Shire traces its history back to 1986, when a small team of entrepreneurs sought out a solution to address on a number of unmet medical needs. Within its first two years of operation, the company had launched a range of supplemental calcium products for patients seeking to treat or prevent osteoporosis. Soon thereafter, innovative drug development programs were under way on behalf of patients facing such challenging conditions as Alzheimer's disease and end-stage renal failure.
By 1992, Shire had embarked on the first of what would be a series of strategic acquisitions -- these were bold ventures that fortified our product lines and underscored the wisdom of a business model focused exclusively on products sold to specialist physicians. After the turn of the millennium, with the acquisition of TKT, we began our focus on rare diseases, something that remains a strategic focus for the company today, The Shire pipeline continues to be sustained by creative acquisitions and innovative licensing deals. Smart commercialization strategies have ensured that the right patients and the right physicians have the information they need to make appropriate choices about treatment options.
Shire employs more than 24,000 people in nearly 100 countries around the world who carry forward many of the original attributes of its founders -- opportunistic thinking, transparent behavior, a deep commitment to doing what is right and a prevailing concern for the patients and caregivers served by its well-differentiated product lines.
Shire Australia
Shire Australia was established in May 2008 in offices in North Ryde, Sydney to provide product and services to the many Shire customers in Australia.
Shire Australia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shire plc, a global specialty biopharmaceutical company that works closely with specialist physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to develop and provide medicines that improve quality of life for patients, their families and carers.