03:53 PM EDT, 03/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks declined late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each falling about 1.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) dropped 1.9%.

In corporate news, Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Alzheimer's drug will be reassessed by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence after a successful appeal against a prior decision blocking its use in the state-run National Health Service, Bloomberg reported. Lilly shares fell 1.7%.

Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) weight-loss drugs in India are about to face steep price cuts after the introduction of generic versions this month with the expiration of patents, Bloomberg reported. Novo shares were down 2.1%.

Prestige Consumer Healthcare ( PBH ) agreed to buy some over-the-counter consumer health and wellness brands of Foundation Consumer Healthcare in a deal worth about $1.05 billion, or some $900 million net of tax benefits. Prestige rose 1.8%.

Abbott (ABT) said Friday the acquisition of Exact Sciences is set to close on Monday after all regulatory clearances necessary for closing have been received. Abbott shares were down 0.7%.