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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GNv+MTGacHJp/h37JTa2ocb3Bw0JsuXuw26GsfJsSd7IcDBo+AA3O8PZbk/Xlpzj
 W9GMX6AsRIT5gIAo7Fas5w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001231919-04-000237.txt : 20041122
<SEC-HEADER>0001231919-04-000237.hdr.sgml : 20041122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041122163055
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001231919-04-000237
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAVANAUGH JAMES H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001013473
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29630
		FILM NUMBER:		041161082

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6094303930

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		44 NASSAU ST
		CITY:			PRINCETON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08542

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS GROUP PLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000936402
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HAMPSHIRE INTL BUSINESS PARK
		STREET 2:		CHINEHAM BASINGSTOKE
		CITY:			HAMPSHIRE ENGLAND RG
		STATE:			X0
		BUSINESS PHONE:		1264333455

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HAMPSHIRE INTL BUSINESS PARK
		STREET 2:		CHINEHAM BASINGSTOKE
		CITY:			HAMPSHIRE ENGLAND RG
		STATE:			X0
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-18</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000936402</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS GROUP PLC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHPGY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001013473</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAVANAUGH JAMES H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>44 NASSAU STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PRINCETON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08542</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares, nominal value 5p</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>386555</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">10,000 American Depository Shares (&quot;ADS&quot;) were sold by HealthCare Ventures V, L.P. (&quot;HCVV&quot;), the owner of the securities. Each ADS is convertible into 3 Ordinary Shares, nominal value 5p. Mr. Cavanaugh is a general partner of HealthCare Partners V, L.P. (&quot;HCPV&quot;), the general partner of HCVV and as such may be deemed to beneficially own those shares owned by HCVV. Mr. Cavanaugh disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by HCVV except to the extent of his pecuniary interest and this report shall not be deemed an admission that he is the beneficial owner of the 10,000 ADS for purposes of Section 16.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffrey Steinberg, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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