09:18 AM EST, 02/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were mixed premarket Friday as the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) was down 1.2% and the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.4% higher recently.

UnitedHealth Group ( UNH ) is under scrutiny by the US Department of Justice for allegedly encouraging doctors to record diagnoses that result in extra payments to the insurer's "Medicare Advantage" plans, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. UnitedHealth ( UNH ) shares fell past 11% pre-bell.

Neurocrine Biosciences ( NBIX ) shares advanced by over 3% after the company said its board authorized a new share repurchase program allowing the company to buy back up to $500 million of its shares.

bluebird bio (BLUE) shares slumped by over 33% after the company said it agreed to be acquired by funds managed by Carlyle Group ( CG ) and SK Capital Partners.