any fresh company news on Monday. The jump suggests sector-wide bullish sentiment is doing heavy lifting here, or speculation is heating up in the space.

Other notable movers included BioRestorative Therapies (BRTX), up 6.90% to $1.24. The company’s earlier November 17 announcement about FDA approval for a Type B meeting regarding its Fast-Track-Designated BRTX-100 program continues resonating with investors. That mid-December meeting could pave the way for an accelerated BLA pathway for chronic lumbar disc disease treatment.

RenovoRx (RNXT) added 4.44% to $0.94 after hours, buoyed by its accepted ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2026 abstract submission. The company plans to unveil Phase III TIGeR-PaC trial sub-study findings in January, detailing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data.

Healthcare Triangle (HCTI) gained 6.72% to $1.43, benefiting from its December 10 announcement of an Advance Agreement with Teyame AI LLC. The acquisition of Spain-based AI customer experience platforms Teyame 360 SL and Datono Mediacion SL positions the company as a stronger player in AI-driven patient engagement solutions.

Rounding out the gainers, Alphatec Holdings (ATEC) posted a modest 2.80% rise to $21.28, reflecting steady investor confidence in the spine surgery tech provider despite the absence of fresh updates.

The overarching theme? When FDA green lights land on GLP-1 weight management and serious biotech pipeline progress surfaces, the sector responds. Whether it’s regulatory wins or clinical momentum building, biotech investors found plenty of reasons to bid up after hours on Monday.