Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc
Hampshire International Business Park,
Chineham, Basingstoke RG24 8EP  UK
Tel +44 1256 894000 Fax +44 1256 894708
http://www.shire.com


Stock Exchange Announcement
12 December 2002




Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (the "Company")

The Company announces that it was notified on 12 December 2002 under Sections
198 to 202 of the Companies Act that on 11 December 2002 Franklin Resources,
Inc. and its affiliates had holdings managed on behalf of investment clients of
67,819,145 ordinary shares of (pound)0.05p each in the capital of the Company.
These holdings represent 14.0137 per cent of the issued ordinary share capital
of the Company.

T May
Company Secretary


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

GLOBAL (OUTSIDE US AND CANADA)
Clea Rosenfeld - Investor Relations                   +44 1256 894 160
US & CANADA
Gordon Ngan - Investor Relations                      +1 450 978 7938


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 four therapeutic
areas - central nervous system disorders (CNS), gastro intestinal (GI), 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:
WWW.SHIRE.COM