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

                                                                  Shire


XAGRID(TM)  (anagrelide  hydrochloride)  receives  a positive  opinion  from the
European Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP)

Basingstoke,  UK - 25 July,  2003- Shire  Pharmaceuticals  Group plc (LSE:  SHP,
NASDAQ:  SHPGY, TSX: SHQ) announces that it has received a positive opinion from
the CPMP for XAGRID(TM)  (anagrelide  hydrochloride)  capsules to be used in the
treatment  of  essential  thrombocythaemia  (ET).  The  CPMP  is the  scientific
committee of the  European  Medicines  Evaluation  Agency  (EMEA),  and the CPMP
opinion will be ratified by the European  Commission  as part of the granting of
the  pan-European  marketing  authorisation.  Following the marketing  approval,
pricing  reimbursement  negotiations  will  commence  with  individual  national
authorities prior to launch.

XAGRID was granted  European  orphan  drug  status on 29  December  2000 for the
treatment  of ET,  thereby  providing  the product  with up to ten years  market
exclusivity in Europe from the date of marketing authorisation approval.

Essential  thrombocythaemia  is a  chronic  disorder  of bone  marrow,  which is
associated with the increased production of blood platelets.  Excessive platelet
production  can result in abnormal  blood clot  formation and bleeding,  thereby
increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack and gastrointestinal bleeding.

It is  estimated  by Shire that  40,000  patients  suffering  from ET across the
European Union member states would be eligible for treatment with XAGRID.  There
is currently no other platelet-reducing  treatment approved for the treatment of
ET across the whole EU.

The drug is already marketed by Shire in the US and a range of other territories
under the trademark AGRYLINTM.  Sales of AGRYLIN in 2002 were $119.2 million, up
39% on 2001.

Says Dr Wilson Totten, Shire's Group R&D Director:
"XAGRID  is  a  unique   medicine  for   patients   suffering   from   essential
thrombocythaemia  as other  currently  marketed  treatments  can  cause  serious
side-effects  by decreasing  white or red blood cell counts.  XAGRID is platelet
selective,  targeting only those cells that develop into  platelets.  We welcome
the CPMP's  opinion  that  XAGRID can have a  beneficial  role in helping  these
patients across Europe."
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For further information please contact:
Global (outside US and Canada)

Clea Rosenfeld - Investor Relations                             +44 1256 894 221

Jessica Mann - Media                                            +44 1256 894 280

US & Canada

Gordon Ngan - Investor Relations                                +44 1256 894 160

Michele Roy - Media                                              +1 450 978 7876

Notes to editors

o    Shire acquired the worldwide rights to  XAGRID/AGRYLIN  from  Bristol-Myers
     Squibb in June 1999.

o    The EMEA procedure included 15 European Communities countries, plus Iceland
     and Norway.

o    Orphan  drug  status for XAGRID has also been  designated  by the  Japanese
     Authorities,  giving ten  years'  market  exclusivity  upon  approval.  The
     product is currently in phase I trials in Japan


Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc

Shire  Pharmaceuticals  Group plc  (Shire)  is a rapidly  growing  international
emerging pharmaceutical company with a strategic focus on four therapeutic areas
- central nervous system disorders (CNS),  gastrointestinal  (GI), oncology, and
anti-infectives.  Shire  also has three  platform  technologies:  advanced  drug
delivery,  lead  optimisation  for small  molecules and Biologics.  Shire's core
strategy is based on research and development  combined with  in-licensing and a
focus on key pharmaceutical markets.

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

THE "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  materialise,   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  commercialisation,  the impact of  competitive
products, including, but not limited to, the impact on Shire's Attention Deficit
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 date of
lanthanum  carbonate  (FOSRENOL(R))  and  METHYPATCH(R),  and  other  risks  and
uncertainties  detailed  from time to time in our filings,  including the Annual
Report filed on Form 10-K by Shire with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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