03:53 PM EST, 12/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks edged up late Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index up 0.1% and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) adding 0.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) added 0.6%.

In corporate news, Assembly Biosciences ( ASMB ) shares rose 2.5%. The company said Thursday that an ongoing phase 1b trial of its investigational antiviral drug ABI-4334 showed "encouraging" safety and efficacy results in people with chronic hepatitis B virus.

RAPT Therapeutics ( RAPT ) shares popped nearly 5% after HC Wainwright upgraded its rating on the stock to buy from neutral with a price target of $10.

Hoth Therapeutics ( HOTH ) signed an exclusive patent license agreement with the US Department of Veterans Affairs to develop an obesity treatment. The shares were falling 3.4%.

Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) signed an exclusive licensing deal for the global development, manufacturing and commercialization of Kaken Pharmaceutical's STAT6 program for atopic dermatitis and other autoimmune and allergic diseases. Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) shares shed 0.5%.