Sector Update: Healthcare Stocks Fall Late Afternoon

04:00 PM EDT, 09/30/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Healthcare stocks declined late Wednesday afternoon with the NYSE Healthcare Index and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) each shedding 1.1%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) rose 0.1%. In corporate news, a federal judge in Minnesota granted in part and denied in part UnitedHealth's (UNH) motion to dismiss a suit brought by the California Public Employees' Retirement System that accuses the company of violating the Securities Exchange Act and a Securities and Exchange Commission rule, a court filing showed. UnitedHealth shares fell 1.8%. Liquidia (LQDA) shares plunged 57%. A federal court in Delaware ruled that the company infringed two claims of a United Therapeutics (UTHR) patent covering the use of inhaled treprostinil to treat pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease, including dry-powder formulations. United Therapeutics shares jumped 12%. Eli Lilly (LLY) reported positive results from a phase 2b trial of its investigational combination of eloralintide and tirzepatide in 367 obese or overweight adults with type 2 diabetes. Lilly shares fell 1.5%. Moderna (MRNA) appointed Juan Andres to the newly created role of chief operating officer, effective Monday. Separately, Citigroup downgraded Moderna stock to sell from neutral, The shares fell 5.4%.