Research
What Is ARA-290? The Nerve Repair Peptide Explained
ARA-290, also called cibinetide, is an 11-amino-acid peptide designed from erythropoietin (EPO), the hormone that boosts red blood cells. It keeps EPO’s tissue-protecting effects without raising red blood cell counts. It has been tested in small human trials for nerve pain and nerve fiber loss in sarcoidosis and diabetes. This guide explains what ARA-290 is, how it works, what the trials show and where it stands.
Reviewed for accuracy · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
What Is ARA-290?
ARA-290 is a synthetic 11-amino-acid peptide modeled on one small region (helix B) of the EPO molecule. It was developed by Araim Pharmaceuticals with researchers including Michael Brines and Anthony Cerami.
EPO itself protects nerves and tissues from injury in animal studies, but using it for that purpose raises red blood cell counts and the risk of blood clots. ARA-290 was engineered to keep the protective signal while avoiding the effect on blood.
How Does ARA-290 Work?
ARA-290 activates the innate repair receptor (IRR), a combination of the EPO receptor and the beta-common receptor (CD131) that appears in tissue under stress or injury.
- No red blood cell effect: it does not activate the standard EPO receptor pair that drives red blood cell production.
- Inflammation: it reduces inflammatory signaling in injured tissue.
- Nerve repair: in animal models it supported regrowth of small nerve fibers and reduced pain behaviors.
- Metabolism: in some studies it improved blood sugar control.
What Does the Research Show?
Sarcoidosis neuropathy. Sarcoidosis can damage the small nerve fibers that carry pain and temperature signals. In a small 2012 randomized trial (22 patients), ARA-290 improved neuropathic symptoms versus placebo. A larger phase 2b trial published in 2017 (64 patients) found it increased the density of small nerve fibers in the cornea and improved some measures of function.
Type 2 diabetes. In a 2015 randomized trial of 48 patients with type 2 diabetes and neuropathy, ARA-290 improved neuropathic symptoms and HbA1c compared with placebo, and increased corneal nerve fiber density.
Animal studies. Rodent work has explored ARA-290 for nerve injury, kidney injury, wound healing and diabetic complications.
| Area | What studies show | Evidence type |
|---|---|---|
| Sarcoidosis small fiber neuropathy | Better symptoms; more corneal nerve fibers | Small human RCTs (2012, 2017) |
| Diabetic neuropathy | Better symptoms and HbA1c | Small human RCT (2015) |
| Nerve and kidney injury | Tissue protection | Animal studies |
ARA-290 Safety and Side Effects
In the published trials, ARA-290 was generally well tolerated, with no increase in red blood cell counts and no serious drug-related side effects reported. The trials were small and short, lasting weeks rather than years, so long-term safety is unknown.
Is ARA-290 FDA-Approved?
No. ARA-290 is not FDA-approved for any use, and no phase 3 trials have been reported. It is not on the 503A Bulks List for compounding. In the U.S. it is sold only as a research chemical labeled “not for human consumption.”
ARA-290 vs EPO, BPC-157 and TB-500
| Compound | What it is | Human data |
|---|---|---|
| ARA-290 | 11-amino-acid EPO-derived peptide | Small phase 2 RCTs |
| EPO (epoetin) | 165-amino-acid hormone | FDA-approved for anemia |
| BPC-157 | 15-amino-acid gastric peptide fragment | Very limited |
| TB-500 | Thymosin beta-4 fragment | Very limited |
ARA-290 vs EPO. EPO raises red blood cells and can increase clotting risk. ARA-290 targets only the tissue-repair receptor.
ARA-290 vs BPC-157 and TB-500. All three are discussed as “repair” peptides, but ARA-290 is the only one with randomized controlled trials in people, even if they are small.
Buying Research-Grade ARA-290: What to Check
Products sold as ARA-290 by research suppliers are laboratory chemicals, not medicines. They are not made under drug manufacturing rules, so quality varies a lot between vendors. If you are evaluating an ARA-290 supplier for lab research, these are the checks that matter:
- Batch-specific COA: the certificate should match the lot number on your vial, not a generic sample.
- Independent lab: testing should come from a named third-party lab, ideally with a way to verify the report online.
- Identity, not just purity: HPLC purity alone does not confirm the right molecule; look for mass spectrometry (MS) identity confirmation.
- Endotoxin and sterility results: these matter for any injectable research material.
- Correct fill amount: the measured content should be close to the labeled milligrams.
Our Trusted Sources page lists vendors we track, with current community codes. Our guide to reading a certificate of analysis explains each line of a COA.
Key Takeaways
- ARA-290 (cibinetide) is an 11-amino-acid peptide engineered from EPO.
- It activates the innate repair receptor without raising red blood cells.
- Small human trials found improved nerve fiber density and neuropathic symptoms.
- It has not reached phase 3 trials.
- It is not FDA-approved and is sold only as a research chemical in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ARA-290?
ARA-290 (cibinetide) is an 11-amino-acid peptide derived from erythropoietin that protects tissue and nerves without raising red blood cell counts.
What is ARA-290 used for?
In research, it has been tested for small fiber neuropathy in sarcoidosis and type 2 diabetes. It has no approved medical use.
Is ARA-290 FDA-approved?
No. It has been tested only in small phase 2 trials.
Does ARA-290 raise red blood cells like EPO?
No. It was designed to activate the tissue-repair receptor without stimulating red blood cell production.
Is ARA-290 safe?
It was well tolerated in small, short trials. Long-term safety is unknown.
Sources
- Heij et al. (2012), Molecular Medicine – Safety and efficacy of ARA 290 in sarcoidosis patients with symptoms of small fiber neuropathy
- Culver et al. (2017), Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science – Cibinetide improves corneal nerve fiber abundance in patients with sarcoidosis-associated small nerve fiber loss and neuropathic pain
- Brines et al. (2015), Molecular Medicine – ARA 290, a nonerythropoietic peptide engineered from erythropoietin, improves metabolic control and neuropathic symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes
MLCR SCTY provides educational information, not medical or legal advice. Research-use-only products are not intended for human consumption.