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
31 January 2003



Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (the "Company")

The Company announces that it was notified on 30 January 2003 under Sections 198
to 202 of the Companies Act that FMR Corp. and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries and Fidelity International Limited and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries, both being non-beneficial holders, held solely for investment
purposes in aggregate 44,104,557 ordinary shares of (pound)0.05p each in the
capital of the Company. These holdings represent 9.11 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