Erythropoietin-derived research peptide · Fact sheet
ARA-290
Also known as Cibinetide · Helix B surface peptide · HBSP
ARA-290 is an erythropoietin-derived peptide studied for small-fiber neuropathy. Small trials in sarcoidosis found nerve-fiber or symptom signals, but they have not established a broadly effective nerve-repair treatment.
What is ARA-290?
Cibinetide was designed to activate tissue-protective signaling without the red-cell stimulation of erythropoietin.
Sarcoidosis-associated neuropathy is a specific disease population, not a model for every cause of pain or injury.
Benefits & claims
Interest centers on neuropathic symptoms and nerve regeneration. Corneal nerve-fiber measurements are surrogate markers rather than proof of restored daily function.
What the evidence supports
- Some trials found improved neuropathy questionnaires or nerve-fiber measurements.
- Pain and fatigue also improved in placebo recipients in the pilot, limiting causal interpretation.
- Larger trials with meaningful clinical outcomes are needed before claiming reliable nerve repair.
Research areas
- Sarcoidosis-associated small-fiber neuropathy
- Neuropathic symptoms
- Corneal nerve-fiber measures
Dosage & frequency
Human study contextA published sarcoidosis pilot provides a study regimen, not an approved or general-purpose nerve-repair schedule.
2012 randomized ARA-290 sarcoidosis pilot
22 adults with sarcoidosis and small-fiber neuropathy symptoms
- Amount
- 2 mg ARA-290 in the active group
- Frequency
- Three times weekly for four weeks
- Route studied or labeled
- Intravenous, under the study protocol
12 received ARA-290 and 10 placebo. Some symptom measures improved in both groups; the small study does not establish routine treatment or other routes.
How to read these amounts
An approved regimen belongs to a specific product, indication, and population. A study regimen describes what researchers tested; it does not establish a prescription or a safe self-use protocol. Products, routes, and formulations are not interchangeable. A prescriber uses the full label and individual clinical circumstances.
Personal accounts may describe amounts, schedules and outcomes beyond clinical research. They do not establish a regimen. Read the reported experiences
Formulations, interactions & practical context
- Identity and pharmacology
- Cibinetide was designed to activate tissue-protective signaling without the red-cell stimulation of erythropoietin.
Formulation differences
- Sarcoidosis-associated neuropathy is a specific disease population, not a model for every cause of pain or injury.
Interactions & precautions
- The reviewed sources do not establish a comprehensive human interaction profile for this exact substance or combination.
What is still unresolved
- Durable relief and functional improvement
- Benefit in other neuropathy populations
- Long-term safety
Side effects & risks
- Small, short studies did not reveal a clear safety signal, but cannot establish uncommon or long-term harms.
- Designed lack of red-cell stimulation does not establish freedom from every erythropoietin-related or unrelated risk.
This is a summary of the cited evidence, not a complete product label. A lack of human safety data does not establish safety.
Clinical research
Early human evidenceA 22-person pilot and subsequent sarcoidosis studies supply early human evidence. In the 64-person trial, the 4 mg group improved corneal nerve-fiber area; its pain comparison was not statistically significant.
Studies
22-person four-week study; symptom and placebo-response findings.
28-day subcutaneous study in sarcoidosis-associated nerve-fiber loss.
64 participants; dose groups and surrogate endpoint results.
Personal experiences
Reports describe what someone noticed. They cannot establish cause, typical results, or how often a side effect happens. Amounts and schedules describe the individual account, not an effective or safe dose. Product identity and strength may be unverified, and missing details are left explicit.
No attributable personal accounts were found in the sources reviewed.
Approval status
ARA-290 has no FDA-approved therapeutic product. The cited phase 2 studies document historical clinical research, not an approved neuropathy indication.
Phase 2 research; no FDA-approved product
Approval covers the labeled product, use and population. A trial phase does not establish success; a stopped program is not ongoing research.
Open questions
- Durable relief and functional improvement
- Benefit in other neuropathy populations
- Long-term safety
Summary
Larger trials with meaningful clinical outcomes are needed before claiming reliable nerve repair.
Sources
Medical evidence and regulatory sources are listed here. Personal reports are linked separately in the experiences section.
- pubmedARA-290 randomized sarcoidosis pilot
22-person four-week study; symptom and placebo-response findings.
- pubmedARA-290 and small nerve fibers
28-day subcutaneous study in sarcoidosis-associated nerve-fiber loss.
- pubmedCibinetide phase 2b nerve-fiber trial
64 participants; dose groups and surrogate endpoint results.