BASINGSTOKE,  England, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Not for Distribution to US Media

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ) the global specialty
biopharmaceutical company, is disappointed that the overall NICE Guidance
excludes newly diagnosed patients with mild AD, despite the revisions
published today which allow some discretion for clinicians in their reliance
on the MMSE when dealing with exceptional patients.

The judgment handed down by Judge Linda Dobbs on 10 August 2007 stated
that NICE had acted unlawfully by issuing Guidance that, through reliance on
the MMSE score, potentially discriminated against patients with learning,
language or comparable difficulties. Judge Dobbs required NICE to revise its
Guidance to clarify when clinical judgement may override the MMSE score.

"Clinicians have been given some discretion in the revised Guidance
concerning sole reliance on the MMSE for diagnosing the severity of AD in
patients with learning, language, communication or sensory disabilities, and
this is to be welcomed," states Dr Ian Howe, Medical Director of Shire.
"However, the Guidance continues to state clearly that new patients diagnosed
as mild and scoring more than 20 on the MMSE will not be treated on the NHS.
Clinicians tell us this continued reliance on the MMSE is problematic."

Dr Peter Passmore, Geriatrician at Queens University Belfast, explains:
"The MMSE is a blunt instrument to test such a complex condition. It is a
screening tool rather than a reliable diagnostic method. Clinicians need
discretion when diagnosing to take into account subtle or 'hidden'
impairments - perhaps not as specific as learning or language difficulties -
as well as the carer's viewpoint and how both are coping with daily living.
Visual and hearing difficulties also affect the reliability of MMSE test
results as do a variety of tremor and co-ordination problems.

This Guidance on drugs treatment runs somewhat counter to the Dementia
Guidelines which emphasise the overall assessment of the patient, rather than
placing sole reliance on the MMSE and its results, creating confusion for
clinicians, Health Trusts and patients."

"Despite the revisions, nothing has changed in practical terms," says
Professor Stephen Curran, Old Age Psychiatrist and Lead Clinician at
Wakefield Memory Service. "The revised Guidance is welcome for those patients
with learning, language and other difficulties specified, but the total
numbers who will benefit are very small.

In my clinic, and in my judgement, with these revisions only a handful of
newly diagnosed mild patients will qualify each year for NHS support.

I will not be able to offer a treatment that works for many patients with
mild Alzheimer's disease, even though many of my patients with mild illness
have had significant benefit from treatment under the previous NICE guidance.

Patients and carers I see are distressed and concerned enough - and in my
opinion this Guidance will only add to that distress."

Dr Ian Howe concludes: "Shire is deeply disappointed that the overall
NICE Guidance excludes patients with mild Alzheimer's disease from treatment
on the NHS, particularly in light of the Government's recently announced
commitment to high quality treatment and support, together with early and
accurate diagnosis."

The date for parties to the case to appeal the decision of the Judicial
Review has been extended to 28th September 2007.

Note to Editors:

In the UK and Ireland, Shire markets REMINYL(R) (galantamine
hydrobromide) and REMINYL(R) XL (galantamine hydrobromide)
acetylcholinesterase inhibitors that are licensed for the symptomatic
treatment of mild and moderately severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

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 believes that a carefully selected portfolio of products
with a strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales force will
deliver strong results.

Shire's focused strategy is to develop and market products for specialty
physicians. 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.

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

(1) MMSE Mini Mental State Examination - mild 21-26, moderate 20-10,
severe less than 10

For further information please contact:

    Shire
    Jessica Mann
    +44-1256-894-280

    Public relations
    Rhonda Smith
    +44-1264-710428
    +44-7887-714957