Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Decline Late Afternoon
Health care stocks were lower late Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.5% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) shedding 0.7%.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was fractionally higher.In corporate news, GSK (GSK) said Wednesday it has completed its $950 million acquisition of 35Pharma, adding an experimental pulmonary hypertension therapy to its respiratory, immunology and inflammation pipeline. GSK shares were down 2.1%.Janux Therapeutics (JANX) lacks near-term stock-moving catalysts after it came under pressure following mixed results from the phase 1a trial of JANX007 in 5L metastatic prostate cancer, UBS said in a report. UBS downgraded the stock to neutral from buy and cut its price target to $15 from $57. Janux shares fell 1.1%.GoodRx (GDRX) shares climbed up 4.3% after the firm said Wednesday it is offering Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Wegovy HD 7.2 mg injectable weight loss drug to eligible self-pay patients. Novo shares rose 3.7%.Immutep (IMMP) shares surged 73% after it said the US Food and Drug Administration has granted orphan drug designation to eftilagimod alfa to treat soft tissue sarcoma, a rare cancer.