Healthcare stocks were higher premarket Thursday, with the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) gaining 0.3% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) advancing 0.1%.
Novartis (NVS) stock was up more than 2% premarket after the company said a phase 1/2 study of its experimental therapy, del-brax, met both primary and key secondary endpoints in patients with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
Guardant Health (GH) shares gained more than 1% pre-bell after the company said the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Guardant360 CDx for Boehringer Ingelheim's Hernexeos in adults with HER2-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
Tilray Brands (TLRY) stock advanced 0.6% after its BrewDog unit said it is reducing pint prices to 2 UK pounds ($2.67), or about 1998 levels, at its Scottish bars for an upcoming 72-hour bank holiday weekend.