Healthcare stocks rose Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index advancing 1% and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) adding 1.1%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 0.1%.

In corporate news, Merck (MRK) said Friday the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended the approval of Keytruda, in combination with Padcev, to treat a type of bladder cancer. Merck shares jumped 5.2%.