09:19 AM EDT, 07/18/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were edging higher pre-bell Friday as the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) was slightly advancing and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was up 0.4% recently.

Viatris ( VTRS ) shares were down more than 3% after the company said a phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of MR-139 ophthalmic ointment in subjects with blepharitis did not meet its primary endpoint of complete resolution of debris after six weeks of twice daily dosing.

Telomir Pharmaceuticals ( TELO ) shares were up more than 153% after the company said its lead candidate Telomir-1 may help restore a tumor suppressor in human prostate cancer cells.

Sarepta Therapeutics ( SRPT ) shares were down 25% following reports of another patient death in the company's gene therapy trial.