09:26 AM EDT, 07/18/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were lower premarket Thursday, with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) 0.1% down and the iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) marginally declining recently.

OPKO Health ( OPK ) shares advanced by 8.5% after the company said its board has approved the repurchase of up to $100 million of its common stock.

Abbott Laboratories ( ABT ) was down 0.5% despite reporting higher Q2 adjusted earnings and net sales. The company also raised its fiscal 2024 adjusted EPS forecast.

Amarin ( AMRN ) shares rose nearly 4% after the company said the Portuguese Ministry of Health has approved Vazkepa for national reimbursement to lower the risk of cardiovascular events in adult patients.