01:37 PM EDT, 05/17/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks eased Friday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) both down 0.1%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 0.4%.

In corporate news, Moderna ( MRNA ) won a favorable decision in its Covid-19 vaccine dispute with Pfizer ( PFE ) and BioNTech (BNTX) from the European Patent Office's Opposition Division, upholding the validity of one of two disputed patents, the Financial Times reported. Moderna ( MRNA ) shares gained 0.5%, Pfizer ( PFE ) fell 1% and BioNTech dropped 0.8%.