Health care stocks advanced late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index rising 1.8% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding 1.5%.
The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) climbed 1.5%.
In corporate news, DexCom (DXCM) shares jumped past 16%. The company late Thursday maintained its full-year revenue guidance after delivering a Q1 sales beat.
BrightSpring Health Services (BTSG) shares surged more than 16% after it reported Q1 adjusted EPS and revenue above analyst expectations and raised its 2025 revenue guidance.
Cytokinetics (CYTK) shares fell 12% after the US Food and Drug Administration extended the Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date to Dec. 26 for aficamten in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the previous day.
Novo Nordisk (NVO) shares popped 5.7% after Health Canada accepted for review a supplemental new drug submission for semaglutide 2.4 mg as a once weekly treatment for people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.