Shire Announces Approval of ELAPRASE(R) (idursulfase)...( First and Only Treatment for Hunter ...),Health

First and Only Treatment for Hunter Syndrome Now Approved in 40 Countries

Worldwide

BASINGSTOKE, England and CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shire Limited (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced that ELAPRASE(R) (idursulfase), a human enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of Hunter syndrome, has been approved by the Brazilian Regulatory Agency, Agencia Nacional de Vigilancia Sanitaria (ANVISA). ELAPRASE, developed by Shire Human Genetic Therapies (HGT), a business unit of Shire focused on genetic diseases, is the first and only enzyme replacement therapy approved for people suffering from Hunter syndrome. Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America and the ninth largest in the world[1]. With this approval, ELAPRASE is now cleared for marketing in two countries in the region - Brazil and Mexico.

Hunter syndrome, also known as Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II), is a serious, life-threatening genetic condition mainly affecting males that results from an absence of, or deficiency in, the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase. Without sufficient amounts of this enzyme, cellular waste products accumulate in tissues and organs, which then begin to malfunction, leading to severe clinical complications and early mortality. ELAPRASE, which is given as a weekly infusion, is designed to replace the deficient iduronate-2-sulfatase enzyme.

"Approval of ELAPRASE in Brazil further demonstrates our commitment to bringing meaningful treatments to patients across Latin America - and the world," said Sylvie Gregoire, President of Shire HGT.

"This is a tremendous milestone for the many Hunter syndrome patients in Brazil, who will now have access to treatment for this serious and life-threatening disease," said Professor Roberto Giugliani, MD, PhD, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre. "With ELAPRASE, physicians will now be able to move pat
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