Inspire Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1993 and is based in Durham, North Carolina. Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in researching, developing, and commercializing prescription pharmaceutical products for ophthalmic and pulmonary diseases. The company offers AzaSite, an azithromycin ophthalmic solution and topical anti-infective; Elestat, an epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution and topical antihistamine for the prevention of ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis; and Restasis, a cyclosporine ophthalmic emulsion for the treatment of dry eye disease in adults and children in the United States. Its product candidates in clinical development include Prolacria, a diquafosol tetrasodium for the treatment of dry eye disease in phase III; denufosol tetrasodium, an inhaled product for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in phase III; AzaSite for the treatment of blepharitis, which is in phase II; and INS115644 and INS117548, which are in phase I clinical trial for the treatment of glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The company has a joint license agreement with Allergan, Inc. to develop and commercialize Prolacria; a license agreement with InSite Vision Incorporated to commercialize AzaSite, as well as other topical anti-infective products containing azithromycin used in the treatment of human ocular or ophthalmic indications primarily in the U.S. and Canada; and a development, license, and supply agreement with Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the development of diquafosol tetrasodium for the therapeutic treatment of ocular surface diseases in Asia.