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Longevity Stack
Peptides/Neuroprotective

ARA-290 (Cibinetide)

Grade B

Promising small-molecule peptide for diabetic neuropathy and sarcoidosis-related small fiber neuropathy. Phase II trials show improved nerve fiber density and reduced neuropathic pain without raising hematocrit.

Category
Neuroprotective
Evidence grade
B
Route
Subcutaneous injection
Half-life
~2 minutes systemic (sustained tissue receptor occupancy)
Typical dose
4 mg
Frequency
Once daily
Cycle length
28 days (typical trial protocol)
Best timing
Morning, subcutaneous (abdominal site)
Why ARA-290 (Cibinetide) matters

Neuropathy, inflammation. Promising small-molecule peptide for diabetic neuropathy and sarcoidosis-related small fiber neuropathy. Phase II trials show improved nerve fiber density and reduced neuropathic pain without raising hematocrit.

  • Improved corneal nerve fiber density in sarcoid neuropathy
  • Reduction in neuropathic pain scores (Phase II)
  • Anti-inflammatory effect without immunosuppression
  • No hematopoietic stimulation (unlike EPO)
Typical dose
4 mg
Frequency
Once daily
Route
Subcutaneous injection
Evidence
Grade B

Mechanism of Action

11-amino-acid peptide derived from erythropoietin's helix B. Binds the innate-repair receptor (a heterodimer of EPOR + βcR) to trigger tissue-protective and anti-inflammatory cascades without activating the hematopoietic EPO receptor.

Typical Protocol

Dose
4 mg
Frequency
Once daily
Duration
28 days (typical trial protocol)
Timing
Morning, subcutaneous (abdominal site)
Route
Subcutaneous injection
Half-life
~2 minutes systemic (sustained tissue receptor occupancy)

Educational reference only — not medical advice.

Pharmacokinetics & Dosing Rationale

ARA-290 (Cibinetide) is administered subcutaneous injection with an approximate systemic half-life of ~2 minutes systemic (sustained tissue receptor occupancy). Steady-state and tissue-level effects can outlast plasma concentration, which is why dosing frequency (Once daily) is designed to match receptor kinetics rather than plasma exposure. 11-amino-acid peptide derived from erythropoietin's helix B. Binds the innate-repair receptor (a heterodimer of EPOR + βcR) to trigger tissue-protective and anti-inflammatory cascades without activating the hematopoietic EPO receptor.

How to Administer

  1. Route: Subcutaneous injection. Typical starting dose 4 mg, Once daily.
  2. Timing: Morning, subcutaneous (abdominal site) — keep it the same each dosing day to make effects legible.
  3. Cycle length: 28 days (typical trial protocol). Reassess with bloods and symptom logs before repeating.
  4. Rotate sites across the abdomen (avoiding a 2 cm radius around the navel), outer thighs and flanks. Never inject through a bruise or mole.

Reconstitution & Injection Technique

  1. Reconstitute lyophilised powder with bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzyl alcohol) — sterile water is acceptable but shortens shelf life to ~72 hours.
  2. Typical dilution: add 2 mL of bacteriostatic water to a 5 mg vial → 2.5 mg/mL; a 10-unit insulin syringe mark = 0.25 mg.
  3. Inject the diluent slowly against the vial wall — never onto the powder — and gently swirl. Do not shake; peptides denature under shear.
  4. Once reconstituted, store upright in the refrigerator (2–8 °C) and use within 30 days.
  5. Draw the dose with an insulin syringe (29–31G, 8 mm), swab the site with alcohol, pinch subcutaneous tissue on the abdomen or thigh, inject at 90°.

Sterile technique is not optional. Use a fresh needle for every injection.

Cycling & Stacking Strategy

  • Standard protocol: 4 mg, Once daily, for 28 days (typical trial protocol).
  • Ramp up: start at the lower end of the dose range for the first 7–10 days to gauge tolerance and side effects before titrating.
  • Break periods let receptor sensitivity and endogenous feedback loops normalise — running back-to-back cycles without a wash-out erodes the effect.
  • Common stack: Alpha-lipoic acid, B-complex with methylated B12, Omega-3. Introduce one compound at a time so you can attribute effect and side effect.

Who This Is For

Good candidates
  • Adults with a specific, measurable goal aligned to neuropathy, inflammation.
  • People who already have baseline bloods, a training routine and a sleep protocol in place.
  • Users who can commit to a full cycle, log the protocol, and re-test biomarkers to evaluate response.
  • Anyone working with a clinician willing to supervise off-label or investigational protocols.
Not appropriate for
  • Anyone with active or recent malignancy, or a strong family cancer history where mechanism is angiogenic or growth-promoting.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women — human safety data is absent for almost all research peptides.
  • Adolescents and anyone under 21 whose endocrine axis is still developing.
  • People unwilling to run baseline and post-cycle bloods.
  • Specific contraindications for ARA-290 (Cibinetide): Active malignancy (limited data); Pregnancy and lactation.

