---
title: "Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Lower in Afternoon Trading"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/285761938.md"
description: "Healthcare stocks fell on Friday, with the NYSE Healthcare Index down 1% and the State Street Healthcare Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) down 0.9%. Zoetis (ZTS) shares dropped over 6% after a downgrade by Ameriprise, while Traws Pharma (TRAW) shares surged 24% due to plans for new antiviral therapies. Novo Nordisk (NVO) reported a 40% increase in April sales of its diabetes and weight-loss drugs in India after price cuts, despite competition from generics."
datetime: "2026-05-08T17:50:00.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/285761938.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/285761938.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/285761938.md)
---

# Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Lower in Afternoon Trading

01:50 PM EDT, 05/08/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks declined Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Healthcare Index falling 1% and the State Street Healthcare Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) shedding 0.9%.

The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) was 0.4% higher.

In corporate news, Zoetis ( ZTS ) shares fell past 6% after Ameriprise downgraded the stock to hold from buy following its Q1 results Thursday. UBS cut the company's price target to $99 from $130, and Jefferies to $117 from $155.

Traws Pharma ( TRAW ) shares surged 24%. The company said Friday it plans to develop potential therapies for the treatment and prevention of hantavirus infections using its portfolio of antiviral drug candidates targeting negative-strand RNA viruses.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) saw a 40% month-on-month surge in April sales of its diabetes and weight-loss drugs in India after slashing prices, despite a flood of generic versions, Bloomberg reported, citing data from market researcher Pharmarack. Novo added 0.2%.

MT Newswires does not provide investment advice. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.

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