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


Stock Exchange Announcement
29 January 2003


Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (the "Company")

The Company announces that it was notified on 28 January 2003 under Sections 198
to 202 of the Companies Act that Legal & General Group, had holdings forming
part of managed funds on behalf of investment clients of 14,737,780 ordinary
shares of (pound)0.05p each in the capital of the Company. These holdings
represent 3.04 per cent of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company.



T May
Company Secretary


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

GLOBAL (OUTSIDE US AND CANADA)

Clea Rosenfeld - Investor Relations                 +44 1256 894 160

US & CANADA

Gordon Ngan - Investor Relations                    +1 450 978 7938


NOTES TO EDITORS

SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS GROUP PLC

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (Shire) is a rapidly growing international
specialty pharmaceutical company with a strategic focus on four therapeutic
areas - central nervous system disorders (CNS), oncology, gastro-intestinal (GI)
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 eight key pharmaceutical markets.

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