UPDATE 1-InVentiv Q1 profit beats Wall Street, backs '08 view

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May 12 (Reuters) - InVentiv Health Inc (VTIV.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted a better-than-expected first-quarter profit, helped by an increase in revenue from its communications and clinical segments, and backed its full-year outlook.

Revenue from its communications segment rose 44 percent to $88.3 million, helped by acquisitions completed during 2007, new wins and expansion in existing accounts. Revenue from its clinical segment increased 26 percent to $52.1 million.

The provider of commercialization services to pharmaceutical and healthcare industries posted an adjusted net income of $8.5 million, or 26 cents a share, down from $9.5 million, or 31 cents a share, a year earlier.

It reported GAAP income from continuing operations of $8.0 million, or 24 cents a share, for the quarter ended March 31, compared with $10.4 million, or 33 cents a share, a year ago.

Revenue rose 18 percent to $262.3 million.

Analysts were expecting a profit of 23 cents a share, excluding special items, on revenue of $263.4 million, according to Reuters Estimates.

The Somerset, New Jersey-based company reiterated its 2008 adjusted earnings outlook of $1.80 to $1.90 a share. It also backed its revenue forecast of $1.05 billion to $1.15 billion.

Analysts expect earnings of $1.83 a share on revenue of $1.09 billion for the period.

Shares of the company were almost flat at $32.01 in morning trade on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Suzannah Benjamin in Bangalore; Editing by Himani Sarkar)