UPDATE 1-Auxilium posts wider Q1 loss

* Q1 loss $0.31/shr vs loss $0.30/shr a year ago

* Q1 revenue rises 28 pct to $34.7 mln

* Sees 2009 net loss wider than prior view

May 6 (Reuters) - Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc (AUXL.O) posted a wider quarterly loss, hurt by higher expenses, and expects its 2009 net loss to be wider than its previous forecast.

The company sees 2009 net loss in the range of $55 million to $60 million, compared with its earlier forecast of a loss of $50 million to $55 million.

Auxilium, however, maintained its 2009 revenue view of $150 million to $155 million.

Analysts on average were expecting a loss of $1.13 a share, before special items, on revenue of $154.7 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

For the first quarter, the company reported a net loss of $13.2 million, or 31 cents a share, compared with a loss of $12.3 million, or 30 cents a share, a year earlier.

Revenue rose 28 percent to $34.7 million.

Analysts expected a loss of 25 cents a share, excluding special items, on revenue of $36.2 million.

Research and development expenses rose 3 percent to $13.5 million, while selling, general and administrative expenses increased 26 percent to $26.4 million.

Shares of the company closed at $24.22 Tuesday on Nasdaq.

For the alerts, double-click [ID:nWNAB4070] (Reporting by Anand Basu in Bangalore; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal)