Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Steady Late Afternoon

03:49 PM EDT, 10/02/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks were little changed late Friday afternoon with the NYSE Healthcare Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) both steady. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) dropped 0.4%. In corporate news, Integra LifeSciences (IART) shares fell 20% after the company reported preliminary Q3 adjusted earnings of $0.55 to $0.59 per diluted share and cut its 2026 outlook. Novartis (NVS) entered into a licensing and option agreement with Abogen Biosciences to advance RNA-encoded therapeutics. Abogen will receive $575 million upfront and remains eligible for up to $7.2 billion in milestone payments plus potential sales royalties. Novartis shares shed 0.1%. AstraZeneca (AZN) and Japan's Daiichi Sankyo have partnered with Summit Therapeutics (SMMT) to test their drug Datroway plus ivonescimab to treat lung, breast, and other cancers. AstraZeneca shares fell 0.6%, and Summit rose 0.7%. Legend Biotech's (LEGN) multiple myeloma therapy Carvykti is facing growing competitive pressure as Gilead Sciences' (GILD) anito-cel approaches a potential approval and Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) Tec-Dara gains traction, UBS Securities said. Legend shares fell 3.9%.