03:57 PM EST, 11/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were decreasing late Monday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) each easing 0.1%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.6%.

In corporate news, Ardent Health ( ARDT ) shares dropped 6.8% after KeyBanc downgraded the company's stock to sector weight from overweight and removed the price target of $20.

Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) agreed to buy Halda Therapeutics for $3.05 billion in cash as the health-care products conglomerate aims to expand its portfolio of therapies for solid tumors, including prostate cancer. Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) shares rose 1.5%.

Merck ( MRK ) is anticipating a commercial opportunity of over $5 billion from the experimental flu drug CD388 of immunotherapy developer Cidara Therapeutics (CDTX), Reuters reported, citing Merck ( MRK ) executives during a company call. Merck ( MRK ) shares were up 0.2%.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) on Monday lowered the prices of its Wegovy obesity drug and Ozempic diabetes treatment for self-paying patients in the US, following a recent agreement with the Trump Administration to expand access to the products. Novo shares added 0.5%.