01:49 PM EDT, 07/25/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks increased Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index up 0.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was shedding 0.4%.

In corporate news, Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) shares rose 1% after it said Friday the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended expanding the use of Alhemo to more hemophilia patients.

HCA Healthcare ( HCA ) on Friday raised its full-year financial outlook as the hospital operator reported stronger-than-expected Q2 results. The shares were down 2%.

Lyell Immunopharma ( LYEL ) shares jumped 18% after the company said it has struck a deal to sell up to about $100 million of its shares to some investors.

Sarepta Therapeutics ( SRPT ) shares fell 11% after the EU's drug regulator recommended a refusal of marketing authorization for the company's Duchenne muscular dystrophy drug Elevidys.