Tissue RepairWADA Prohibited
ARA-290
Synonyms: Cibinetide
Sequence: Pyr-Glu-Gln-Leu-Glu-Arg-Ala-Leu-Asn-Ser-Ser
Critical Safety & Regulatory Notice
ARA-290 is classified as a regulated, unapproved, or research-only substance. Doping/Regulatory Status: FDA Orphan Drug Designation. Not prohibited by WADA.. Clinical safety profiles for human use are deficient or not approved.
History & Discovery Timeline
ARA-290 (Cibinetide) was developed by Araim Pharmaceuticals in the late 2000s. The goal was to isolate the tissue-protective properties of erythropoietin (EPO) without stimulating red blood cell production.
What it is: ARA-290 is a synthetic 11-amino-acid peptide modeled after the loop A region of erythropoietin. It is classified under Tissue Repair and targeting neuropathic pain.
Proposed Mechanisms & Research Findings: It acts as a selective agonist at the , a heterocomplex of erythropoietin receptor and CD131. This activates tissue-protective pathways, resolving inflammation and promoting nerve regeneration.
Regulatory & Safety Status: It holds FDA Orphan Drug designation for sarcoidosis-associated neuropathy but is not fully approved. Sourcing unregulated versions poses significant clinical risks due to lack of dosage standardization.
Athletic & Anti-Doping Status: Unlike full EPO, ARA-290 does not stimulate erythropoiesis (red blood cell production), and it is not prohibited by WADA, though it remains under monitoring.
Understanding ARA-290 Key Facts
Primary Target System:CNS, IMMUNE
Residue Count / Length:11 Amino Acids
Primary Action & Category:Erythropoietin receptor agonist (Tissue Repair)
Primary Receptors:Innate Repair Receptor (IRR), EPOR-betaCR Heterodimer, Macrophage EPO receptors
Figure 1: Detailed molecular mechanism pathways of ARA-290 (click to enlarge).