Top Health Care Stocks

JNJ -0.25%

PFE 0.00%

ABT -0.34%

MRK -1.18%

AMGN -2.68%

Health care stocks were mostly lower today with the NYSE Health Care Sector Index retreating about 0.6% and shares of health care companies in the S&P 500 down about 0.5% as a group.

In company news, Sorrento Therapeutics ( SRNE ) climbed Monday after the biotech company said it has signed a global collaboration agreement with NantWorks founder and industry entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong.

SRNE shares of the biopharmaceutical company were up more than 25% at $7.28 each shortly before the closing bell, well off its $7.58 session high earlier today. The stock has traded within a 52-week range of $3.10 to $16.40, falling about 28% over the past year prior to today's rise.

Under the terms of the agreement, SRNE and NantWorks and SRNE will partner to develop next-generation immunotherapies to treat cancer and auto-immune diseases. The companies also plan to launch The Immunotherapy Antibody joint venture as a stand-alone entity, providing a combined $20 million in initial funding.

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Health Care Sector Update for 12/15/2014: SRNE,AZN,OPK,SPHS