01:44 PM EST, 01/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were declining Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.6% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) easing 0.1%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.3%.

In corporate news, Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) shares fell 5.5% after the Department of Health and Human Services said that the company's Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus are among the 15 additional drugs selected for US Medicare price negotiations.