Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Edge Higher Late Afternoon
Health care stocks edged up late Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index fractionally higher and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) up 0.2%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) declined 0.6%.In sector news, the US Food and Drug Administration plans to pilot an approach this summer that will use AI to accelerate clinical trials of new medicines by automating data collection and submission, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing an interview with Jeremy Walsh, the FDA's chief AI officer.In corporate news, Axogen (AXGN) shares jumped past 6% after it reported Tuesday a swing to Q1 adjusted EPS from a a loss a year earlier following a surge in revenue.Pfizer (PFE) said Tuesday it entered into settlement agreements with three generic drug manufacturers regarding lawsuits filed in the US District Court for the District of Delaware for patent infringement related to Vyndamax, a cardiomyopathy transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis treatment. Pfizer shares were down 1.7%.Eli Lilly (LLY) has entered into a strategic partnership with Profluent to develop AI-designed recombinases for genetic medicines, Profluent said Tuesday. Lilly shares rose 0.6%.Novartis (NVS) reported Q1 core earnings Tuesday of $1.99 per share, down from $2.28 a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet expected $2.19. Net sales for the quarter ended March 31 were $13.11 billion, down from $13.23 billion a year earlier. For 2026, the company said it continues to expect a low-single-digit core operating income decline. Novartis shares were up 0.3%.