01:49 PM EST, 11/14/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks fell Friday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) each dropping 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.9%.

In corporate news, Merck ( MRK ) agreed to buy immunotherapy developer Cidara Therapeutics ( CDTX ) for $9.2 billion to expand its respiratory portfolio. Merck ( MRK ) shares added 0.8%, and Cidara more than doubled.

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( BMY ) shares fell 4% after the company and Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) stopped a Phase 3 trial of their experimental drug milvexian for people recovering from a recent acute coronary syndrome event. Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) shares rose 0.6%.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) elected Lars Rebien Sorensen as board chair at its extraordinary general meeting. Sorensen succeeds Helge Lund, who stepped down from the board along with several other members. Novo shares fell 2.1%.