We report that pharmacological inhibition of JNK using novel drug compounds based on three distinct chemical scaffolds, Anthrapyrazolone, Pyrimidinyl, and Pyridopyrimidine, prevents degeneration of SMN-deficient <i>in vitro</i> cultured primary cerebellum neurons and the spinal cord motor neurons derived from SMA mice. The gene discussed is SMN1; the disease is proximal spinal muscular atrophy.