BASINGSTOKE, England and PHILADELPHIA, December 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announces its Board succession plans. Dr James H Cavanaugh (age 70) will retire as Non-Executive Chairman; Matthew Emmens (56) will succeed him as Non-Executive Chairman. Angus Russell (51) will be appointed Chief Executive.

These Board changes will become effective at Shire's AGM in June 2008. Also, at that time, David Kappler will be appointed as Deputy Chairman in addition to his existing role as Senior Independent Director. These appointments have the unanimous support of the Directors.

GENEVA, Switzerland, December 13 /PRNewswire/ --

- Trial Will Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of Atacicept in Lupus Nephritis and is Intended to Support Marketing Authorizations

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, and its partner ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZGEN) announced today the initiation of a Phase II/III clinical trial of atacicept in lupus nephritis, a severe form of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The kidneys are affected in at least 30% of the estimated 1.5 million people suffering from SLE worldwide. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of atacicept for the treatment of patients with active lupus nephritis.

ROCKFORD, Michigan, December 12 /PRNewswire/ --

- Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Styles of Children's Shoes

Wolverine has become aware of a risk of the black plastic tab at the end of the shoelaces on Caterpillar(R) brand children's Sheltered, Equate and Kudos models (pictured below) coming off the laces when pulled. Wolverine has not received reports of any incidents from any consumer, but is voluntarily recalling the styles listed above in EU children's sizes 23-29 (equivalent to US children's sizes 7-12) as a precaution because of the potential choking hazard to young children.

BURLINGTON, Massachusetts, December 12 /PRNewswire/ --

InterGen announced today the financial close and funding of credit facilities for its 428 MW natural gas-fired Rijnmond II project in Rotterdam. With an estimated cost of approximately euro 480 million (US$700 million), the Rijnmond II project will complement InterGen's existing 820 MW Rijnmond Energie project which commenced operations in 2004.

InterGen has appointed HSBC Bank plc as Mandated Lead Arranger and Sole Underwriter for the approximately euro 400 million (US$590 million) non-recourse financing that consists of a euro 335 million (US$490 million) long-term senior debt facility as well as working capital, swap and LC facilities.

LONDON, December 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the DH announcement to pilot the availability of oral contraception through Patient Group Directions (PGD), David Pruce, Director of Practice and Quality Improvement at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, said:

"The Society supports the Department of Health proposal to pilot supply of the contraceptive pill through PGD, which are written instructions for the supply or administration of medicines to groups of patients without an individualised doctor's prescription."

BAAR, Switzerland, December 12 /PRNewswire/ -- DWM Petroleum AG (100% subsidiary of Manas) (DWM) & Santos International Ventures Pty Ltd. (Santos) have entered into an Option Agreement under which Santos has a unilateral option to elect for the those parties to execute at a later stage, a Farm In Agreement for a 70% interest in DWM's Novobod Tajikistan License and a proposed North Tajik licence. Manas expects the North Tajik Licence to be granted to Somon in the near future.