Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On February 6, 2009, the Board of Directors of Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. elected Alan F. Holmer as a director of Inspire. Mr. Holmer fills a vacancy on the Board of Directors. Mr. Holmer will serve as a Class C director of Inspire and is expected to stand for re-election at Inspire's 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The Board also appointed Mr. Holmer as a member of the Audit Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee of Inspire's Board of Directors, effective as of March 1, 2009. In connection with Mr. Holmer's appointment to these committees, Nancy J. Hutson, Ph.D. resigned from the Audit Committee and Richard S. Kent, M.D. resigned from the Corporate Governance Committee, each effective as of March 1, 2009.

In connection with his election to the Board of Directors, Mr. Holmer received an award of stock options to purchase 7,500 shares of Inspire common stock, subject to quarterly vesting over three years, at an exercise price per share of $3.85, the closing price of Inspire's common stock on February 6, 2009. The stock options were granted pursuant to Inspire's 2005 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended. Mr. Holmer will receive consideration for his services as a director of Inspire in accordance with the Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Amended and Restated Director Compensation Policy.