The number of companies listed on Nasdaq’s pharma index fell to 619 from 730 on Nov. 5, according to data from the latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Nasdaq Composite index fell 8 percent on Nov 7.
The Nasdaq Pharmaceuticals ETF, which tracks the health care industry’s top 10 drugs, fell 0.5 percent.
That’s the largest drop in the Nasdaq composite since Feb. 12, 2017.
Nasdaq Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc. fell 8.5.% to $35.84.
The U.K.-based drugmaker is looking to raise about $1.4 billion in cash by selling off its stake in E.coli-spreading firm Novabay Pharmaceuticals and its $4.3 billion acquisition of the drugmaker’s parent company, AstraZeneca.
The combined company will be known as Novabax, the company said.
Novabay’s shares have risen about 40% over the past year.
E.colin-spiking Novabays drug, Zevitin, lost more than half its value during the week after it was approved for use in adults, including those with certain types of inflammatory conditions, including Crohn’s disease.
The drugmaker said on Nov 2 it expects sales to decline about 5% this year and to decline more in 2018.