RESEARCH MONOGRAPH · KDC-MN-126

ARA-290 (Cibinetide)

May 9, 2026 Kodiac biolabs Research Revised May 30, 2026 2 min read

Our opinion on this compound

67/100

An EPO fragment with the cytoprotection but without the hematopoiesis, and the neuropathy signal is real

ARA-290 is one of those compounds where the design story is actually elegant. Brines and Cerami spent years figuring out that EPO's tissue-protective effects (mitochondrial preservation, anti-apoptotic signaling, anti-inflammatory tone) run through a different receptor complex (EPOR/CD131 heterodimer) than the erythropoietic effects (homodimeric EPOR). ARA-290 is an 11-mer pulled from the helix B region of EPO that binds the protective receptor but not the hematopoietic one. So you get the tissue benefit without the hematocrit problem. Thats genuinely clever pharmacology.

The clinical signal that matters is in sarcoidosis-associated small-fiber neuropathy. The Dahan group in Leiden ran several trials showing improvements in neuropathic symptoms and corneal nerve fiber density on confocal microscopy. The corneal nerve regrowth data is the part that makes us pay attention, because thats a structural readout, not just a patient-reported outcome. There's also a type 2 diabetes neuropathy trial with positive signal on similar endpoints.

Mechanism-wise the receptor pharmacology is well-mapped but the downstream story is still being worked out. JAK2/STAT5 modulation, decreased TNF, mitochondrial stabilization. Plausible, partly mapped, not textbook.

What we like: the cytoprotective concept is generalizable. If you're interested in nerve injury, ischemia-reperfusion, or chronic inflammatory states, this is a tool worth understanding even if the clinical program never finishes. The safety profile from the trials done so far is pretty clean, which makes sense given you've removed the erythropoietic activity.

What we dont like: it's an 11-mer with daily subcutaneous dosing in the trials, which makes it operationally awkward for research that wants steady-state exposure. Half-life is short. And the sourcing market has gotten weird because development moved through Araim Pharmaceuticals and licensing deals that fragmented availability.

Sourcing realities: short peptide, HPLC validation is straightforward, but vendor quality varies more than you'd expect for a sequence this short. Get a COA, check it against a known reference if you can.

Honestly, this is a slept-on tool. Most people who follow EPO biology stopped paying attention after the doping scandals; ARA-290 lives in the much more interesting cytoprotection corner that came out the other side.

Evidence: 55
Mechanism: 75
Reliability: 60
Safety: 82
Sourcing: 68
Value: 60
Signal: 65
Staying power: 70

Plain-language summary Intrigue 78 / 100

ARA-290 (cibinetide) is an 11-amino-acid peptide derived from the helix B portion of erythropoietin. It activates a tissue-protective receptor without raising hematocrit. Investigated for neuropathic pain. Not stocked by Kodiac. This monograph is provided for research and educational reference.

Intrigue 0–100 blends mechanism novelty, evidence strength, and translational potential. Kodiac editorial, not peer-reviewed.

EPO-derived helix B peptide

An 11-amino-acid fragment of erythropoietin's helix B with tissue-protective activity but without erythropoietic activity.

Abstract

ARA-290 (Cibinetide; Gln-Glu-Gln-Leu-Glu-Arg-Ala-Leu-Asn-Ser-Ser; CAS 1208243-50-8) is an 11-residue peptide derived from the alpha-helix B region of erythropoietin (EPO). The peptide retains the tissue-protective and anti-inflammatory activity of EPO (mediated through the heteromeric EPO/CD131 innate repair receptor) without the erythropoietic activity (mediated through the EPO receptor homodimer). The compound was developed by Araim Pharmaceuticals for diabetic neuropathy, sarcoidosis-associated small fiber neuropathy, and other neuropathic pain indications. Phase 2 trials in sarcoidosis-associated SFN showed reductions in neuropathic pain and improvements in autonomic measures. Reported research dose ranges in the literature are around 4 mg subcutaneously.

Mechanism of action

Tissue-protective EPO/CD131 innate repair receptor agonist without erythropoietic EPO receptor activation.

Reported research dose ranges

Reported research dose ranges in the literature: around 4 mg (subcutaneous).

References

Brines M, et al. ARA 290, a nonerythropoietic peptide engineered from erythropoietin, improves metabolic control and neuropathic symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes. Mol Med 2015.

Read the full monograph

The full reference document covers compound identification, discovery and developmental history, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, reported research dose ranges, sourcing and quality verification, reconstitution and handling, stack interaction considerations, and a curated reference list. Available as a research-use-only PDF download.

KDC-MN-126

The full reference document is provided strictly for research use only. It reports research dose ranges from the published literature, not instructions for use in humans or animals.

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FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for medical, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. Not for human consumption. All information is provided for research and educational purposes only.

Kodiac sells research compounds for investigative use only.

ARA-290 (Cibinetide)

Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

Read the full monograph

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Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

Read the full monograph

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