What to Monitor

Neuropathy symptom scoreWeekly self-report — pain, numbness, tingling.
Nerve conduction (if clinical)Repeat at 3–6 months when under specialist supervision.
hs-CRPAnti-inflammatory effect often tracks with symptom improvement.
Take it with you

Download a printable version of this checklist to log baseline, weekly and post-cycle results.

Reported Benefits

  • Improved corneal nerve fiber density in sarcoid neuropathy
  • Reduction in neuropathic pain scores (Phase II)
  • Anti-inflammatory effect without immunosuppression
  • No hematopoietic stimulation (unlike EPO)

Safety Profile

Side effects
  • Injection site irritation
  • Mild headache
  • Short-term safety profile favorable in completed trials
Contraindications
  • Active malignancy (limited data)
  • Pregnancy and lactation
Known interactions
Open interactions explorer →
EPO / ESAsMechanistically distinct but caution if combined.
Storage & handling
  • Unreconstituted vials: store at 2–8 °C long-term; brief room-temperature excursions during shipping are usually acceptable.
  • Reconstituted vials: refrigerate at 2–8 °C, protect from light, use within 30 days.
  • Freezing: acceptable for unreconstituted powder if long-term storage is required; avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
  • Never use a vial that appears cloudy, discoloured or has visible particulates.

Common Mistakes

  • Chasing a bigger dose instead of consistency — ARA-290 (Cibinetide) outcomes track cumulative exposure, not peak concentration.
  • Skipping baseline bloods, so there is no way to know whether the cycle actually moved a biomarker.
  • Stacking three or four novel compounds at once — you lose the ability to attribute any effect or side effect.
  • Ignoring the training, sleep and nutrition fundamentals that are prerequisites for every peptide protocol.
  • Reusing insulin needles or failing to rotate injection sites — a preventable cause of local reactions and lipohypertrophy.

Evidence Grade — B

Grade B — supported by preclinical evidence plus at least one small human trial, pharmacokinetic study, or strong translational rationale. Human long-term safety is incomplete.

Below are the primary references used to grade ARA-290 (Cibinetide). Follow the links for full-text where available and cross-check against the current literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical ARA-290 (Cibinetide) protocol?+

4 mg, Once daily, for 28 days (typical trial protocol). Route: Subcutaneous injection. Timing: Morning, subcutaneous (abdominal site). Half-life: ~2 minutes systemic (sustained tissue receptor occupancy).

How does ARA-290 (Cibinetide) work?+

11-amino-acid peptide derived from erythropoietin's helix B. Binds the innate-repair receptor (a heterodimer of EPOR + βcR) to trigger tissue-protective and anti-inflammatory cascades without activating the hematopoietic EPO receptor.

How long before I see results from ARA-290 (Cibinetide)?+

Most users track a full 28 days (typical trial protocol) cycle before judging response. Subjective changes can appear within 1–3 weeks, but objective biomarker shifts typically need the full cycle plus repeat labs.

Is ARA-290 (Cibinetide) legal?+

Investigational drug; not approved for general human therapeutic use.

What are the main side effects of ARA-290 (Cibinetide)?+

Injection site irritation; Mild headache; Short-term safety profile favorable in completed trials.

What should I stack with ARA-290 (Cibinetide)?+

Commonly combined with: Alpha-lipoic acid, B-complex with methylated B12, Omega-3. Introduce one compound at a time to preserve attribution.

What biomarkers should I monitor on ARA-290 (Cibinetide)?+

Baseline and post-cycle: full blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, and category-specific markers for neuroprotective peptides (see the monitoring section on this page).

Can I run ARA-290 (Cibinetide) back-to-back?+

Off-cycle periods let receptor sensitivity and endogenous feedback normalise. Continuous dosing without a wash-out typically produces diminishing returns and a poorer safety margin.

References

  1. [1]ARA 290 improves symptoms in patients with sarcoidosis-associated small nerve fiber loss — Molecular Medicine, 2015

Further reading: Research library → · Protocols →

Comparison vs Alternatives

Open full comparison →All Peptides →
AttributeARA-290 (Cibinetide)This pageRetatrutideBPC-157
EvidenceGrade BGrade AGrade B
CategoryNeuroprotectiveMetabolicRegenerative
Best forNeuropathy, inflammationTriple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon agonistTissue repair, gut integrity
Typical dose4 mgTitrated 2 mg → 4 mg → 8 mg → 12 mg250–500 mcg
FrequencyOnce dailyOnce weekly1–2× daily
RouteSubcutaneous injectionSubcutaneous injectionSubcutaneous or oral (gut-localized)
Legal statusInvestigational drug; not approved for general human therapeutic use.Investigational; not yet FDA-approved. Currently available only via clinical trials.Not approved by the FDA for human use. Sold as a research chemical in most jurisdictions.
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