May 5 (Reuters) - Vertex Pharmaceuticals ( VRTX ) missed

Wall Street estimates for quarterly results on Monday, due to

lower-than-expected sales of its cystic fibrosis (CF) drug

Trikafta.

However, the drugmaker raised the lower end of its revenue

forecast as it looks to its acute pain drug, Journavx, and newer

CF drugs to drive growth beyond its established line of

treatments.

In December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved

Vertex's next-generation treatment, Alyftrek. This once-daily

treatment for a rare and progressive genetic disease further

strengthens Vertex's market dominance in CF treatments.

CF is an inherited disorder resulting from the absence of a

specific protein, which disrupts the movement of salt and water

in and out of cells in various organs.

In the first quarter ended March 31, sales of the company's

older CF treatment, Trikafta, rose 2% to $2.53 billion but

missed analysts' average expectation of $2.58 billion, according

to LSEG data.

Vertex has activated more than 65 authorized treatment

centers globally and 90 patients have begun cell collection for

its gene therapy Casgevy, which treats a rare blood disorder

that requires regular blood transfusions.

Vertex, sees 2025 revenue between $11.85 billion and $12

billion, compared to the previously projected range of $11.75

billion to $12 billion.

Total quarterly revenue rose 2.7% to $2.77 billion, missing

analysts' estimates of $2.85 billion.

On an adjusted basis, the company reported a profit of $4.06

per share for the quarter, compared with analysts' expectations

of a profit of $4.32.