Termination of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Duramed") Collaboration Agreement	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Contract Termination Disclosure [Abstract]
Collaborative Arrangement Disclosure	4. Termination of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Duramed”) collaboration agreement In August 2006, Shire and Duramed, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, (“Teva”) entered into an agreement related to SEASONIQUE, a number of products using Duramed's transvaginal ring technology and other oral products (the “Collaboration Products”). Under this agreement, Shire was required to reimburse Duramed for US development expenses incurred on Collaboration Products up to a maximum of $140 million over eight years from September 2006, and Shire had the right to commercialize these products in a number of markets outside of North America, including the larger European markets. On February 24, 2009 Shire and Duramed amended this agreement such that it terminated on December 31, 2009. Pursuant to this amendment, Shire agreed to return to Duramed its rights under the agreement effective February 24, 2009. Shire also agreed to reimburse Duramed for incurred US development expenditures in 2009 up to a maximum of $30.0 million. Shire has no rights with respect to the products on which such development expenditures are incurred. In addition, Shire agreed to a one-time payment to Duramed of $10.0 million, (which was paid during the first quarter of 2009), and to forego royalties receivable from Barr Laboratories, Inc. (“Barr”) (a subsidiary of Teva) and cost of goods otherwise payable by Barr to Shire in 2009 under the License Agreement between the parties for the supply of authorized generic ADDERALL XR, up to a maximum of $25.0 million. During the year to December 31, 2009 the Company recorded a charge of $62.9 million to research and development, within the Specialty Pharmaceuticals operating segment, to reflect the cash payment made in the first quarter of 2009 and other termination related costs.

Termination of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Duramed") Collaboration Agreement

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Contract Termination Disclosure [Abstract]

4. Termination of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Duramed”) collaboration agreement

In August 2006, Shire and Duramed, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, (“Teva”) entered into an agreement related to SEASONIQUE, a number of products using Duramed's transvaginal ring technology and other oral products (the “Collaboration Products”). Under this agreement, Shire was required to reimburse Duramed for US development expenses incurred on Collaboration Products up to a maximum of $140 million over eight years from September 2006, and Shire had the right to commercialize these products in a number of markets outside of North America, including the larger European markets.

On February 24, 2009 Shire and Duramed amended this agreement such that it terminated on December 31, 2009. Pursuant to this amendment, Shire agreed to return to Duramed its rights under the agreement effective February 24, 2009. Shire also agreed to reimburse Duramed for incurred US development expenditures in 2009 up to a maximum of $30.0 million. Shire has no rights with respect to the products on which such development expenditures are incurred. In addition, Shire agreed to a one-time payment to Duramed of $10.0 million, (which was paid during the first quarter of 2009), and to forego royalties receivable from Barr Laboratories, Inc. (“Barr”) (a subsidiary of Teva) and cost of goods otherwise payable by Barr to Shire in 2009 under the License Agreement between the parties for the supply of authorized generic ADDERALL XR, up to a maximum of $25.0 million. During the year to December 31, 2009 the Company recorded a charge of $62.9 million to research and development, within the Specialty Pharmaceuticals operating segment, to reflect the cash payment made in the first quarter of 2009 and other termination related costs.