Disclosed is a method of preventing, inhibiting, and/or ameliorating cell death and/or tissue necrosis in live tissue by contacting live tissue with at least a segment of NTP, or homologue, variant, derivative or mimetic thereof, where the segment of NTP, or homologue, variant, derivative or mimetic thereof is present in an amount effective to prevent, inhibit, and/or ameliorate cell death and/or tissue necrosis. The method is capable of treating conditions requiring prevention, inhibition, and/or amelioration of cell death and/or tissue necrosis.