Biotechnology stocks endured a rough Monday. Struggles could continue throughout the year for the high-growth sector, said "Fast Money" trader Steve Grasso.

Choppy trading has ruled broader markets so far this year, and the S&P 500 (INDEX: .SPX) has fallen about 6 percent. In that same span, the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ: IBB) has plunged nearly 14 percent.

If sluggish stock market performance continues, "the whole sector" could fall this year, Grasso said. He did, however, note that Kite Pharma (NASDAQ: KITE) could have upside after losing 34 percent in the last year.

Trader Pete Najarian, meanwhile, said that some companies have drug pipelines that could "generate excitement" ahead. He owns shares of Merck (NYSE: MRK), Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), all of which have fallen this year.

He added that the sector could see "more and more" merger and acquisition deals, providing more potential catalysts.

Disclosures:

Pete Najarian

Long AAPL, BAC, BKE, BMY, BP, DIS, DISCA, FOXA, GE, KO, MRK, PEP, PFE, he is long calls A, AAL, ABX, BAC, CHS, CMI, COP, DAL, EMR, GDX, GE, HAIN, HUN, LC, MOS, MSFT, NRF, NRG, PNR, POT, UAL, VZ, WYNN, ZIOP, he is long puts FCX.

Dan Nathan

Long XLY March put spread, long MCD Feb Put Spread, long PFE buy-write, long TWTR March Risk Reversal, long UUP March call, long UUPlong XLU Feb Call spread, long PYPL Jan Risk Reversal, long M Jan16 call spread, long NTAP Jan risk reversal, long QCOM feb calls, long WMT Feb puts.

Steve Grasso

Steve is Long AAPL, BA, BAC, CC, DD, DIS, DECK, EVGN, KBH, MJNA, MBLY, MU, OLN, PFE, PHM, T, TWTR, GDX firm is long APC, CXO, OXY, BP, CVX, MCD, RIG, AMZN kids own EFA, EFG, EWJ, IJR, SPY

Guy Adami

Guy Adami is long CELG, EXAS, GDX, INTC, Guy Adami's wife, Linda Snow, works at Merck.

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