01:42 PM EDT, 05/08/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were lower Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.4% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) easing 0.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.2%.

In corporate news, Merck ( MRK ) unit (MRK) Merck Animal Health and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly jointly announced Thursday an $895 million expansion of the company's plant in De Soto, Kansas. Merck ( MRK ) shares were down 0.9%.