01:36 PM EDT, 10/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were edging down Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) fractionally lower.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 0.3%.

In corporate news, Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) agreed to buy Akero Therapeutics ( AKRO ) for up to $5.2 billion in cash to expand its metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis portfolio. Novo shares were down 1.6%, and Akero jumped past 16%.

GoodRx ( GDRX ) shares climbed past 11% after the company and various pharmacies said they are in talks with Trump administration officials about joining the TrumpRx website, according to a Reuters report.

AstraZeneca ( AZN ) will invest $4.5 billion in its new manufacturing facility in Albemarle County, Virginia, $500 million more than initially announced, to produce a broader range of medicines. Its shares added 0.5%.