N-[2-[(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-[3-(2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propyl]amino]-2-oxoethyl]-2-[2-(2-fluorophenyl)ethylamino]-N-(2-methylpropyl)acetamide (BN201) is a small peptide molecule, a first-in-class neuroprotective compound. BN201 promotes the survival of cultured neural cells when subjected to oxidative stress or when deprived of trophic factors. BN201 promotes neuronal differentiation, the differentiation of precursor cells to mature oligodendrocytes in vitro, and the myelination of new axons. BN201 modulates several kinases participating in the insulin growth factor 1 pathway including serum-glucocorticoid kinase and midkine, inducing the phosphorylation of NDRG1 and the translocation of the transcription factor Foxo3 to the cytoplasm. In vivo, BN201 prevents axonal and neuronal loss, and it promotes remyelination in models of multiple sclerosis, chemically induced demyelination, and glaucoma. Bionure, a spin-off from Hospital Clínic de Barcelona that is based in California, is developing BN201 for multiple sclerosis, acute optic neuritis (AON) and glaucoma. BN201 was granted with orphan designation status for optic neuritis by the FDA. Optic neuritis is often an early sign of multiple sclerosis. The efficacy, safety, and capacity of the drug to cross the blood-brain barrier have been demonstrated in animal models, but the drug has not yet entered clinical testing.