Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Decline Late Afternoon
Healthcare stocks fell late Thursday afternoon with the NYSE Healthcare Index dropping 1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) decreasing 0.9%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) shed 0.3%.In corporate news, Pfizer (PFE) shares dropped 2.5% after the company reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance. The company also said Chief Financial Officer Dave Denton will step down on Aug. 15 after accepting a position in the consumer-goods sector.Biogen (BIIB) agreed to acquire private biotechnology company RayThera in a deal worth up to $1 billion. Biogen shares fell 1.4%.EnGene (ENGN) shares shed 1.4% after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock to underweight from equalweight.NovoCure (NVCR) shares tumbled 19% after the company said a phase 3 trial evaluating its tumor treating fields therapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma failed to meet its primary endpoint.
