SHIRE PHARMACEUTICALS LICENSES HIV DRUG

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, based in Britain, said it licensed its HIV compound SPD754 to Avexa Ltd., an Australian specialty anti-infectives company. Shire said this represents one of the final steps in its divestment program, designed to ensure focus on later-stage pipeline investment in its core therapeutic areas of CNS, gastrointestinal and renal diseases.

Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/associatedpress/feeds/ap/2005/01/17/ap1762770.html)