Shire's First Prescription Eye Drop, Xiidra(TM) (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5% is Now Available in the U.S.

Lexington, Massachusetts (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Xiidra is the only prescription eye drop approved by the U.S. FDA
for the treatment of both signs and symptoms of dry eye disease
- Resources are available to support patients seeking information
regarding coverage and savings offers
- Xiidra is the first medication in a new class of drugs - a
lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) antagonist -
approved by the FDA for dry eye disease

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) today announced that Xiidra(TM)
(lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) 5%, a twice-daily prescription eye
drop indicated for the treatment of both the signs and symptoms of
dry eye disease, is now available by prescription in the United
States. An estimated 16 million adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with
dry eye, a disease associated with inflammation that may eventually
lead to damage to the surface of the eye. An eye care professional
can diagnose dry eye disease based on signs and symptoms and
determine management options, which could include the use of a
prescription treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved Xiidra on July 11, 2016.

"Shire worked rapidly to bring Xiidra to market following the
approval of this new treatment - a first-in-its-class medication and
the first prescription treatment to be approved for both the signs
and symptoms of dry eye disease," said Perry Sternberg, Head, U.S.
Commercial. "We have a full range of modern, educational access
programs to support the millions of patients across the U.S. living
with dry eye disease. This delivers on our commitment to showing up
differently in ophthalmics."

"As the number of people presenting with the signs and symptoms of
dry eye disease increases, the availability of a new prescription
treatment option for this condition is an exciting development," Eric
D. Donnenfeld, M.D., FAAO, National Medical Director, TLC Laser Eye
Centers. "We now have a new prescription eye drop that is
specifically indicated for the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease,
an often common eye condition that may be progressive."

With the availability of Xiidra, Shire has patient-focused
resources to share information about prescription coverage and
savings (subject to eligibility):

- ask iiris, a phone service offering live-person responses to
questions regarding information about insurance coverage, benefits,
co-pays and availability in pharmacies. To ask iiris, please call
1-844-my-iiris.
- Xiidra iinsider, an optional program that patients can sign up for