Aug 7 (Reuters) -

Eli Lilly ( LLY ) raised its full-year profit forecast on

Thursday, betting on surging demand for its blockbuster

weight-loss drug, Zepbound, as it targets new markets and looks

to seize more share from Novo Nordisk's Wegovy.

The company now expects to earn $21.75 to $23 per share on

an adjusted basis this year, compared to its previous forecast

of $20.78 to $22.28 per share profit.

Analysts were expecting a profit of $21.74 per share for

2025, according to data compiled by LSEG.

(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru and Patrick Wingrove

in New York; Editing by Anil D'Silva)