11th Apr 2006 16:30
Prudential plc and their holding in ShireBasingstoke, UK and Philadelphia, US - April 11, 2006 - Shire plc (LSE: SHP,NASDAQ: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ)Shire plc (the "Company")The Company announces that, on 11 April 2006, it was notified, pursuant tosections 198 to 202 of the Companies Act 1985, that, on 10 April 2006,Prudential plc was interested in 15,289,527 ordinary shares of ‚£0.05 each inthe capital of the Company. This holding represents 3.07 per cent of the issuedordinary share capital of the Company.T MayCompany SecretaryFor further information please contact:Investor Relations Clƒ©a Rosenfeld (Rest of the World) +44 1256 894 160 Brian Piper (North America) +1 484 595 8252 Media Jessica Mann (Rest of the World) +44 1256 894 280 Matthew Cabrey (North America) +1 484 595 8248 Notes to editorsSHIRE PLCShire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty pharmaceuticalcompany that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shirefocuses its business on central nervous system, gastrointestinal, generalproducts and human genetic therapies - all being areas in which Shire has acommercial presence. The structure is sufficiently flexible to allow Shire totarget new therapeutic areas to the extent opportunities arise throughacquisitions. Shire believes that a carefully selected portfolio of productswith strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliverstrong results. Shire's strategy is to develop and market products forspecialty physicians. Shire's in-licensing and merger and acquisition effortsare focused on products in niche markets with strong intellectual propertyprotection either in the US or Europe.For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's website: www.shire.com."SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF1995Statements included herein that are not historical facts are forwarding-lookingstatements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks anduncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks oruncertainties materialize, Shire plc's results could be materially affected.The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks associatedwith the inherent uncertainty of pharmaceutical research, product development,manufacturing and commercialization; the impact of competitive products,including, but not limited to, the impact of those on Shire plc's AttentionDeficit and Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD") franchise; patents, including butnot limited to, legal challenges relating to Shire plc's ADHD franchise;government regulation and approval, including but not limited to the expectedproduct approval dates of DAYTRANATM (MTS) (ADHD), SPD503 (ADHD), SPD465(ADHD), MESAVANCETM (SPD476) (ulcerative colitis), ELAPRASETM (I2S) (Huntersyndrome) and NRP104 (ADHD), including its scheduling classification by theDrug Enforcement Administration in the United States; Shire plc's ability tobenefit from the acquisition of Transkaryotic Therapies Inc.; Shire plc'sability to secure new products for commercialization and/or development; andother risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Shire plc's and itspredecessor registrant Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc's filings with the USSecurities and Exchange Commission, including Shire plc's Annual Report on Form10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.Hampshire International Business Park Chineham Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 8EP United Kingdom Tel +44 (0)1256 894000 Fax +44 (0)1256 894708 www.shire.com Press Release Registered in England 2883758 Registered Office as aboveENDSHIRE PLCRelated Shares:
Shire