May 6 (Reuters) - Contract research firm IQVIA Holdings IQV.N beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by better-than-expected demand for its drug research and development services.

The company also raised its 2025 revenue forecast to between $16 billion and $16.4 billion, up from its previous estimate of $15.73 billion to $16.13 billion, as it expects to benefit from a weaker dollar.

First-quarter revenue from the research and development solutions segment — IQVIA's largest — was $2.10 billion, above analysts' average estimate of $2.06 billion according to data compiled by LSEG.

"In the clinical trial business, we experienced delayed decision-making by customers on new programs, reflecting incremental macroeconomic and industry sector uncertainty," said CEO Ari Bousbib, adding that despite the environment the company saw higher proposals for its services and a growing backlog.

Contract research organizations have seen continued cancellations from large drugmakers as they reprioritize their development pipelines due to potential impacts from the U.S. government's drug price negotiation program. They have also witnessed reduced spending from biotech clients.

Durham, North Carolina-based IQVIA maintained its annual adjusted profit outlook at $11.70 to $12.10 per share.

The company's quarterly revenue rose 2.5% to $3.83 billion, beating analysts' average estimate of $3.77 billion.

The technological and analytical solutions segment, through which it provides information and technology services to pharmaceutical and consumer health companies, reported revenue of $1.55 billion, above estimates of $1.53 billion.

The business has been benefiting from higher drug approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

IQVIA posted an adjusted profit of $2.70 per share for the first quarter, above expectations of $2.63.

(Reporting by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)

((Puyaan.Singh@thomsonreuters.com;))