| Cash flows: Cash generation, in 2009 was $921 million versus $1,231 million, a decrease of $310 million. Cash generation was lower in 2009 due to lower net sales receipts following the genericization of Adderall XR.
Others: On October 19, 2009, Shire Canada Inc., a division of Shire, announced its voluntary cooperation to enable further royalty-free access to HIV/AIDS medicines for Rwanda as part of the ongoing collaborative efforts to improve health and save lives in the developing world. Shire reconfirmed its support of Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) to enable the Canadian generic company to manufacture in Canada a fixed dose triple combination antiretroviral medicine that contains a drug (3TC) over which Shire Canada holds patent rights in Canada.
SHPGY responded to the needs of patients in May 2009, who are diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), and were prescribed gastrointestinal (GI) medications from Shire by expanding its Patient Assistant Program (PAP). Due to its enhanced CARES PAP, UC patients, who are newly prescribed or are already taking Lialda or Pentasa and who become unemployed in 2009 can receive their medication at no cost throughout the rest of CY09. In addition, more UC patients can benefit from Lialda and Pentasa as Shire raised the household income levels necessary to qualify for no-cost and shared-cost assistance.
SHPGY announced in August 2009 that it entered into a research-based collaboration with Santaris Pharma A/S, a leading player in RNA-based therapeutics, to develop its proprietary Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) technology in a range of rare diseases, thereby enabling Shire to build its already strong competitive position for its Human Genetic Therapies (HGT) business. LNA technology has the benefit of a very quick validated target to prove concept turnaround, thereby increasing the speed and lowering the cost of development.
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