July 22 (Reuters) - Contract research firm IQVIA

Holdings ( IQV ) raised its forecast for full-year profit on

Monday, banking on strength in demand for its healthcare data

and analytics services.

Technological and analytical solutions (TAS), IQVIA's ( IQV )

second-largest unit, reported a 2.7% rise in second-quarter

revenue to $1.50 billion, above estimates of $1.47 billion,

according to LSEG data. The unit provides information and

technology services to pharmaceutical and consumer health

companies.

The performance of TAS in the quarter "provides a smoother

path to our full-year total company and segment targets," said

IQVIA ( IQV ) CEO Ari Bousbib.

The results point to an improving demand environment, said

Evercore ISI analyst Elizabeth Anderson.

For at least the past two years elevated interest rates had

squeezed funding among biotech clients prompting them to put

some drug development programs on the backburner.

Leerink analyst Michael Cherny said, the brokerage is

encouraged that large pharma clinical trial activity appears to

be strong, with demand for TAS not deteriorating further.

Durham, North Carolina-based IQVIA ( IQV ) expects 2024 adjusted

profit per share between $11.10 and $11.30, up from its prior

range of $10.95 to $11.25 per share, and average analyst

estimates of $11.08 per share.

Revenue from the research and development solutions segment

- IQVIA's ( IQV ) largest - came in at $2.15 billion for the quarter

ended June 30, compared with analysts' expectation of $2.16

billion.

The unit's book-to-bill ratio, which represents the

number of orders received to those fulfilled, was 1.27x,

compared with 1.23x in the first quarter of 2024.

IQVIA ( IQV ) narrowed its forecast for full-year revenue. It now

expects revenue between $15.43 billion and $15.53 billion,

versus its prior forecast of $15.33 billion to $15.58 billion.

Analysts are expecting $15.46 billion.

The company's quarterly revenue rose 2.3% to $3.81 billion,

compared with analysts' expectation of $3.79 billion.

IQVIA ( IQV ) posted an adjusted profit of $2.64 per share for

the reported quarter, above analysts' average estimate of $2.57

per share.