03:33 PM EST, 03/07/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were rising late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) each adding 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 1.1%.

In sector news, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to conduct a large study into the potential relationship between vaccines and autism, Reuters reported.

In corporate news, Oruka Therapeutics ( ORKA ) shares rose 4% after it said Friday that preclinical data on its monoclonal antibody ORKA-002 support potential extended dosing intervals and show equivalent potency to bimekizumab in plaque psoriasis.