Abstract: The invention provides a method for suppressing the development of or treating neuropathic pain in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a peptide of the formula: X1—X2—X3 (I) or X1—X2 (II) wherein X1 is an aromatic amino acid residue or is selected from the group consisting of 2-amino-hexanoic acid, 2-amino-heptanoic acid; 2-amino-octanoic acid; cyclohexyl-substituted 2-amino-ethanoic acid, cyclohexyl-substituted 2-amino-propanoic acid or 2-amino-butanoic acid and methionine; X2 is an acidic amino acid; and in Formula (I), X3 is 1 to 3 amino acid residues which are the same or different and are aliphatic amino acid residues and the C-terminal amino acid is optionally amidated. These peptides may be used to treat a nerve injury or a spinal cord injury or to improve chronic neurological outcome after such injuries.