This invention relates to aryl substituted pyridines of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug or solvate thereof, wherein: Ar is selected from the group consisting of Ar1, Ar2, Ar3 and Ar4, wherein Ar1 is R1 is selected from the group consisting of an optionally substituted alkyl, amino, alkylthiol, C(O)R10, SO2R10, and OC(O)NH2; R2 is Ym-(CH2)n-Z, wherein Y is O, S or NR11, wherein R11 is hydrogen or alkyl, Z is a saturated heterocyclic ring optionally substituted at one or more carbon atoms, m is 0 or 1, and n is 0-6; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug or solvate thereof, wherein Ar and R1-R4 are set in the specification. The invention is also directed to the use of compounds of Formula I for the treatment of neuronal damage following global and focal ischemia, for the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative conditions such as amyothrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of both acute or chronic pain, including diabetic neuropathy, as antitinnitus agents, as anticonvulsants, and as antimanic depressants, as local anesthetics, and as antiarrhythmics.