03:40 PM EDT, 06/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks edged lower late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each decreasing 0.2%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) increased 0.2%.

In corporate news, Merck's ( MRK ) Belzutifan in combination with pembrolizumab has been approved for the adjuvant treatment of adults with renal cell carcinoma, the US Food and Drug Administration said Friday. Merck ( MRK ) shares were down 1%.

AstraZeneca ( AZN ) said Friday the US Food and Drug Administration approved Truqap in combination with abiraterone and prednisone for adults with PTEN-deficient metastatic androgen pathway modulation-naive or sensitive prostate cancer. AstraZeneca ( AZN ) shares were declining 1.6%.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals ( JAZZ ) shares fell 1.2% after it said a phase 3 trial of Zepzelca in second-line metastatic small cell lung cancer failed to meet its primary endpoint.

Avalo Therapeutics' ( AVTX ) lead drug abdakibart is now a cleaner immunology story following positive phase 2 trial data to treat skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa, BofA Securities said. BofA started coverage of the stock with a buy rating and a price target of $35. Avalo shares jumped past 7%.