03:56 PM EDT, 05/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks retreated late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index down 0.2% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) shedding 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was down 0.1%.

In corporate news, Vivos Therapeutics ( VVOS ) shares jumped 9% after the company said it issued a $1.1 million convertible promissory note to V-Co Investors 2, with proceeds to be used for the acquisition of The Sleep Center of Nevada.

Bicara Therapeutics ( BCAX ) shares fell 43% after the company said late Thursday that its latest trial for a potential head and neck cancer treatment has yet to reach median overall survival.

Merus (MRUS) shares surged 32% after the company reported favorable interim cancer trial results in the previous day.

Imunon ( IMNN ) shares rallied 175%. It reported positive data showing an improvement in overall and progression-free survival from a phase 2 trial of IMNN-001 in ovarian cancer.

Fulcrum Therapeutics ( FULC ) shares gained 5% after Leerink upgraded the stock to outperform from market perform and raised its price target to $12 from $4.