ARA-290
Non-erythropoietic tissue-protective peptide derived from erythropoietin helix-B domain
- Class
- Innate repair agonist
- Half-life
- ~4-6 hours
- Route
- Subcutaneous (SubQ)
- Cadence
- Daily
- Evidence
- Human clinical trials
Overview
ARA-290 is an 11-amino-acid peptide carved out of the tissue-protective domain of erythropoietin — keeping the nerve-repair and anti-inflammatory signaling, stripping out everything that makes red blood cells. It was designed specifically to avoid the cardiovascular risks (elevated hematocrit, clotting) that stopped EPO from being used in non-anemic conditions, while holding on to EPO's ability to protect nerves and inflamed tissue.
It works through the innate repair receptor (IRR), a two-part receptor complex made of the EPO receptor plus the beta-common receptor (CD131). This complex normally sits quiet in healthy tissue but gets switched on hard when tissue is injured or inflamed — which is why ARA-290 shows strong effects in neuropathy and autoimmune nerve damage but doesn't do much if you're not injured. When it binds, it blocks cell-death signals, shuts down local inflammatory cascades (TNF-α, IL-6), and kicks off nerve-repair pathways.
The human evidence is narrow but real: two Phase II trials in small-fiber neuropathy (one in sarcoidosis, one in type-2 diabetes) showed measurable improvements in nerve fiber density in the cornea, reduced neuropathic pain scores, and better metabolic markers (HbA1c, lipids) in the diabetes cohort. The trials were small (20-50 people), short (4 weeks of daily dosing), and the effect sizes were modest but consistent. It earned FDA orphan-drug status for neuropathic pain in sarcoidosis, but no approval anywhere yet — the compound is investigational, and larger Phase III data never materialized.
Safety considerations
A few of the safety signals worth knowing — the full list, with dosing context and what to monitor, is inside AIx Core.
- Not approved by FDA, EMA, or any other regulator. Research-market peptide — purity and actual content vary wildly between sellers.
- Longest human safety data is 12 weeks (Dahan 2013 extension study). No data on prolonged use beyond that — unquantified risk if you run it for months.
- No erythropoietic effects observed in any trial at 4 mg/day, but at very high doses partial binding to classical EPO receptor can't be fully ruled out. If you're stacking high-dose ARA-290 with something that affects hematocrit (e.g., testosterone, high altitude), monitor CBC.
+ 3 more safety notes inside AIx Core →
Commonly monitored
Markers and signals people track when researching ARA-290.
- Neuropathic pain scores (validated tools like PainDetect or Brief Pain Inventory)
- HbA1c and fasting glucose if you have diabetes or prediabetes
- Lipid panel (cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides — trials showed modest improvements)
- Autonomic symptoms — orthostatic dizziness, dry eyes, gut motility (ARA-290 improved these in sarcoidosis trials)
- Injection-site reactions — track redness, swelling, or persistent nodules
Frequently asked questions
What is ARA-290?
Non-erythropoietic tissue-protective peptide derived from erythropoietin helix-B domain. ARA-290 is an 11-amino-acid peptide carved out of the tissue-protective domain of erythropoietin — keeping the nerve-repair and anti-inflammatory signaling, stripping out everything that makes red blood cells. It was designed specifically to avoid the cardiovascular risks (elevated hematocrit, clotting) that stopped EPO from being used in non-anemic conditions, while holding on to EPO's ability to protect nerves and inflamed tissue.
How is ARA-290 administered?
Subcutaneous (SubQ), typically daily.
What is the half-life of ARA-290?
~4-6 hours — Short plasma half-life; receptor engagement persists longer in injured tissue.
Is ARA-290 approved for human use?
ARA-290 is investigational — not approved by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA for human use at the time of writing.
What does the evidence show for ARA-290?
Evidence tier: Human clinical trials. Heij 2012: 22 sarcoidosis patients with small-fiber neuropathy, 2 mg IV three times weekly for 4 weeks. Small Fiber Neuropathy Screening List (SFNSL) score improved by -11.5 points in ARA-290 group vs -2.9 in placebo (p<0.05). Also saw improvements in SF-36 pain and physical-functioning subscales.
What is commonly monitored when researching ARA-290?
Commonly tracked markers + signals: Neuropathic pain scores (validated tools like PainDetect or Brief Pain Inventory), HbA1c and fasting glucose if you have diabetes or prediabetes, Lipid panel (cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides — trials showed modest improvements), Autonomic symptoms — orthostatic dizziness, dry eyes, gut motility (ARA-290 improved these in sarcoidosis trials), Injection-site reactions — track redness, swelling, or persistent nodules.
Related compounds
Open this in AIx Core for the full picture
Mechanism breakdown, receptor pathway diagram, full safety list, monitored items, source citations, and one-tap add-to-protocol. Free with any account.