ARA-290
Also known as: Cibinetide
ARA-290 is an 11-amino-acid synthetic peptide derived from erythropoietin that targets the innate repair receptor without driving red blood cell production. Has Phase 2 human trial data for small fiber neuropathy. Not approved anywhere; sold in the research-chem space.
Last reviewed · Panya.health editorial
Panya scores vendors against an 11-signal rubric. Vendors at or above 70 out of 100 are routable; below 70 are documented but get no Panya affiliate link. For prescription peptides like Mounjaro and Wegovy, Panya routes today through licensed clinicians. For research peptides like ARA-290, vendor scorecards land in a follow-up sprint after legal review and payment processor selection. Until then, the page surfaces commonly-mentioned vendor names so adults can do their own diligence. We do not yet earn commission on any ARA-290 vendor.
Not medical advice. ARA-290 is not approved for human medical use in most jurisdictions. The data below is what users do; it is not what regulators have validated. You decide your risk profile.
What it does, and how
ARA-290 (also called cibinetide) was developed by Araim Pharmaceuticals from work by Patrick Brines, Michael Brines, and Anthony Cerami separating erythropoietin's two distinct biological effects. EPO acts at two receptors: a homodimeric EPOR on red blood cell precursors (hematopoietic effect) and a heterodimer of EPOR with the beta common receptor on tissues like nerve, vascular endothelium, and macrophages (tissue-protective effect). ARA-290 was designed to bind only the heteromer (the 'innate repair receptor') and produce EPO's anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective signaling without the hematocrit-elevating side effects that limit EPO itself. Mechanism in neuropathic pain is hypothesised to be reduction of inflammation in damaged sensory nerve fibres plus stimulation of nerve fibre regrowth.
Typical practice
Phase 2 trial dose was 4 mg subcutaneous daily for 28 days (sarcoidosis small fiber neuropathy trial; Heij 2012, Dahan 2013). Community practice typically follows that protocol or a longer 4 mg daily for 8 to 12 weeks for users targeting peripheral neuropathy. Reconstitution is 16 mg vial in 4 mL bacteriostatic water, drawing 1 mL daily. Some users dose 2 mg twice daily on the theory of more stable receptor occupancy. There is no published comparison of dose schedules in humans; whatever you find online for non-neuropathy use cases (recovery, longevity stacking) is extrapolated, not validated.
The dosing above is community practice, not a regulator-validated protocol. Trial-validated dosing for ARA-290 in humans does not exist for most use cases listed.
Risks and contraindications
ARA-290's published human safety profile is unusually good for a research peptide: the Phase 2 sarcoidosis trial reported no significant adverse events at 4 mg daily for 28 days, and the diabetic neuropathy trial extended that to 12 weeks without raising hematocrit. That's a narrow window of safety, not a blanket clearance. Long-term safety beyond a few months is uncharacterised. Theoretical risks include effects on tumor angiogenesis (the EPOR / beta common receptor heteromer is expressed on some tumor cells, though selective targeting may reduce this concern compared to EPO itself). Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and active cancer remain off-limits by default. The other real risk: research-chem-sourced ARA-290 is rarely the actual peptide. Quality control on this molecule is worse than for BPC-157 because it's far less commonly synthesised.
Where this stands legally
FDA has not approved ARA-290 for any indication. Phase 2 trials completed, Phase 3 not pursued by Araim. Sold legally as a research chemical 'not for human consumption.' Not on the 503A bulks list.
Not a controlled substance. MHRA does not regulate research peptides; sale is technically lawful but human use is medically unsupervised.
Not on EMA's approved list. The Leiden University trial work (Dahan, Niesters) was conducted in the Netherlands but did not lead to authorisation. WADA-banned in sport under S2.1 (EPO mimetics).
TGA treats unapproved peptides as Schedule 4 (prescription-only) by default. Personal-use imports of research peptides are actively investigated. Don't import without a prescription.
Not formally scheduled. Available through research-peptide channels and a small number of Bangkok wellness clinics that import for chronic-pain clients. FDA Thailand has not enforced against personal use as of 2026.
MOHAP treats unapproved peptides as prescription-only by default. Personal-use imports require a doctor's letter and are commonly held at customs.
Where users say they source it
Names below are sourced from community discussion. None are currently scored against the Panya 11-signal rubric. Panya does not earn commission on any of these. You can search them yourself; treat the list as a starting point for your own diligence, not an endorsement.
- Pure RawzPending Panya 11-signal audit
- Limitless LifePending Panya 11-signal audit
- AminolabsPending Panya 11-signal audit
- Peptide Sciences (US, fewer batches than the more popular peptides)Pending Panya 11-signal audit
Full vendor scorecards for ARA-290 land in a follow-up sprint after lawyer review and payment processor selection. We will not route users to any vendor that scores below 70 on the rubric.
Papers worth reading directly
- Brines et al. — ARA 290, a nonerythropoietic peptide engineered from erythropoietin, improves metabolic control and neuropathic symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes. Mol Med, 2014 →
- Heij et al. — Safety and efficacy of ARA 290 in sarcoidosis patients with symptoms of small fiber neuropathy: a randomized, double-blind pilot study. Mol Med, 2012 →
- Dahan et al. — ARA 290 improves symptoms in patients with sarcoidosis-associated small nerve fiber loss and increases corneal nerve fiber density. Mol Med, 2013 →
- Brines & Cerami — The receptor that tames the innate immune response. Mol Med, 2012 (mechanism background on the EPOR / beta common heteromer) →
Panya blog posts
The phrase on every grey-market peptide site. What it actually means, what it does not mean, and why reading it wrong costs people money.
The five things that matter on a COA, the three things that do not, and the one question that separates a serious vendor from a cargo-cult operator.
The clinic route costs more and takes longer. The research-chem route puts more on you. Neither is wrong. Here is how to choose.
Adjacent reading
Track ARA-290 in your peptide journal.
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