** Goldman Sachs initiates UCB UCB.BR with a "buy" rating and a PT of 250 euros, saying the Belgian biopharmaceutical firm is a "rare opportunity" among European peers thanks to its skin disease drug Bimzelx

** The broker forecasts 7 billion euros ($8.14 billion) in peak sales for Bimzelx, underpinned by strong clinical data and initial launch momentum

** It sees the hidradenitis suppurativa market, a chronic skin disease, as a key opportunity where Bimzelx could become a market leader and drive upward consensus revenue revisions

** GS expects the drug to more than double UCB's revenue and quadruple its core profit (EBITDA) during the first 10 years to 2033

** Among the 20 analysts that cover UCB, 15 rate it "strong buy" or "buy," five "hold" and no analysts have "sell" or "strong sell" rating - LSEG data

($1 = 0.8604 euros)

(Reporting by Mathias de Rozario)

((mathias.derozario@thomsonreuters.com;))