ROCKVILLE, MD – (3 July, 2001) –Shire Laboratories Inc. today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a third Notice of Allowance for the company's patent application related to its novel osmotic drug delivery technology, EnSoTrol®. This Notice of Allowance will expand patent coverage for Shire's EnSoTrol® osmotic drug delivery technology

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   THE "SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks associated with the inherent uncertainty of pharmaceutical research, product development and commercialization, the impact of competitive products, patents, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in periodic reports, including the F-4 Prospectus and the Annual Report filed on Form 20-F with the Securities and Exchange Commission.