Philadelphia, PA – September 13, 2010 – Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that the United States Food and Drug Administration today posted an update on its website related to ProAmatine (known generically as midodrine), a medicine approved for the treatment of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension. Notably, the FDA clarified that the FDA’s prior announcement related to midodrine “did not represent the actual withdrawal of the medication from the market.” Rather, the FDA stated that it “represented a step in the regulatory process.”
To view this FDA statement, visit: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm225444.htm
“Shire is very pleased that FDA has stated that ‘continued patient access to midodrine is a key agency priority’ and that the FDA has taken action allowing midodrine to remain accessible to patients and their families who rely on this medicine,” said Jeffrey Jonas, M.D., Senior Vice President of Research & Development for Shire. “We look forward to continuing our ongoing discussions with FDA related to the efficacy of this medicine.”
Important Safety Information
Warning: Because ProAmatine® can cause marked elevation of supine blood pressure, it should be used in patients whose lives are considerably impaired despite standard clinical care. The indication for use of ProAmatine® in the treatment of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension is based primarily on a change in a surrogate marker of effectiveness, an increase in systolic blood pressure measured one minute after standing, a surrogate marker considered likely to correspond to a clinical benefit. At present, however, clinical benefits of ProAmatine®, principally improved ability to carry out activities of daily living, have not been verified.
CONTRAINDICATIONS ProAmatine® is contraindicated in patients with severe organic heart disease, acute renal disease, urinary retention, pheochromocytoma or thyrotoxicosis. ProAmatine® should not be used in patients with persistent and excessive supine hypertension.
Please see Full Prescribing Information You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
For further information please contact:
Investor Relations Eric Rojas (erojas@shire.com) +1 781 482 0999 Media Jessica Mann (jmann@shire.com) +44 1256 894 280 Matthew Cabrey (mcabrey@shire.com) +1 484 595 8248
SHIRE PLC
Shire’s strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions. Shire’s in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global rights. Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.
For further information on Shire, please visit the Company’s website: www.shire.com.
