Shire begins the year with a strong p...( PHILADELPHIA and DUBLIN April 30 ...)

PHILADELPHIA and DUBLIN, April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY) the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces results for the three months to March 31, 2009.

    Financial Highlights

                                                            Q1 2009 (1)
    Product sales                                     $756 million    +20%
    Product sales (excluding ADDERALL XR)             $460 million    +24%
    Product sales growth (excluding ADDERALL XR) at
    constant exchange rates (2)                                       +32%
    Non GAAP operating income                         $327 million    +70%
    US GAAP operating income                          $226 million    +39%
    Non GAAP diluted earnings per ADS                        $1.28    +73%
    US GAAP diluted earnings per ADS                         $1.16    +70%
    Cash provided by operating activities             $184 million   +180%


    (1) Figures compare Q1 2009 results with the same period in 2008.

(2) Sales growth at constant exchange rates ("CER") is calculated after restating Q1 2009 results using Q1 2008 average foreign exchange rates.

Angus Russell, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"This has been a solid first quarter with the delivery of strong earnings growth, reflecting the continuing development of our business and effective cost control. We have built strong, competitive products that provide cutting edge therapies for our patients, which together with our late stage pipeline, will act as the principal drivers of Shire's future growth.

We are putting the right level of resources behind our products as evidenced by the recently announced co-promotion agreement for VYVANSE in the US. We are continuing to progress our R&D pipeline and in the sec
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