Healthcare stocks declined Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each shedding about 0.8%.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 1.5%.
In corporate news, Eli Lilly (LLY) is poised to outpace Q2 sales consensus estimates as strong volume uptake of its weight-loss drug Zepbound and Mounjaro diabetes treatment drive franchise performance, RBC said in a note. RBC raised its price target to $1,500 from $1,250. Lilly shares were down 1.2%.
AstraZeneca (AZN) and Daiichi Sankyo are in advanced talks with England's drug pricing regulator to make the breast cancer medicine Enhertu available to some patients, Bloomberg reported. AstraZeneca shares were shedding 1.8%.
Tvardi (TVRD) said Tuesday its phase 1 study confirmed rapid prodrug conversion of TTI-109 to TTI-101, producing nearly identical plasma levels at molar-equivalent doses, and validating its prodrug design. Raymond James upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform. Shares surged 55%.