Shire Announces Further Expansion Into Latin America

BASINGSTOKE, England, and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shire plc (LSE: SHP, Nasdaq: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced today it has expanded its presence and increased its commitment to provide support to physicians and patients in Latin America.

Shire established operations in Mexico City in late 2007. With offices now in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, Shire will aid in the development and marketing of innovative medicines that may help improve the quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

Shire anticipates continued expansion throughout Latin America and the hiring of additional employees to support the market entry of Shire's human genetic therapies and specialty pharmacy products.

"At Shire, we are focused on meeting the needs of the specialist physician and the patients that they serve. We take a global approach toward the development and distribution of innovative therapies and treatments in markets around the world," said Matthew Emmens, chief executive officer of Shire Pharmaceuticals. "Our expansion in Latin America underscores this commitment, enabling us to prioritize the health, welfare and access to care for patients in this particular market."

SHIRE PLC

Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT), gastrointestinal (GI) and renal diseases. The structure is sufficiently flexible to allow Shire to target new therapeutic areas to the extent opportunities arise through acquisitions. Shire's in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in niche markets with strong intellectual property protection either in the US or Europe. Shire believes that a carefully selected portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's Web site: http://www.shire.com.

"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Statements included herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks or uncertainties materialize, Shire's results could be materially affected. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the inherent uncertainty of pharmaceutical research, product development (including the successful development of JUVISTA(R) (Human TGFbeta3)), manufacturing and commercialization (including the launch and establishment in the market of VYVANSE(TM)); the impact of competitive products, including, but not limited to the impact of those on Shire's Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD") franchise; patents, including but not limited to, legal challenges relating to Shire's ADHD franchise; government regulation and approval, including but not limited to the expected product approval date of INTUNIV(TM) (guanfacine) extended release (ADHD) and GA-GCB (Gene-Activated Glucocerebrosidane); Shire's ability to secure new products for commercialization and/or development; Shire's ability to benefit from its acquisition of New River Pharmaceuticals Inc.; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Shire plc's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly Shire plc's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

SOURCE Shire plc