UPDATE 1-Charles River posts lower Q3 profit, cuts 2009 EPS view

* Cuts 2009 EPS view to $2.28-$2.32/shr

* Q3 EPS $0.57 vs yr-ago $0.64/shr

* Revenue falls 13 percent to $297.5 mln

* Shares down 6 pct in after-market trade

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Clinical research company Charles River Laboratories International Inc (CRL.N) posted a 18 percent drop in quarterly profit, and cut its 2009 earnings forecast as pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients delayed their spending, sending its shares down 6 percent after the bell.

"We expect this situation (client spending) to worsen in the fourth quarter of 2009, which is the reason that we are reducing guidance for the year," Chief Executive James Foster said in a statement.

The company forecast fiscal 2009 adjusted earnings of $2.28 to $2.32 a share, down from its prior outlook of $2.35 to $2.47 a share.

Analysts on average were expecting earnings of $2.42 a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

For the third quarter ended Sept. 26, the preclinical drug-testing services firm posted a net income of $37.3 million, or 57 cents a share, compared with $45.5 million, or 64 cents a share, in the year-ago period.

Excluding items, it earned 65 cents a share.

Revenue fell 13 percent to $297.5 million.

Analysts on average expected earnings of 60 cents a share on revenue of $307 million.

However, the company expects improvement beginning in the second quarter, post-mergers and healthcare reform.

Late last month, bigger rival Covance Inc (CVD.N) warned of a relatively flat performance in its early-stage development services, while Pharmaceutical Product Development Inc (PPDI.O) cut its 2009 earnings and revenue view on poor bookings and significantly high project cancellations.

Shares of the company were down $2.10 at $35 in trading after the bell. They closed at $37.10 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Anand Basu in Bangalore; Editing by Unnikrishnan Nair)