<div id="readability-page-1">04:06 PM EST, 12/26/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Health care stocks were edging up late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Health Care Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each fractionally higher.The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) fell 0.7%.In corporate news, Eli Lilly ( LLY ) will pay a $40 million upfront payment and a $15 million equity investment to ABL Bio, the latter said Friday. The upfront payment is for the license, research, and collaboration agreement for ABL's Grabody platform, ABL said, adding that the two parties are carrying out joint research and development on multiple therapeutic candidates. Eli Lilly ( LLY ) shares rose 0.1%.Johnson &amp; Johnson ( JNJ ) shares were fractionally lower after the company said Friday that a phase 2b trial assessing JNJ-95475939 in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis was terminated early after interim analysis showed that it did not meet the target efficacy.Can-Fite BioPharma ( CANF ) shares jumped 22% after receiving a patent from the Brazilian Patent Office for its A3 adenosine receptor, or A3AR, drugs to treat sexual dysfunction.Aptevo Therapeutics ( APVO ) shares fell 35% after the company said it will implement a 1-for-18 reverse stock split, effective at the start of trading on Tuesday. MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.</div>

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Health care stocks edged higher late Friday afternoon. Eli Lilly will pay $40 million upfront and $15 million in equity to ABL Bio for a collaboration agreement. Johnson & Johnson's phase 2b trial for atopic dermatitis was terminated early. Can-Fite BioPharma shares jumped 22% after receiving a patent in Brazil. Aptevo Therapeutics shares fell 35% due to a 1-for-18 reverse stock split.

Sector Update: Health Care Stocks Edge Higher Late Afternoon