Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Softer Late Afternoon

03:55 PM EDT, 09/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks declined 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) fell 1.1%. In corporate news, Eli Lilly (LLY) said Friday that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Inluriyo in combination with Verzenio for breast cancer. Lilly shares were up 0.1%. The US Treasury Department is drafting rules that could allow pharmaceutical companies to enter into licensing agreements for Chinese drugs that do not involve pathogens or potential bio-weapons, Reuters reported. Pfizer (PFE) and other pharmaceutical companies have met with Trump administration officials in recent months to advocate against broad restrictions on investments in Chinese drug development, the report said. Pfizer shares were down 0.4%. Cooper (COO) shareholder Jana Partners is urging the company to immediately launch an external search for a new CEO, appoint a new board chair, and evaluate asset sales, it said in a letter dated Thursday. Cooper shares rose 2.8%. Xenon Pharmaceuticals (XENE) shares fell 30% after the company paused enrollment of new patients in studies for major depressive disorder and bipolar depression.