09:01 AM EST, 01/24/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were declining premarket Friday as the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) was down 0.5% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.1% lower recently.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) shares rose past 12% after the company said a phase 1b/2a clinical trial evaluating amycretin showed positive results. Amycretin, developed for subcutaneous and oral administration, is intended as a treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes.