Inspire Announces Presentation of Data at American College of Cardiology Annual Meeting; Data on Inspire's Reversible P2Y12 Receptor Antagonist Presented in Two Poster Sessions.

DURHAM, N.C. -- Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISPH) announced today that two abstracts evaluating INS50589, Inspire's reversible P2Y12 receptor antagonist targeted for use in acute cardiac care, were presented in poster sessions at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session, held March 11-14, 2006 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

The first poster, entitled, "Antiplatelet Treatment with P2Y12 Receptor Antagonist Decreases Blood Loss in a Canine CABG Model with Cardiopulmonary Bypass," was presented on Monday, March 13. This study showed that inhibition of platelet activation with the P2Y12 receptor antagonist during extracorporeal circulation alleviated the platelet dysfunction observed after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and highlighted the central role of the platelet ADP receptor in hemostasis. This study provided pre-clinical evidence that the pharmacological activity and pharmacokinetic properties of INS50589 may prove useful in the prevention of bleeding and the need for transfusion in humans after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

The second poster, entitled, "Pharmacological Evaluation of a Novel, Rapidly Reversible Intravenous Platelet P2Y12 ADP Receptor Antagonist, INS50589 in Healthy Volunteers," was presented on Tuesday, March 14. This poster is based on clinical data from a Phase 1, escalating-dose clinical trial to evaluate the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, tolerability and safety of INS50589 in 36 healthy human volunteers. INS50589 was well tolerated at all doses tested. No serious adverse events were reported, and no subjects were withdrawn for adverse events. In this trial, INS50589 provided rapid, controlled modulation of platelet function with preservation and return of normal function shortly following the discontinuation of dosing. No significant treatment-related changes were observed in vital signs, physical examination, ECG, hematology, or blood chemistry.

Inspire plans to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial during the second quarter of 2006 evaluating INS50589 in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures.

About Inspire

Inspire is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing prescription pharmaceutical products in disease areas with significant commercial potential and unmet medical needs. Inspire has significant technical and scientific expertise in the therapy areas of ophthalmology and respiratory and is a leader in the field of P2 receptors which are important drug targets in various therapeutic areas, including ophthalmology, respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease. Inspire's U.S. specialty sales force promotes Elestat(R) (epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution) 0.05% and Restasis(R) (cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion) 0.05%, ophthalmology products developed by Inspire's partner, Allergan, Inc. Elestat and Restasis are trademarks owned by Allergan. For more information on Inspire, visit www.inspirepharm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements in this news release relating to management's expectations and beliefs are based on preliminary information and management assumptions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ in material respects, including those relating to product development, revenue, expense and earnings expectations, the seasonality of Elestat, intellectual property rights, adverse litigation developments, adverse developments in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation, competitive products, results and timing of clinical trials, success of marketing efforts, the need for additional research and testing, delays in manufacturing, funding, and the timing and content of decisions made by regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Further information regarding factors that could affect Inspire's results is included in Inspire's filings with the SEC. Inspire undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.