ARA-290
ARA-290 (cibinetide)
What is ARA-290?
ARA-290: 11-amino-acid peptide engineered from erythropoietin's helix B that activates the tissue-protective 'innate repair receptor' (EPOR/CD131) without stimulating red blood cell production. The sources cited here most often discuss it for: Small-fiber neuropathy; Less neuropathic pain; Numbness and tingling, anecdotal. Evidence label: Early human.
- Type
- Peptide
- Family
- Repair & Recovery
- Evidence label
- Early human (3 of 5)
- Regulatory status
- FDA granted ARA 290, then a clinical-stage product candidate, orphan drug designation for sarcoidosis in 2016, a designation that brings development incentives rather than an approval.
- Goals discussed
- Nerves & Pain, Fat Loss & Metabolism
- Also called
- cibinetide, ARA 290, helix B surface peptide, HBSP, pHBSP, ARA290
- Last reviewed
- 2026-10-11
- 11-amino-acid peptide engineered from erythropoietin's helix B that activates the tissue-protective 'innate repair receptor' (EPOR/CD131) without stimulating red blood cell production; anti-inflammatory/nerve-repair agent; investigational (orphan designations), NOT FDA-approved.1
ARA 290, ARA-290 and cibinetide are the same 11-amino-acid peptide; although modeled on erythropoietin, it is not an EPO drug and is not designed to raise red blood cells.
Regulatory status FDA granted ARA 290, then a clinical-stage product candidate, orphan drug designation for sarcoidosis in 2016, a designation that brings development incentives rather than an approval. 2
On the basis of these results and of prior studies, ARA 290 is a potential disease-modifying agent for treatment of sarcoidosis-associated SNFLD.
Blinded, placebo-controlled trial in sarcoidosis patients with small nerve fiber loss (SNFLD).
What is ARA-290 researched for?
The three outcomes most discussed for ARA-290 in the sources below, as those sources report them. humanpeptides.fyi makes no claims of its own: a listed benefit can be unproven or can have failed in trials, and the label on each line says which.
What do researchers and users say about ARA-290?
ARA 290 has the potential to become an important disease modifying therapy for sarcoidosis patients as well as other diseases characterized by chronic inflammation and persistent tissue injury.
Comment quoted in the developer's 2016 press release announcing US orphan drug designation.
I actually walk barefoot on the carpet, and it no longer feels like razor blades.
Forum report from a user with neuropathy; the same user earlier described painful nerve flares in the feet and paused use.
What side effects of ARA-290 are reported?
- No safety issues reported in phase 2 trials111
- Users report nerve 'flares', pins-and-needles, headachesanecdotal10
- Long-term safety is unknown; published human trials lasted only weeks, the longest about 12 weeks.human trial12
- Less common reports of dizziness, slight heart-rate increases and minor liver enzyme elevations, plus mild stomach upset.secondary summary13
- Not studied in pregnancy or nursing; theoretical caution in active cancer because of its tissue-protective action.secondary summary13
What do peptide guides say about ARA-290?
- NCBI PMC In a phase 2 trial in type 2 diabetes, ARA 290 improved HbA1c, lipids and neuropathic symptoms with no safety issues identified; the lead author worked for Araim, the developer. 1
- NCBI PMC Beyond symptom scores, the sarcoidosis trial reported more corneal small nerve fibers, changed skin temperature sensitivity and better 6-minute walk results with ARA 290. 3
- NCBI PMC A small phase 2 trial in diabetic macular edema found no average improvement in vision or retinal thickness at 12 weeks, though it was safe and produced no anti-drug antibodies. 12
- BioSpace Beyond sarcoidosis orphan status, ARA 290 also received US orphan and Fast Track designations for neuropathic pain in sarcoidosis, plus EU orphan designation. 2
- Seek Peptides Seek Peptides says ARA-290 has completed several Phase 2 trials but remains unapproved, and that roughly half of patients with moderate to severe baseline symptoms responded. 13
What does the research say, system by system?
Body & tissues2
Hormones & physiology1
- Non-erythropoietic (no hematocrit rise); anti-inflammatory tissue-protective signaling; HbA1c -0.2% vs placebo in T2Dhuman RCT1
Weight & metabolism1
- Improved metabolic control (HbA1c, lipid trends) in type 2 diabetes over 28 daysphase 2 human RCT1
Also notable1
- Expensive; often combined with other neuropathy therapies by usersanecdotal15
How strong is the evidence for ARA-290?
Small phase 2 human RCTs (promising) + anecdotes; not approved
Small, short, old, unblinded or single-group human studies. How tiers work
Questions about ARA-290
What is ARA-290?
11-amino-acid peptide engineered from erythropoietin's helix B that activates the tissue-protective 'innate repair receptor' (EPOR/CD131) without stimulating red blood cell production. ARA 290, ARA-290 and cibinetide are the same 11-amino-acid peptide; although modeled on erythropoietin, it is not an EPO drug and is not designed to raise red blood cells.
Is ARA-290 FDA-approved?
FDA granted ARA 290, then a clinical-stage product candidate, orphan drug designation for sarcoidosis in 2016, a designation that brings development incentives rather than an approval.
What is ARA-290 researched for?
The sources cited on this page most often discuss three outcomes: Small-fiber neuropathy; Less neuropathic pain; Numbness and tingling, anecdotal. Each line above shows what the source reports and how strong that evidence is.
What side effects of ARA-290 are reported?
Reported in the cited sources: No safety issues reported in phase 2 trials; Users report nerve 'flares', pins-and-needles, headaches; Long-term safety is unknown; published human trials lasted only weeks, the longest about 12 weeks. The list is not complete, and few listed risks does not mean a compound is safe.
How strong is the evidence for ARA-290?
Evidence label: Early human. Small phase 2 human RCTs (promising) + anecdotes; not approved.
What else is ARA-290 called?
Names used for it include cibinetide, ARA 290, helix B surface peptide, HBSP, pHBSP, ARA290.
Does humanpeptides.fyi recommend ARA-290?
No. humanpeptides.fyi makes no claims and no recommendations of its own. It summarizes and links to what others have published and posted. Nothing here is medical advice; talk to a licensed clinician.