Divestment of Product Rights	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets [Abstract]
Divestment of Product Rights	4. Divestment of product rights On October 1, 2010 the Company completed the divestment of DAYTRANA to Noven (Noven developed and manufactures DAYTRANA, and Shire licensed DAYTRANA from Noven in 2003). No consideration was received at the time of divestment, however consideration is receivable from Noven dependent on DAYTRANA's performance in the period subsequent to divestment. On divestment Shire recorded the fair value of contingent consideration receivable from Noven within current and non-current assets. During the year to December 31, 2012 the Company recognized a gain of $18.1 million (2011: loss of $6.0 million, 2010: gain of $10.4 million) due to changes in the fair value of this contingent consideration. At December 31, 2012 the Company has recorded a receivable based on the fair value of future contingent consideration totaling $39.2 million (2011: $42.6 million), split between current assets $11.6 million (2011: $13.7 million) and non-current assets $27.6 million (2011: $28.9 million). In the year to December 31, 2012 the Company recognized a gain of $18.1 million (2011: loss of $6.0 million, 2010: gain of $16.5 million) in respect of DAYTRANA and other disposed product rights. All assets disposed of during 2012, 2011 and 2010 formed part of the SP operating segment.

Divestment of Product Rights

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Gains (Losses) on Sales of Assets [Abstract]

4. Divestment of product rights

On October 1, 2010 the Company completed the divestment of DAYTRANA to Noven (Noven developed and manufactures DAYTRANA, and Shire licensed DAYTRANA from Noven in 2003). No consideration was received at the time of divestment, however consideration is receivable from Noven dependent on DAYTRANA's performance in the period subsequent to divestment. On divestment Shire recorded the fair value of contingent consideration receivable from Noven within current and non-current assets. During the year to December 31, 2012 the Company recognized a gain of $18.1 million (2011: loss of $6.0 million, 2010: gain of $10.4 million) due to changes in the fair value of this contingent consideration. At December 31, 2012 the Company has recorded a receivable based on the fair value of future contingent consideration totaling $39.2 million (2011: $42.6 million), split between current assets $11.6 million (2011: $13.7 million) and non-current assets $27.6 million (2011: $28.9 million).

In the year to December 31, 2012 the Company recognized a gain of $18.1 million (2011: loss of $6.0 million, 2010: gain of $16.5 million) in respect of DAYTRANA and other disposed product rights. All assets disposed of during 2012, 2011 and 2010 formed part of the SP operating segment.