8-K

UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549 

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):   August 16, 2005

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

England and Wales

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

0-29630	98-0359573
(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

Hampshire International Business Park, Chineham, Basingstoke,
Hampshire RG24 8EP England

(Address of principal executive offices)                                                (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code                    44 1256 894 000

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01. Other Events

     Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc has issued the press release attached as Exhibit 99.01 which is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is filed herewith:

99.01   Press Release dated August 16, 2005

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: August 16, 2005

SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS GROUP PLC
By:	/s/ A C Russell
	Name:	A C Russell
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Number	Description
99.01	Press Release dated August 16, 2005

EX-99.1

	EXHIBIT 99.01
Hampshire International Business Park Chineham Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 8EP United Kingdom Tel +44 (0)1256 894000 Fax +44 (0)1256 894708 www.shire.com
Press Release

16 August 2005

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (the “Company”)

Notification of Acquisition of American Depositary Shares by Persons Discharging
Managerial Responsibilities

The Company announces that on 15 August 2005 Mr Matthew Emmens, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, acquired 5670 American depositary receipts, representing 17,010 ordinary shares of £0.05 each in the Company. 5470 American depositary receipts were acquired at a price of $35.24 per American depositary receipt and 200 American depositary receipts were acquired at a price of $35.23 per American depositary receipt. The Company was notified of this acquisition on 15 August 2005. As a result of this transaction, Mr Emmens has a total interest in 17,010 ordinary shares in the Company.

This notification was provided to the Company in satisfaction of Mr Emmens’ obligations under sections 324 to 328 of the Companies Act 1985 and Disclosure Rule 3.1.2 promulgated by the Financial Services Authority.

T May
Company Secretary

For further information please contact:
Investor Relations	Cléa Rosenfeld (Rest of the World)	+44 1256 894 160
	Brian Piper (North America)	+1 484 595 8252

Notes to editors

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (Shire) is a global specialty pharmaceutical company with a strategic focus on meeting the needs of the specialist physician and currently focuses on developing and marketing products in the areas of central nervous system (CNS), gastrointestinal (GI), and renal diseases. Shire has operations in the world’s key

Registered in England 2883758 Registered Office as above

pharmaceutical markets (US, Canada, UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany) as well as a specialist drug delivery unit in the US.

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