03:57 PM EDT, 09/04/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks fell late Wednesday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) both shedding 0.3%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) eased 0.1%.

In corporate news, Myriad Genetics ( MYGN ) shares dropped 7.8% after the company said it's discontinuing the analysis of hospital resource utilization and costs of patients getting GeneSight testing compared with a control group due to significant disparities between groups.

Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) was ordered to pay $1 billion in damages for breaching its pledge to prioritize two surgical robots it acquired when it purchased Auris Health. Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) shares were little changed.

Atara Biotherapeutics ( ATRA ) shares surged 33%, a day after the company agreed to sell 758,900 shares and pre-funded warrants to investors in a direct offering to raise $36 million.

Athira Pharma ( ATHA ) shares plunged 78%, a day after the company said its phase 2/3 trial of fosgonimeton in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease failed to achieve the primary and key secondary endpoints.