Ischemic heart disease is the biggest cause of death and disease among men worldwide and the second biggest killer of women - just behind ischemic stroke. We have developed a drug that can be given after an ischemic event such as a heart attack - i.e., myocardial infarction. This drug preserves heart muscle, reduces scarring and prevents the progression to heart failure that many patients who are suffering from ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction undergo. This drug is also contemplated to have medicinal uses in preventing brain loss following ischemic stroke, as it targets a common cell injury pathway in the heart and brain.