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):  December 12, 2006

Shire plc

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

England and Wales

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

0-29630	98-0484822
(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 5.02. Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

     The Board of Directors of Shire plc (“Shire”) announced on December 12, 2006 that Dr. Jeffrey M. Leiden, MD, PhD will join the Board as a Non Executive Director with effect from January 1, 2007.  Shire has issued the press releases attached as Exhibits 99.01 and 99.02 which are incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

	(c)	Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith:
99.01		Press Release dated December 12, 2006
99.02		Press Release dated December 12, 2006

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.

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

Dated: December 12, 2006

EXHIBIT INDEX

Number Description

99.01	Press Release dated December 12, 2006
99.02	Press Release dated December 12, 2006

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

12 December 2006

Shire plc ("Shire" or the "Company")

Further to the Company's announcement earlier today 12 December 2006 regarding the appointment of Dr Jeffrey Leiden to the Board as a Non Executive Director, the Company confirms that no further information regarding Dr Leiden is required to be disclosed pursuant to paragraph 9.6.13 R of the Listing Rules.

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
Media	Jessica Mann (Rest of the World)	+44 1256 894 280
	Matthew Cabrey (North America)	+1 484 595 8248

Notes to editors

SHIRE PLC

Shire’s strategic goal is to become the leading specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT), gastrointestinal (GI) and renal diseases. The structure is sufficiently flexible to allow Shire to target new therapeutic areas to the extent opportunities arise through acquisitions. Shire believes that a carefully selected portfolio of products with a strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales force will deliver strong results.

Shire’s focused strategy is to develop and market products for specialty physicians. Shire’s in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in niche markets with strong intellectual property protection either in the US or Europe.

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

Registered in England 2883758 Registered Office as above

EX-99.2

	EXHIBIT 99.02
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

Dr Jeffrey Leiden appointed Non Executive Director at Shire

Basingstoke, UK and Philadelphia, US – 12 December, 2006 – The Board of Directors of Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ) announces today that Dr. Jeffrey M. Leiden, MD, PhD will join the Board as a Non Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2007.

Dr Leiden served as President and Chief Operating Officer, Pharmaceutical Products Group and Chief Scientific Officer at Abbott Laboratories from 2001-2006; during this time he was also a member of the Boards of Directors of Abbott and TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc.

Prior to joining Abbott, Dr Leiden served as the Elkan R. Blout Professor of Biological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health and Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Prior to that, he was the Frederick H. Rawson Professor of Medicine and Pathology and Chief of the Section of Cardiology at the University of Chicago.

His extensive business and consulting experience includes both the pharmaceutical and medical device areas. Dr Leiden was a founder of Cardiogene, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in cardiovascular gene therapy. Dr. Leiden earned a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, a doctorate in virology and a medical degree, all from the University of Chicago.

He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr Leiden is currently a Partner at Clarus Ventures LLC.

The Board of Shire also announces that Mr Ronald Nordmann will be stepping down from the Board on 22^nd December when his term of office expires.

Dr James Cavanaugh, Chairman of Shire commented:

“We are very pleased to add Dr Jeffrey Leiden to the Shire Board. He brings a very high level of medical, scientific and business experience of the pharmaceutical industry to Shire and will be an excellent member of the team. The Board thanks Mr Nordmann for his contributions during his seven year period in office”

Dr Jeffrey Leiden added:

“Shire is one of the most impressive pharmaceutical companies in the industry right now and I am excited to be able to bring my experience to the Board and make a contribution

Registered in England 2883758 Registered Office as above

towards helping the Company achieve its future growth ambitions and continue on its path of building long term shareholder value.”

For further information please contact:

Media	Jessica Mann (Rest of the World)	+44 1256 894 280
	Matthew Cabrey (North America)	+1 484 595 8248
Investor Relations	Cléa Rosenfeld (Rest of the World)	+44 1256 894 160
	Brian Piper (North America)	+1 484 595 8252

SHIRE PLC

Shire’s strategic goal is to become the leading specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT), gastrointestinal (GI) and renal diseases. The structure is sufficiently flexible to allow Shire to target new therapeutic areas to the extent opportunities arise through acquisitions. Shire believes that a carefully selected portfolio of products with a strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales force will deliver strong results.

Shire’s focused strategy is to develop and market products for specialty physicians. Shire’s in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in niche markets with strong intellectual property protection either in the US or Europe.

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

"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

Statements included herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time. In the event such risks or uncertainties materialize, Shire's results could be materially affected. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with: the inherent uncertainty of pharmaceutical research, product development, manufacturing and commercialization; the impact of competitive products, including, but not limited to the impact of those on Shire's Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) franchise; patents, including but not limited to, legal challenges relating to Shire's ADHD franchise; government regulation and approval, including but not limited to the expected product approval dates of SPD503 (guanfacine extended release) (ADHD), SPD465 (extended release triple-bead mixed amphetamine salts) (ADHD), MESAVANCE (mesalamine) with MMX technology (SPD476) (ulcerative colitis), ELAPRASE (idursulfase) (Hunter Syndrome) and NRP104 (lisdexamfetamine

Registered in England 2883758 Registered Office as above

dimesylate) (ADHD), including its scheduling classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration in the United States; Shire's ability to secure new products for commercialization and/or development; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Shire's and its predecessor registrant Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly Shire plc’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.