3rd Oct 2006 12:19
Shire in-licenses development rights to tissue protective cytokine technology from Warren Pharmaceuticals Philadelphia, PA, US and Basingstoke, UK - October 3, 2006 -- Shire plc (LSE:SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ) announces today that it has in-licensed rights totissue protective cytokine (TPC) technology under an agreement with WarrenPharmaceuticals, Inc. The agreement gives Shire exclusive worldwide rights todevelop TPCs in non-Nervous System indications, including renal and geneticdisease areas.Erythropoietin (EPO) is produced by the kidneys and regulates red cellproduction. EPO's have been shown to be effective when administered to boostred blood cell counts of patients with both renal and chemotherapy-inducedanemia‚¹. There is considerable evidence that EPO also protects against celldeath‚². Warren Pharmaceuticals has identified TPCs, which are modifications ofEPO, which down-regulate the effect on blood cell production while maintainingits tissue protective effects, potentially making the therapy useful in a widevariety of disease areas. Furthermore, TPCs have been shown, in animal models,to prevent cell-death (anti-apoptotic), reduce inflammation(anti-inflammatory), and improve auto-regulation of blood vessels in a numberof tissues‚³."The technology developed by Warren Pharmaceuticals provides an excellentstrategic fit within our Human Genetic Therapies and Renal businesses, with thepotential to build a franchise around TPCs in a broad range of indications,"said Shire Chief Executive Matthew Emmens.For 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 editors‚¹Recombinant erythropoietin in clinical practice; T Ng, G Marx, T Littlewoodand I Macdougall 2003 Prostgrad Med J‚²Erythropoietin mediates tissue protection through an erythropoietin and commonŽ²-subunit heteroreceptor; Michael Brines PANS 2004‚³Derivatives of Erythropoietin That are tissue protective but noterythropoietic; Marcel Leist 2004 sciencemagSHIRE 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 risksor uncertainties materialize, Shire plc's results could be materiallyaffected. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risksassociated with the inherent uncertainty of pharmaceutical research, productdevelopment, manufacturing and commercialization; the impact of competitiveproducts, including, but not limited to, the impact of those on Shire plc'sAttention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder ("ADHD") franchise; patents,including but not limited to, legal challenges relating to Shire plc's ADHDfranchise; government regulation and approval, including but not limited to theexpected product approval dates of SPD503 (ADHD), SPD465 (ADHD), MESAVANCE¢â€ž¢(mesalamine with MMX technology) (SPD476) (ulcerative colitis), ELAPRASE¢â€ž¢ (I2S)(Hunter syndrome) and NRP104 (ADHD), including its scheduling classification bythe Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States; Shire plc's abilityto benefit 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.WARREN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.Warren Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a privately held biotech company that wasincorporated in 2001 for the purpose of developing proprietarytissue-protective technologies.Warren Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is located in Westchester County, New York, 30miles north of New York City. Warren Pharmaceuticals was named in honor of thelate Kenneth S. Warren, M.D.For further information on Warren, please visit the Company's website: www.warrenpharmaceuticals.com # # # Hampshire International Business Park Chineham Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 8EP United Kingdom Tel +44 (0)1256 894000 Fax +44 (0)1256 894708 www.shire.com ENDSHIRE PLCRelated Shares:
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