JERUSALEM, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Teva Pharmaceutical

Industries reported a slightly larger than expected

rise in fourth-quarter profit, helped by double-digit sales

gains in a trio of its branded drugs to treat migraines,

Huntington's disease and schizophrenia.

The world's largest generic drugmaker said on

Wednesday it earned 71 cents per diluted share excluding one-off

items in the October-December quarter, down from $1.00 per share

a year earlier. Revenue fell 5% to $4.2 billion.

Analysts had forecast earnings of 70 cents per share

ex-items for the Israel-based company on revenue of $4.13

billion, LSEG I/B/E/S data showed.

Teva noted that in the fourth-quarter of 2023 its revenue

was boosted by a $500 million upfront payment from Sanofi

related to their collaboration on developing a

treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.

For all of 2024, Teva recorded diluted EPS of $2.49 ex-items

- above estimates of $2.47 - compared with $2.56 in 2023.

Full-year revenue rose 6% in local currency terms, and 4% in

dollar terms to $16.5 billion, led by higher sales of generic

medicines, migraine drug Ajovy, Huntington's treatment Austedo

and its schizophrenia drug Uzedy.

Teva forecast 2025 revenue of $16.8 billion to $17.4 billion

and diluted EPS ex-one offs of $2.35-$2.65. Analysts expect

revenue of $17.1 billion and EPS of $2.76.

In the fourth quarter, U.S. sales of Ajovy rose 11% to $63

million, while Austedo grew 27% to $518 million, and Uzedy sales

soared to $43 million from $9 million a year earlier.