Feb 5 (Reuters) - GSK forecast sales in 2025 to

grow 3%-5% and reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter

earnings, as strength in its HIV and oncology portfolio offset

weakness in its vaccines division.

The British drugmaker also lifted its 2031 sales forecast to

more than 40 billion pounds ($49.88 billion), from 38 billion

pounds it targeted earlier, citing progress on its late-stage

pipeline.

The company reported core earnings per share of 23.2 pence

on sales of 8.12 billion pounds for the quarter ended Dec. 31,

compared with 19 pence on sales of 7.75 billion pounds expected

by analysts in an LSEG poll.

Vaccine sales in 2024 fell 4% in constant currency rates to

9.14 billion pounds, GSK said, better than the 9.01 billion

pounds expected by analysts in a company-compiled consensus.

Revenue from its vaccine business is expected to fall again

this year, it said, with decrease of a "low single-digit per

cent".

($1 = 0.8017 pounds)