ARA-290 calculator
A peptide derived from erythropoietin, studied for nerve pain and tissue repair without the blood-thickening effects of EPO. Investigational.
Also known as: Cibinetide, Erythropoietin-derived peptide
FDA status — not an approved drug Not FDA-approved for any use. ARA-290 (cibinetide) is an investigational peptide that has been through human trials but is not approved.
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What ARA-290 is
ARA-290 (cibinetide) is a small peptide derived from erythropoietin (EPO), engineered to keep EPO's tissue-protective and anti-inflammatory effects without its red-blood-cell-stimulating activity. It has been through early human trials for neuropathic pain and inflammatory conditions, with some encouraging results, and remains investigational.
Research depth: 3/5 Early human trials with encouraging results; investigational and not approved. Human trials: Early-phase human trials. This measures how much has been studied — counting animal and laboratory work — not whether it works for you.
How ARA-290 works
It activates the innate repair receptor, a different target from the classic EPO receptor, triggering tissue-protective and anti-inflammatory signaling. Because it avoids the classic EPO receptor, it does not stimulate red blood cell production — sidestepping the clotting and blood-pressure risks that limit EPO.
ARA-290 side effects
Commonly reported
- Injection-site reactions
- Generally well tolerated in early trials
- Headache reported
Serious — seek medical care
- Investigational — not approved
- Long-term safety not yet established
- Immune-modulating effects are still being characterized
This list is not exhaustive. Report anything unexpected to the clinician who prescribed it. If you have severe abdominal pain, trouble breathing, or signs of an allergic reaction, seek care the same day. See also our guide to peptide side effects by class.
A worked example
A 10 mg vial reconstituted with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water gives 5 mg/mL. A 4000 mcg dose is then 0.8 mL — about 80 units on a 100-unit insulin syringe, giving roughly 2 doses per vial before accounting for residual volume left in the vial and syringe.
Prefer paper? Download the printable ARA-290 dosing chart (PDF) — every vial size and water volume in syringe units, with the same review byline as this page. All charts →
Commonly cited dose range
Figures circulating for ARA-290 run from 1000 mcg to 8000 mcg. Research protocols use daily subcutaneous amounts. Figures shown reflect published trial dosing in micrograms. This is investigational data, not a prescribing guide.
Read this as reference information, not instruction. These numbers describe what is commonly discussed, not what is right for any individual. Dose, frequency, and whether to use ARA-290 at all are decisions for a licensed clinician who knows your history.
Common questions
Has ARA-290 been tested in humans?
Yes, in early human trials for conditions like diabetic nerve pain and sarcoidosis-related neuropathy, with some positive results. It remains investigational and is not approved.
How is ARA-290 related to EPO?
It is a small peptide derived from a non-erythropoietic part of the erythropoietin molecule. It keeps EPO's tissue-protective signaling without stimulating red blood cell production, avoiding EPO's blood-thickening risk.