ARA-290: what the research shows
A small peptide made from a part of EPO that protects tissues, studied for nerve damage.
Also known as Cibinetide
At a glance
Tested in small human trials for nerve pain. Not approved.
What is ARA-290?
ARA-290 is an 11-amino-acid peptide based on a part of erythropoietin (EPO), the hormone that tells the body to make red blood cells. This part protects tissue but doesn’t raise red blood cells.
How does ARA-290 work?
It switches on a “repair receptor” that calms inflammation and protects nerve fibers in lab and animal studies.
What does the research show?
- In a 28-day trial in people with sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that can damage small nerves, the 4 mg dose increased the amount of small nerve fibers seen in the eye’s cornea, compared with placebo.
- Pain improved in all dose groups.
Known risks and side effects
- Only small, short trials have been done, so longer-term safety and benefit are unknown.
Is ARA-290 approved?
Tested in people, but not approved as a medicine.
Tested in small human trials for nerve pain. Not approved.
From the community
Watch: ARA-290 and related science
Start with the compound discussion, then use the background lesson to understand its biology. Each card explains its connection. Recordings may predate later findings or regulatory changes.
Pain Specialists Australia
BPC-157 for pain: what the evidence actually says
Two pain specialists weigh the evidence and the risks of BPC-157, TB-500, ARA-290, MOTS-c and GHK-Cu, including contamination of products sold online.
Dr Nick Christelis and Dr Bradley Lewinsohn, specialist pain medicine physicians (FFPMANZCA)
Discusses the compound
Two specialist pain physicians review the evidence for BPC-157 (from 16:08), TB-500 (24:04), ARA-290 (4:54), MOTS-c (25:51) and GHK-Cu (24:56), and the risks of unregulated products.
Khan Academy
Phagocytes and innate immunity
How part of the immune system responds to threats and contributes to inflammation.
Immune-system biology education
Related biology
Background on immune cells and inflammation for understanding ARA-290. It does not demonstrate benefits of this compound or formulation.
National Institute of Mental Health
What is clinical research?
Why studies in people are needed and what clinical research is designed to establish.
NIMH · US National Institutes of Health
Research skills
Helps you judge the study design or uncertainty in ARA-290 research; it is not a trial of the compound.
Sources and references
- Cibinetide Improves Corneal Nerve Fiber Abundance in Patients With Sarcoidosis-Associated Small Nerve Fiber Loss and Neuropathic PainCulver et al. · Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science · 2017
- ARA 290 for treatment of small fiber neuropathy in sarcoidosisvan Velzen et al. · Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs · 2014
VETUD Learn explains published research in plain language. It is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.
In the research shop
Check the catalog for related laboratory research materials. These products are separate from the approved medicines and clinical trial formulations discussed here.
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