Health Care Down as Viking Move Rattles Novo Shares -- Health Care Roundup

Health-care companies ticked down after another company threw its hat into the ring for the fast-growing obesity-drug niche.

Viking Therapeutics soared after the company announced positive results from a mid-stage trial of its weight-loss drug VK2735. Shares of incumbents Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly fell.

Hims & Hers Health shares leapt after the purveyor of men's and women's health medications for issues such as erectile dysfunction and baldness forecast robust growth.

AdaptHealth shares surged after the company reported fourth-quarter revenue that beat analysts' expectations.

Beam Therapeutics shares rose sharply after the gene-editing concern posted surprisingly strong earnings.

The Justice Department has launched an antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth Group, owner of the nation's biggest health insurer, a leading manager of drug benefits and a sprawling network of doctor groups.

Write to Rob Curran at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

02-27-24 1719ET