Adds analyst comments in paragraphs 4 and 8, CEO comment in paragraph 11

By Mariam Sunny and Christy Santhosh

May 5 (Reuters) - Pfizer PFE.N reported higher-than-expected sales and profit on Tuesday and said a patent extension for its Vyndamax heart drug and a recent favorable European court ruling on its COVID-19 vaccine would help secure stronger growth after 2028.

The latest results should provide some relief for investors looking for new growth drivers to compensate for waning sales of COVID products compounded by narrowed U.S. recommendations for the vaccine and impending patent expirations.

While there are several drugs in the company's pipeline "that could make the story more interesting over time," investors will need to see more clinical data and reduced risk around those programs before sentiment improves, J.P.Morgan analyst Chris Schott said.

Pfizer's first obesity drug from its $10 billion purchase of Metsera, if successful in trials, would not reach the market before 2028.

Pfizer's first-quarter results saw a boost from new and acquired medicines, including cancer drug Padcev and migraine treatment Nurtec ODT.

Padcev brought in sales of $591 million in the quarter, above analysts' average expectation of $534.5 million.

Citi analyst Geoff Meacham said the 22% growth in newly launched and acquired products demonstrates "the commercial portfolio's ability to offset ongoing COVID franchise declines."

Total sales of $14.45 billion for the first quarter topped estimates of $13.79 billion.

The company settled ‌patent disputes with three generic drugmakers over Vyndamax last week, effectively delaying cheaper ​copies from entering the market through mid-2031.

CEO Albert Bourla said the settlements have the potential to change the growth profile of the company significantly after 2028, giving it confidence it will achieve a high-single-digit compounded annual growth rate for a five-year period beginning in 2029.

Last month's COVID court ruling in Europe, which requires Poland and Romania to accept 1.9 billion euros ($2.22 billion) worth of COVID vaccines made by Pfizer and partner BioNTech 22UAy.DE, will also help.

The New York-based drugmaker is also banking on new medicines, including obesity drugs acquired through recent deals, to navigate near-term challenges as it aims to return to growth later this decade.

"Our R&D pipeline is advancing on multiple fronts... and I'm particularly encouraged by what we're seeing in oncology and obesity, two areas where I believe Pfizer is positioned to lead," Bourla said in a statement.

BEAT BUT NO RAISE

The company posted an adjusted profit of 75 cents per share, topping Wall Street estimates by 3 cents.

Despite the modest profit beat, Pfizer maintained its full-year forecast of $59.5 billion to $62.5 billion in revenue and a profit of $2.80 to $3.00 per share, and shares were down about 1% in early trading.

Sales of blood thinner Eliquis, which Pfizer sells with Bristol Myers Squibb BMY.N, came in at $2.17 billion, compared with estimates of $1.76 billion.

Vyndamax generated $1.6 billion in sales in the first quarter, slightly below expectations.

Sales of COVID vaccine Comirnaty were $232 million, down 59% from a year earlier and below expectations of $434 million.

($1 = 0.8554 euros)