Shire plc: Data Show A Bleeding Episode Occurs Every Three to 15 Seconds in People Living With Hemophilia Worldwide

Zug, Switzerland (ots/PRNewswire) -

On World Hemophilia Day 2017, Shire challenges the community to
collectively improve global standards of care for rare bleeding
disorders

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG), a leading biotechnology
company focused on serving individuals with rare diseases, joins the
global bleeding disorders community in honoring the 28th annual World
Hemophilia Day (WHD).[1] On this day, Shire highlights initial
findings from its estimate of the Global Annual Bleed Rate (GABR),
which shows a bleeding episode occurs every three to 15 seconds
worldwide, more than three times current global estimates.[2] These
findings build on existing data from the World Federation of
Hemophilia (WFH), which show only 25 percent of individuals living
with hemophilia worldwide receive proper diagnosis and care, only 8
percent of which receive prophylaxis or regular treatment to prevent
bleeds.[3],[4] This research reinforces Shire's ongoing commitment to
innovative data collection to improve global standards of care for
individuals living with rare bleeding disorders.

"As the global leader in hematology, we are committed to efforts,
such as estimating the GABR, that improve our understanding of the
global landscape for hemophilia and the true experience of those
living with this debilitating bleeding disorder," said Leonard
Valentino, M.D., Global Head of Hematology Medical Affairs, Shire.

Shire developed the GABR in collaboration with renowned hemophilia
institutions, including WFH. Our shared aim is to identify regions of
the world with the greatest need for improved diagnosis and care for
hemophilia patients. Together, we created a literature-based model to
estimate the GABR at both country and global levels. A full report of
the GABR model is expected to be published later in 2017.[2]

"Shire is proud to support the global hemophilia community in
honoring World Hemophilia Day," continued Valentino. "On this day and
every day, Shire is dedicated to supporting hemophilia patients
through advancing early diagnosis, prophylaxis, individualized
treatment options and innovative research and development efforts."

This year, Shire is embracing WFH's theme for World Hemophilia Day
of "Hear Their Voices" and joining its partners and local advocacy
organizations to raise awareness of those living with bleeding
disorders. Throughout the day and across the world, Shire employees
are wearing red to show our support for the community and holding
celebrations to acknowledge the voices and stories of those living
with bleeding disorders, including:

- In the United States, Shire is holding a public awareness rally in
Chicago and inviting members of the local hemophilia community to
join and voice their support for the global bleeding disorders
community. To learn more about this event, visit http://www.bleedin
gdisorders.com/bleeding-disorders-community-support.
- In Germany, Shire is engaging media and inviting patients to share
their perspective and the impact of hemophilia on their lives.
- In Brazil, Shire is partnering with Federacao Nacional de Hemofilia
to illuminate public monuments as part of WFH's "Light it Up Red!"
initiative to help raise awareness of hemophilia.
- In China, Shire is participating in the "Run for Love" campaign to
show support for the bleeding disorders community. Further,
throughout the Asia Pacific region, Shire is hosting "Hear Their
Voices" sharing sessions for patients and caregivers to share their
personal experiences with hemophilia.

About Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a challenging chronic disease that causes
longer-than-normal bleeding due to absent or deficient clotting
factor in the blood.[5] Hemophilia A is more common than hemophilia
B;[5] hemophilia A affects about 150,000 people, whereas hemophilia B
affects about 30,000 people worldwide.[4]

Treatment regimens typically include on-demand and/or regular
prophylactic infusions of factor replacement therapy to control or
prevent the risk of bleeding.[6],[7] People with hemophilia, working
closely with their healthcare professionals, can live healthy lives
with proper care and adequate treatment.[6]

Approximately 5-7 percent of people living with hemophilia develop
inhibitors.[8] Inhibitors are a rare but serious complication in
patients with hemophilia.[9] They form when the body's immune system
attacks the molecules in factor therapy, causing it to be
ineffective.[9] Bypassing agents help bypass the inhibitor to help
the body form a clot and stop bleeding.[9]

References

1. Hickman RJ. "April 17 is World Hemophilia Day." Rare Disease
Report website. http://www.raredr.com/news/april-17-hemophilia-day
. Published April 18, 2016. Accessed March 15, 2017.
2. Thompson C. et al. "Estimating the Global Annual Bleed Rate in
Haemophilia." European Association for Haemophilia and Allied
Disorders. Paris, France. February 1-3, 2017. Available at: http:/
/onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/hae.13150/full#hae13150-sec-0
190.
3. World Federation of Hemophilia. "What will it take to Close the
Gap?" World Federation of Hemophilia website. Last updated January
2014.
4. World Federation of Hemophilia. Report on the Annual Global Survey
2015. World Federation of Hemophilia website.
http://www1.wfh.org/publication/files/pdf-1669.pdf. Accessed April
10, 2017
5. World Federation of Hemophilia. "What is hemophilia?" World
Federation of Hemophilia website.
http://www.wfh.org/en/page.aspx?pid=646. Accessed March 6, 2017.
6. World Federation of Hemophilia. "About Bleeding Disorders:
Treatment." World Federation of Hemophilia website.
http://www.wfh.org/en/page.aspx?pid=642. Accessed January 12,
2017.
7. National Hemophilia Foundation. "Hemophilia A." National
Hemophilia Foundation website. https://www.hemophilia.org/Bleeding
-Disorders/Types-of-Bleeding-Disorders/Hemophilia-A. Accessed
March 6, 2017.
8. Wight J. Paisley S. "The Epidemiology of Inhibitors in Haemophilia
A: A Systematic Review." Haemophilia 2003.
9. World Federation of Hemophilia. "What are inhibitors?" World
Federation of Hemophilia website.
http://www.wfh.org/en/page.aspx?pid=651 . Accessed January 12,
2017.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Shire

Shire is the leading global biotechnology company focused on
serving people with rare diseases and other highly specialized
conditions. We strive to develop best-in-class products, many of
which are available in more than 100 countries, across core
therapeutic areas including Hematology, Immunology, Neuroscience,
Ophthalmics, Lysosomal Storage Disorders, Gastrointestinal / Internal
Medicine / Endocrine and Hereditary Angioedema; and a growing
franchise in Oncology.

Our employees come to work every day with a shared mission: to
develop and deliver breakthrough therapies for the hundreds of
millions of people in the world affected by rare diseases and other
high-need conditions, and who lack effective therapies to live their
lives to the fullest.

http://www.shire.com

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and increase borrowing costs;
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synergies or other benefits at the time anticipated or at all; and
- other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Shire's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
those risks outlined in "ITEM 1A: Risk Factors" in Shire's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016.

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information, future events or otherwise.

S31431

4/17

ots Originaltext: Shire Pharmaceuticals Group Plc
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