Health care stocks were edging higher premarket Friday with the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) slightly advancing 0.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) up 0.2% recently.

Centene (CNC) stock was more than 2% higher even after the company reported that it swung to a Q2 adjusted loss.

Veracyte (VCYT) is set to join the S&P SmallCap 600, effective Tuesday, to replace Triumph Group (TGI), S&P Dow Jones Indices said. Shares of Veracyte were up more than 8% premarket.

Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) shares were more than 13% lower after Europe's drug regulator recommended the refusal of marketing authorization for the company's Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug Elevidys.