[Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Joseph Schocken was interim CEO of XShares; in fact, he was made full-time CEO in September.]

HealthShares is going to liquidate its four exchange-traded funds and dissolve the HealthShares fund management company on Dec. 31. They just weren't healthy investments.

Market conditions, the inability of the ETFs to attract significant market interest since inception, and lack of prospects for future growth and economic viability, played into the decision by the funds' board and investment advisor, XShares Advisors.

The move comes just one month after XShares tried to reinvigorate the HealthShares lineup, shuttering 15 of the original 19 ETFs and remaking the remaining four into broader portfolios.  Now that move seems like a last gasp effort to generate some interest in the ETFs, as opposed to a long-term strategic plan to garner assets. The four ETFs being liquidated are:

• HealthShares Cancer Exchange-Traded Fund (NYSEArca: HHK)
• HealthShares European Drugs Exchange-Traded Fund (NYSEArca: HRJ)
• HealthShares Diagnostics Exchange-Traded Fund (NYSEArca: HHD)
• HealthShares Drug Discovery Tools Exchange-Traded Fund (NYSEArca: HHV)

Xshares earlier closed its line-up of real estate funds, which were marketed as AdelanteShares. In a statement, however, XShares said it remains committed to bringing out new ETFs related to the environment and infrastructure in 2009.

Dec. 23 will be the last day of trading for the HealthShares, and the last day on which creation unit aggregations of the Shares may be purchased or redeemed.