<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001040416</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INSPIRE PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ISPH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001281446</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREAT POINT PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>165 MASON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAY JEFFREY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>165 MASON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2054400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Biomedical Value Fund, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2225600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Biomedical Offshore Value Fund, Ltd.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Great Point Partners, LLC (&quot;Great Point&quot;) is the investment manager of Biomedical Value Fund, L.P. (&quot;BMVF&quot;) and by virtue of
 such status may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares held by BMVF.  Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D., as senior
 managing member of Great Point (&quot;Dr. Jay&quot;), has voting and investment power with respect to the shares held by BMVF and may
 be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares held by BMVF.  Great Point and Dr. Jay disclaim beneficial ownership of
 the shares held by BMVF, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest, and this report shall not be deemed to be an
 admission that they are the beneficial owners of such securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Great Point is the investment manager of Biomedical Offshore Value Fund, Ltd. (&quot;BOVF&quot;) and by virtue of such status may be
 deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares held by BOVF.  Dr. Jay, as senior managing member of Great Point, has voting
 and investment power with respect to the shares held by BOVF and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares held
 by BOVF.  Great Point and Dr. Jay disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by BOVF, except to the extent of any
 pecuniary interest, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that they are the beneficial owners of such
 securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GREAT POINT PARTNERS, LLC By: /s/ Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D., as senior managing member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Dr. Jeffrey R. Jay, M.D.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
