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): January 9, 2003


                         Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                England and Wales
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                 (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
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(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)






Item 5.  Other Events

     On January 9, 2003, Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc ("Shire") sent a notice
to certain of its directors and officers informing them that between the dates
of January 24, 2003 and February 28, 2003, inclusive, there shall be a blackout
with respect to trading of Shire's equity securities. A copy of this notice is
filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.



Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

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

99.1     Notice to the Management Employee Directors and Executive Officers of
         Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc dated January 9, 2003








                                    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:    January 9, 2003     SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS GROUP PLC



                              By:    Angus Russell
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                     Name:   Angus Russell
                                     Title:  Group Finance Director








                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Number   Description

 99.1    Notice to the Management Employee Directors and Executive Officers of
         Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc dated January 9, 2003

EX-99.1

                 NOTICE TO THE MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS AND
                   EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS
                                   GROUP PLC:

                                   ROLF STAHEL
                             DR JOSEPH WILSON TOTTEN
                              ANGUS CHARLES RUSSELL


This notice is to inform you that from January 24, 2003 through February 28,
2003, you will be prohibited from purchasing, selling or otherwise acquiring or
transferring the common stock or any of its derivative securities (i.e. stock
options) of Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (the "Company").

The reason for this prohibition is that effective February 1, 2003 Shire US Inc.
is changing the Shire US Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan (the "Plan") record keeper and
trustee from US Bank to Fidelity. During the period from January 24, 2003
through February 28, 2003, the record keepers require certain Plan activity to
cease so that all assets and account balances may be properly transferred.
During such period participants of the plan will be prevented from engaging in
Plan transactions such as changing current investment elections, reallocating
future investment elections, requesting distributions and requesting loans. This
period is commonly referred to as a "blackout period." Under these
circumstances, because the common stock of the Company is an investment option
under this Plan, pursuant to section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
certain directors and officers of the affected issuer must also be prohibited
from trading in the Company's securities.

Should you have any questions regarding the subject of this notice, please
contact the following:

Tatjana May
General Counsel/Company Secretary
Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc
Hampshire International Business Park
Chineham
Basingstoke
Hampshire
England RG24 8EP

Tel: +44 (0)1256 894000