Compositions and methods for treatment of neurodegenerative disease

1. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disease or disorder, the method comprising administering to a subject in need of treatment thereof an effective amount of a compound represented by the following structure (I):

wherein:

R 1 is hydrogen;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halo, and —S(O) 2 NR 13 R 14 ;

R 3 is hydrogen;

R 4 is hydrogen;

R 5 is alkyl;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and —C(O)R 10 , or R 5 and R 6 combine to form an alkyl group consisting of —(CH 2 ) 4 —;

R 7 is alkyl;

R 10 is selected from the group consisting of —N(R 11 )(CH 2 ) n R 12 and —NR 13 R 14 ;

R 11 is H;

n is independently 1, 2, 3 or 4;

R 12 is —NR 13 R 14 ; and

R 13 and R 14 are independently alkyl or aryl, or R 13 and R 14 may combine to form a heterocyclo group;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of:

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating of the neurodegenerative disease or disorder promotes survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), promotes neurite outgrowth of RGCs, protects RGCs against NMDA excitotoxicity, protects RGCs from axon injury induced cell death, reduces RGC loss secondary to optic nerve injury, blocks or attenuates activation of apoptotic pathways, and combinations thereof.