Healthcare stocks rose Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index adding 0.4% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) up 0.3%.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.4%.
In corporate news, Neurocrine Biosciences (NBIX) shares gained 2.5% after the company said Friday it has started a phase 1 first-in-human trial of NBIP-1968, an experimental drug for obesity.
ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANIP) shares were down 6.2% even after it posted higher Q2 adjusted earnings and net revenue.
The US Food and Drug Administration said Friday it issued an emergency use authorization for Elanco Animal Health's (ELAN) CLiK Extra wound spray to prevent New World screwworm infestations in sheep, cattle, goats, swine and several other animal species. Elanco shares were down past 5%.