ARA-290
Peptide studied for nerve repair and inflammation.
- Status
- Research / not approved
- Developer
- Araim Pharmaceuticals; engineered by Michael Brines & Anthony Cerami
- Receptors / target
- Innate repair receptor (IRR) — an EPOR / beta-common-receptor (CD131) heterocomplex; non-erythropoietic, does not engage the EPOR homodimer that drives erythropoiesis
- FDA-approved?
- NO
- Prescription available?
- NO
- Studied for
- sarcoidosis small-fiber neuropathydiabetic neuropathy / neuropathic paintype 2 diabetes metabolic controlsmall-nerve-fiber regenerationanti-inflammatory / tissue-protective signaling
Overview
ARA-290 (INN cibinetide) is an investigational 11-amino-acid peptide derived from the helix-B domain of erythropoietin (EPO), engineered by Brines and Cerami at Araim Pharmaceuticals to isolate EPO's tissue-protective, anti-inflammatory activity from its blood-cell-stimulating activity. Crucially it is non-erythropoietic — it does not raise hematocrit or hemoglobin — removing EPO's thrombotic risk. It has been studied mainly for small-fiber neuropathy (in sarcoidosis and type 2 diabetes) by subcutaneous or intravenous dosing. It is not FDA-approved and is sold research-only.
Mechanism
ARA-290 mimics EPO's B-helix surface and selectively binds the innate repair receptor (IRR) — a heterocomplex of the EPO receptor (EPOR) and the beta-common receptor (CD131). This is distinct from the homodimeric EPOR that native EPO uses to drive red-cell production, so ARA-290 triggers cytoprotective signaling without erythropoiesis. The IRR is upregulated on neurons, Schwann, endothelial and immune cells at sites of injury; its activation engages anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and tissue-repair pathways associated with small-nerve-fiber regeneration.
Clinical evidence
Unusually for a research peptide, ARA-290 has completed, published, randomized phase 2 trials with met endpoints. A double-blind pilot in sarcoidosis small-fiber neuropathy (Heij 2012) showed significant improvement in a neuropathy symptom score versus placebo. A phase 2 RCT in type 2 diabetes (Brines 2015, n=48) reported improvements in neuropathic pain, HbA1c, lipids and corneal nerve-fiber density, and confirmed the non-erythropoietic profile (no hematology changes). The evidence remains early-stage: trials are small, short, and there is no phase 3 or approval. Broader "recovery"/ anti-aging claims are not supported.
Safety profile
Across the controlled studies (~130 subjects total), ARA-290 was well tolerated with no significant adverse events and, importantly, no clinically significant hematology changes — confirming its non-erythropoietic design (unlike EPO). Reported issues were limited to mild injection-site effects. The key limitations are small total human exposure, short durations (≤28 days), and absent long-term safety data. It is investigational and not approved; research-use framing only. On anti-doping: ARA-290 is not named on the WADA list and, being non-erythropoietic, is generally not treated as an EPO-class agent — but athletes should verify against the current list, as the S0 (non-approved substance) clause can apply.
- Per dose / early
Very short circulating half-life (minutes); tissue-protective signaling is the proposed action rather than an acute felt effect.
- ~28 days
In the phase 2 trials, improvements in neuropathic-pain and small-fiber-neuropathy measures were assessed over ~4 weeks of daily subcutaneous dosing. Investigational, not approved.
Reported in published literature and user reports. Not a complete list, and not medical advice.
- Generally well tolerated in trials; no significant safety signals
- Mild injection-site reactions (subcutaneous)
- No significant hematology changes (non-erythropoietic — does not raise hematocrit)
- Long-term and recreational-use safety data are absent
If severe or unexpected symptoms occur, contact a qualified medical professional. PEPTIDES·INDEX does not provide medical advice.
- As an investigational peptide there is no approved label or vetted human contraindication list; the following are precautionary.
- Known hypersensitivity to the peptide or formulation
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: no human safety data
- Long-term and non-clinical (recreational) use safety is unestablished
- No documented human drug interactionsInteraction profile uncharacterized in humans (research use only)
Compare
- vs VIP
Both are investigational peptides with anti-inflammatory/tissue-protective rationale and short plasma half-lives, but VIP/aviptadil targets VPAC vasodilatory/pulmonary signaling (and its COVID-ARDS trial was negative), while ARA-290 targets the innate repair receptor for neuropathy with positive phase 2 results.
FAQ
Is ARA-290 (cibinetide) approved?
No. ARA-290 is investigational. It has completed published randomized phase 2 trials in small-fiber neuropathy (sarcoidosis and type 2 diabetes) with met endpoints, but there is no phase 3 trial and no regulatory approval. It is sold research-use only.
Does ARA-290 raise red blood cells like EPO?
No. It was engineered from EPO's helix-B domain specifically to be non-erythropoietic. It binds the innate repair receptor (an EPOR/CD131 heterocomplex) rather than the EPOR homodimer that drives red-cell production, and phase 2 trials confirmed no clinically significant hematology changes.
What has ARA-290 been studied for?
Mainly small-fiber neuropathy and neuropathic pain in sarcoidosis and type 2 diabetes, where phase 2 RCTs reported improved symptom scores, and in type 2 diabetes also HbA1c, lipids and corneal nerve-fiber density. Broader anti-aging or general recovery claims are not supported.
How was ARA-290 dosed and given in the trials?
The phase 2 studies used daily subcutaneous injection (intravenous was also used in early work), typically in the range of 2–4 mg per day over roughly four weeks. These are investigational trial regimens, not approved dosing or medical advice.
Is ARA-290 well tolerated?
Across the controlled studies (~130 subjects in total) it was generally well tolerated with no significant safety signals and, importantly, no clinically significant hematology changes — consistent with its non-erythropoietic design. The main limitations are small total exposure, short durations (≤28 days) and no long-term safety data.
Is ARA-290 banned in sport?
ARA-290 is not named on the WADA Prohibited List, and because it is non-erythropoietic it is generally not treated as an EPO-class agent. However, as a non-approved substance it can fall under WADA's S0 clause, so athletes should verify against the current list rather than assume it is permitted.
Similar compounds
Starting references for the library summary. These are not dosing instructions or medical advice.
For research-use educational context only. Not medical advice and not a recommendation to use any compound. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before any health decision.