Shire plc

Shire plc was a British multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1986 by entrepreneurs including Harry Stratford, Shire focused on the development and marketing of pharmaceuticals to treat rare diseases and other conditions for which there was a significant unmet medical need. The company grew through a series of acquisitions and mergers, becoming one of the global leaders in rare disease treatments. In January 2019, Shire was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, a Japanese pharmaceutical giant, in a deal valued at $62 billion, marking one of the pharmaceutical industry's largest acquisitions.

History

Shire was founded in 1986 in the United Kingdom with the aim of developing and selling supplements for hypothyroidism. Over the years, the company expanded its focus to include a broader range of medical conditions, particularly those classified as rare diseases. Shire's growth strategy heavily relied on acquisitions, allowing it to rapidly expand its portfolio of treatments and its global presence.

Significant milestones in Shire's history include the acquisition of Richwood Pharmaceutical Company in 1997, which brought the ADHD medication Adderall into its product lineup, and the 2005 acquisition of Transkaryotic Therapies, which significantly bolstered its biopharmaceutical capabilities. Shire also made headlines with its acquisition of Baxalta in 2016 for $32 billion, a move that significantly expanded its range in the treatment of rare diseases.

Products

Shire's product portfolio focused on rare diseases and conditions across a range of therapeutic areas, including but not limited to hematology, immunology, neuroscience, and gastroenterology. Some of its most well-known products included Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), a treatment for ADHD and binge eating disorder; Cinryze and Firazyr, for the treatment of hereditary angioedema; and Elaprase, for the treatment of Hunter syndrome.

Acquisition by Takeda

The acquisition of Shire by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company was completed in January 2019. This strategic move was aimed at enhancing Takeda's global footprint in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the area of rare diseases. The acquisition was one of the largest in the history of the pharmaceutical industry and resulted in Takeda becoming one of the largest global biopharmaceutical companies.

Legacy

Shire's legacy is marked by its focus on rare diseases and conditions that are often overlooked by larger pharmaceutical companies. Its aggressive growth strategy through acquisitions allowed it to become a leader in the rare disease market, providing treatments for conditions that previously had few or no therapeutic options. The company's integration into Takeda is expected to continue this focus, with the combined entity poised to make significant contributions to the field of rare disease treatment.