Leteprinim is the synthetic purine. It has both anti-excitotoxic neuroprotective properties and enhances the regenerative response of surviving neurons within the central nervous system. Moreover, the experiments in vitro and in vivo reveal that leteprinim can be administered after an excitotoxic event and still produce neuroprotection. This is clearly crucial for any drug designed to treat stroke or any acute central nervous system injury. Therefore, leteprinim has the pharmacological properties required by a drug intended to treat acute stroke as well as a spinal injury. It may be useful in reducing brain injury; it possesses clinical relevance for the treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the newborn. Leteprinim has the therapeutic potential for use in clinical trials in the treatment of neuronal deterioration in depression.