AK 295 (CX 295) is a calpain inhibitor that inhibits apoptosis through a calpain-dependent pathway. AK 295 improves neurological function in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). AK 295 can be used in the study of neurodegenerative diseases, such as bulbar amyotrophy, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis.