GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) shares rose after Indian generics firm Ranbaxy Laboratories said one of its units would acquire Glaxo's Mundogen generics business in Spain. Specific financial terms weren't disclosed. Glaxo's shares were up 42 cents, or 0.8%, to $54.45.

Chelsea Therapeutics' (CHTP) shares gained 14.4% to $3.90 after the company said it appointed 25-year pharmaceutical sales veteran Keith Schmidt as president of marketing and sales to support the launch of Droxidopa.

Chelsea is pursuing an orphan-drug status for the experimental compound and is preparing late-phase trials on the drug to support its application to the Food and Drug Administration.

Medical-supply company Antares Pharma (AIS) jumped after it said it signed an agreement with generic-drug maker Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA) to develop a disposable injector device. Antares will receive an upfront fee, milestone payments and a percentage of gross profits. Antares shares were up 4.6% to $1.15.

Among other stocks on the move were biopharmaceutical company Praecis (PRCS) , down 11.9% to $2.30, specialty pharmaceutical company Pharmos (PARS) , off 8.3% to $1.76, respiratory-care devices maker Chad Therapeutics (CTU) , down 7.4% to $2.50, and genetic-test developer Interleukin Genetics (ILI) , lower by 3.6% to $5.69.

Biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences (GILD) was up 45 cents, or 0.8%,to $59.85, and drugmaker Barr Pharmaceuticals (BRL) rose 2.2% to $46.28. Drug developer Nucryst Pharmaceuticals (NCST) was up 1.6% to $14.91.

Also moving higher were Auxilium Pharmaceuticals (AUXL) , up 1% to $7.89, Regenerx Biopharmaceuticals (RGN) , rising 4.3% to $2.42, and Adventrx Pharmaceuticals (ANX) , adding 3.3% to $2.48.