Shire Expands Gastrointestinal Patient Assistance Program for Uninsured or Unemployed...

Shire Expands Gastrointestinal Patient Assistance Program for Uninsured or
Unemployed Americans

Free Medication Provided by Shire to Patients Taking Lialda(R) (mesalamine) or
Pentasa(R) (mesalamine) for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Who Have Lost
Their Jobs in 2009

PHILADELPHIA, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shire plc (LSE: SHP, Nasdaq:
SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, is responding to the
needs of patients who are diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) and
prescribed gastrointestinal (GI) medications from Shire by expanding its
Patient Assistant Program (PAP). Thanks to the recently enhanced Shire CARES
PAP, UC patients who are newly prescribed or are already taking Lialda or
Pentasa and who become unemployed in 2009 can receive their medication at no
cost throughout the rest of the calendar year. In addition, more UC patients
can benefit from Lialda and Pentasa because Shire has raised the household
income levels necessary to qualify for no cost and shared cost assistance.
This expands the existing Shire PAP to help even more uninsured patients and
their families save on the medicines they need to stay healthy and to manage
chronic conditions like UC.

"We are committed to helping UC patients better manage their condition," said
Roger Adsett, senior vice president of the GI business unit at Shire.
"Offering greater financial support to those who may be struggling due to the
current economic climate through our expanded Shire CARES PAP is a natural
extension of the Shire mission."

More than 100,000 people with UC have been treated with Lialda, and many have
benefited from the Shire PAP. The new Shire CARES PAP includes job loss
prescription coverage for 2009, and financial assistance at no cost and shared
cost levels. Additionally, the Shire CARES PAP offers a discounted copay
pharmacy card program (not valid in Mass.) and a 30-day free trial of Lialda
when patients join the Lialda UC Support Program. The Lialda UC Support
program offers patients the added benefit of hearing from professionals for
medical insight and advice through an unbranded patient education Web site.

"We are thrilled to launch this new, more robust program," said Mike Cola,
president of the Specialty Pharmaceuticals business at Shire. "The program is
designed to help patients with ulcerative colitis who are taking Lialda or
Pentasa and are experiencing a financial hardship gain access to these
treatments. This enhanced PAP is the first of many steps Shire is taking to
reinforce our commitment to the patient community, and we are pleased that
Lialda and Pentasa are leading the way."

The Shire CARES PAP has a simple enrollment process and offers free delivery
of medicines for enrolled patients to their home or doctor's office for up to
one year. Patients may be re-enrolled if they continue to need assistance and
qualify for the Shire CARES PAP.

To learn more about the Shire CARES PAP for Lialda and Pentasa medications,
please call 1-888-CARES-55 to speak with a live representative, or visit
www.lialda.com.

For Further information please contact:
Media Sarah McGee (GolinHarris) +1 312 729 4125
Matthew Cabrey (Shire) +1 484 595 8248

About Lialda

Important Safety Information
Lialda is approved for the induction of remission in patients with active,
mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Safety and effectiveness of Lialda beyond
8 weeks have not been established. You should not take Lialda if you are
allergic to salicylates (including mesalamine or aspirin) or to any of the
ingredients of Lialda. Tell your doctor if you have a stomach blockage or are
allergic to sulfasalazine. Mesalamine has been associated with a syndrome that
may be difficult to distinguish from an ulcerative colitis flare-up. If you
experience cramping, diarrhea, fever, headache or rash, talk to your doctor
immediately. Some patients taking mesalamine have reported heart-related
hypersensitivity reactions, such as inflammation of the heart muscle and
inflammation of the lining of the heart. Tell your doctor if you have problems
with your liver or kidneys.

In worldwide clinical trials, Lialda was generally well tolerated. The most
common adverse events were headache and flatulence. As with other medications,
some serious side effects may occur. Less than 1% of patients experienced
inflammation of the pancreas, which led to discontinuation of therapy with
Lialda.

Lialda(R) is a registered trademark of Shire LLC.

MMX(R) is a registered trademark owned by Cosmo Technologies Ltd, Ireland, a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Cosmo Pharmaceuticals SpA.

About PENTASA

Important Safety Information
PENTASA is approved for the induction of remission and for the treatment of
mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis.

PENTASA is generally well tolerated and most side effects are mild. In
worldwide clinical studies, the most common side effects were diarrhea,
headache, nausea, abdominal pain, upset stomach, vomiting, and rash. As with
other medications, some serious side effects may occur. You should not take
PENTASA if you are allergic to salicylates, such as aspirin. Tell your doctor
if you have problems with your liver or kidneys. While taking PENTASA, visit
your doctor periodically. If you have any questions about PENTASA, please talk
to your doctor.

Pentasa(R) is a registered trademark of Ferring A/S Corp.

About 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 hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human
genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as
opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through
acquisitions. Shire's in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused
on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection
and global rights. Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced
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:
www.shire.com

THE "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, the Company's results could be materially
adversely affected. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to, risks associated with: the inherent uncertainty of research, development,
approval, reimbursement, manufacturing and commercialization of the Company's
Specialty Pharmaceutical and Human Genetic Therapies products, as well as the
ability to secure and integrate new products for commercialization and/or
development; government regulation of the Company's products; the Company's
ability to manufacture its products in sufficient quantities to meet demand;
the impact of competitive therapies on the Company's products; the Company's
ability to register, maintain and enforce patents and other intellectual
property rights relating to its products; the Company's ability to obtain and
maintain government and other third-party reimbursement for its products; and
other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Shire plc

Sarah McGee of GolinHarris, +1-312-729-4125, for Shire plc; or Matthew Cabrey
of Shire, +1-484-595-8248