Shire has kickstarted a strategic review of its ADHD drugs business which could see the FTSE 100 giant broken up into two stock exchange-listed parts, after posting consensus-beating half-year sales and profits growth.

Flemming rnskov, chief executive at Shire, said the groups US-focused neurosciences division set to make up around a fifth of its projected $14.3bn-$14.6bn (10.9bn-11.1bn) sales this year was an incredibly strong business that could stand alone.

The strategic review will complete this year, with the firm saying it could result in neurosciences getting an independent public listing. Mr rnskov declined to say whether London or New York was the more likely candidate.

Given the USs large appetite for ADHD drugs, New York could hold appeal.Julie Simmonds, analyst at Panmure, commented: Its something they could look at, it would make as much sense as it would here.

Any separation would allow Shire to focus on its rare diseases business, which accounts for the bulk of revenues and a wide gamut of treatments across immunology, haematology, internal medicine, eye ailments, oncology and anti-virals.

Read the original here:
Shire eyes spin-out of its ADHD drugs arm - Telegraph.co.uk