---
title: "ARA-290: what sources report"
url: https://humanpeptides.fyi/peptides/ara-290
site: humanpeptides.fyi
last_reviewed: 2026-10-11
---


# ARA-290

> humanpeptides.fyi makes no claims of its own. Every statement below reports what a cited source says, with its link. Not medical advice.

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.

## At a glance

- **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

## 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; anti-inflammatory/nerve-repair agent; investigational (orphan designations), NOT FDA-approved. Sources: <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4365069/>

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. Source: <https://www.biospace.com/araim-pharmaeuticals-receives-orphan-drug-designation-from-the-us-fda-for-ara-290-for-the-treatment-of-sarcoidosis>

## What is ARA-290 researched for?

### 1. Small-fiber neuropathy

- Improves small-fiber neuropathy: in sarcoidosis, 28 days of 4 mg/day increased corneal nerve fiber area and regenerating skin fibers and improved neuropathic symptoms (phase 2/2b human RCTs) Sources: <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3883966/>, <https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2625918>, <https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02039687>
- Goals: [Nerves & Pain](https://humanpeptides.fyi/objectives/nerves)

### 2. Less neuropathic pain

- Improved neuropathic pain (PainDetect) and modestly lowered HbA1c in type 2 diabetics with painful neuropathy (phase 2 human RCT, n=42) Sources: <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4365069/>, <https://link.springer.com/article/10.2119/molmed.2014.00215>
- Goals: [Nerves & Pain](https://humanpeptides.fyi/objectives/nerves), [Fat Loss & Metabolism](https://humanpeptides.fyi/objectives/fat-loss)

### 3. Numbness and tingling, anecdotal

- Users report reduced neuropathic pain, numbness, tingling within days to weeks; benefits often fade after stopping (anecdotal Reddit) Sources: <https://www.reddit.com/r/neuropathy/comments/1uavvbs/ara290_whats_your_experience/>, <https://www.reddit.com/r/smallfiberneuropathy/comments/v44s3q/effectiveness_of_ara290my_assessment/>, <https://www.reddit.com/r/neuropathy/comments/1tncdyo/ara290_peptide_and_rebuilder_2407_have_changed_my/>
- Goals: [Nerves & Pain](https://humanpeptides.fyi/objectives/nerves)

## What do researchers and users say about ARA-290?

> "On the basis of these results and of prior studies, ARA 290 is a potential disease-modifying agent for treatment of sarcoidosis-associated SNFLD."
>
> Dahan A, et al., ARA 290 Improves Symptoms in Patients with Sarcoidosis-Associated Small Nerve Fiber Loss and Increases Corneal Nerve Fiber Density (Molecular Medicine, 2013). <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3883966/>

Context: Blinded, placebo-controlled trial in sarcoidosis patients with small nerve fiber loss (SNFLD).

> "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."
>
> Dr. Daniel Culver, Cleveland Clinic, Araim Pharmaceuticals Receives Orphan Drug Designation From The US FDA For ARA 290. <https://www.biospace.com/araim-pharmaeuticals-receives-orphan-drug-designation-from-the-us-fda-for-ara-290-for-the-treatment-of-sarcoidosis>

Context: 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."
>
> Anonymous user, r/neuropathy, Peptide ARA-290. <https://www.reddit.com/r/neuropathy/comments/1o33123/peptide_ara290/>

Context: 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 trials Sources: <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4365069/>, <https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2013-003016-45/results>
- Users report nerve 'flares', pins-and-needles, headaches (anecdotal) Sources: <https://www.reddit.com/r/neuropathy/comments/1o33123/peptide_ara290/>
- Long-term safety is unknown; published human trials lasted only weeks, the longest about 12 weeks. (human trial) Sources: <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7408632/>
- Less common reports of dizziness, slight heart-rate increases and minor liver enzyme elevations, plus mild stomach upset. (secondary summary) Sources: <https://www.seekpeptides.com/blog/articles/ara-290-peptide-benefits>
- Not studied in pregnancy or nursing; theoretical caution in active cancer because of its tissue-protective action. (secondary summary) Sources: <https://www.seekpeptides.com/blog/articles/ara-290-peptide-benefits>

## 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. <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4365069/>
- **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. <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3883966/>
- **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. <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7408632/>
- **BioSpace:** Beyond sarcoidosis orphan status, ARA 290 also received US orphan and Fast Track designations for neuropathic pain in sarcoidosis, plus EU orphan designation. <https://www.biospace.com/araim-pharmaeuticals-receives-orphan-drug-designation-from-the-us-fda-for-ara-290-for-the-treatment-of-sarcoidosis>
- **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. <https://www.seekpeptides.com/blog/articles/ara-290-peptide-benefits>

## What does the research say, system by system?

### Body & tissues

- Peripheral small nerve fibers: increased corneal nerve fiber area and GAP-43+ regenerating skin fibers (human RCT) Sources: <https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2625918>
- Improved 6-minute walk in sarcoidosis (human RCT) Sources: <https://link.springer.com/article/10.2119/molmed.2013.00122>

### Hormones & physiology

- Non-erythropoietic (no hematocrit rise); anti-inflammatory tissue-protective signaling; HbA1c -0.2% vs placebo in T2D (human RCT) Sources: <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4365069/>

### Weight & metabolism

- Improved metabolic control (HbA1c, lipid trends) in type 2 diabetes over 28 days (phase 2 human RCT) Sources: <https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4365069/>

### Also notable

- Expensive; often combined with other neuropathy therapies by users (anecdotal) Sources: <https://www.reddit.com/r/smallfiberneuropathy/comments/vlbxty/ara290_for_neuropathic_pain/>

## How strong is the evidence for ARA-290?

**Early human** (3 of 5). Small phase 2 human RCTs (promising) + anecdotes; not approved

_Small, short, old, unblinded or single-group human studies._

## 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.

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