ROCKVILLE, MD - (6 February, 2003) - Padmanabh (Pad) Bhatt, Ph.D.has joined Shire Laboratories Inc ( SLI ) as Vice President of Advanced Drug Delivery. Pad comes to SLI from Point Biomedical Corporation in San Carlos, California, where he was employed as the Vice President of R&D and Chief Technology Officer.

   Prior to that, Pad worked at Alza Corporation in Mountain View, California, where he was Director of Technical Development. Pad also served as a Group Leader/Research Specialist for Novel Drug Delivery at Dow Corning Corporation in Midland, Michigan. In all, Pad brings to Shire Labs over 15 years of industry experience in the fields of drug delivery, control release, and product/technology development. We are very proud to have him join our team at SLI.

   Pad earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degree in Pharmacy at the University of Bombay, India. Pad continued his education at the University of Kansas, where he earned a Master's of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, followed by a Doctorate of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Chemistry.

   Pad will be responsible for all formulation research and development activities at SLI.

Notes to editors
Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc

   Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (Shire) is a rapidly growing international specialty pharmaceutical company with a strategic focus on three therapeutic areas -- central nervous system disorders (CNS), oncology and anti-infectives. Shire also has two platform technologies: advanced drug delivery and Biologics. Shire's core strategy is based on research and development combined with in-licensing and a focus on eight key pharmaceutical markets.

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

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