Shire voluntarily enables further access to HIV/AIDS medicines for Rwanda

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 19 /CNW/ - Shire Canada Inc., a division of Shire plc, announced today its voluntary cooperation to enable further royalty-free access to HIV/AIDS medicines for Rwanda as part of ongoing collaborative efforts to improve health and save lives in the developing world.

Shire reconfirms its support of Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) to enable a Canadian generic company to manufacture in Canada a fixed dose triple combination antiretroviral medicine that contains a drug (3TC(R)) over which Shire Canada holds patent rights in Canada .

"Shire is totally supportive of this initiative, and will work collaboratively with government and non-governmental agencies worldwide to help secure medicines for those that request it", said Claude Perron , Vice-President and General Manager, Shire Canada . "Our industry wide efforts are aimed not only at preventing and treating HIV/AIDS but also tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases that affect sub Saharan Africa ."

Canada's Access to Medicines Regime is based on an August 2003 World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement which permits WTO member countries with pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity to issue licences for the manufacture and export of generic versions of patented drugs and medical devices to developing countries that do not have the capacity to manufacture the products themselves.

Notes to editors

SHIRE PLC

Shire is a global specialty biopharmaceutical company with a strategic focus on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT), and gastrointestinal diseases.

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

Shire Canada Inc. is Shire's Canadian subsidiary. Shire is dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients, their families and caregivers. Through the commitment of our employees, we're making a difference in the health of Canadians and the communities in which they live.

For further information: Media: Lorne Fox, (Shire Canada), ([email protected]), [phone]; Matthew Cabrey, (Shire North America), ([email protected]), [phone]