ARA-290 (16 mg vial)
Once daily subcutaneous protocol for tissue-repair research.
ARA-290, also called cibinetide, is an erythropoietin-derived peptide that activates the innate repair receptor without stimulating red blood cells, and it has real human trial history in sarcoidosis small-fiber neuropathy. The protocol below is once daily subcutaneous.
Quick answer: at the standard 16 mg + 1.6 mL reconstitution, a 4 mg dose of ARA-290 draws 40 units (0.4 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe, once daily subcutaneous.
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Protocol overview
Dosing & reconstitution
Frequency: Once daily subcutaneous
Typical duration: 4-8 weeks
Reconstitution: 16 mg vial + 1.6 mL bacteriostatic water = 10 mg/mL. Units below are for a U-100 insulin syringe at this concentration.
| Phase | Dose | Units per injection |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 2 mg | 20 units (0.2 mL) |
| Weeks 2-8+ | 4 mg | 40 units (0.4 mL) |
Units = (dose ÷ concentration) × 100 on a U-100 syringe. Change the vial size or water volume and the calculator redoes all of this for you.
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ARA-290 dosing schedule
The regimen below comes from an investigator-initiated, single-site, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in sarcoidosis patients with symptoms of small-fibre neuropathy. The 4 mg subcutaneous amount was not chosen freely — it came out of a ten-volunteer crossover pharmacokinetic study, where 4 mg given subcutaneously produced roughly the exposure of the 2 mg intravenous amount used in the earlier work in this indication.
| Phase | Amount | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trial arm | 4 mg | Daily, subcutaneous | Injected into the upper leg or lower abdomen for 28 consecutive days. The only amount this trial administered. |
Study length: 28 days of dosing, with blinded follow-up for a further 12 weeks. 38 patients — 21 active, 17 placebo.
Reconstitution and measurement
This part is arithmetic and does not depend on the evidence level. Concentration is vial size divided by the bacteriostatic water you add. Draw volume is your target amount divided by that concentration. Units are draw volume times 100, because a U-100 syringe reads 100 units per millilitre. Common vials for ARA-290: 10 mg.
- Wipe the stoppers of both vials with an alcohol swab and let them dry.
- Draw the bacteriostatic water with a sterile syringe and inject it slowly down the inside wall of the peptide vial — never straight onto the powder.
- Swirl gently until the solution is clear. Do not shake; foaming and agitation damage peptides.
- Label the vial with the date and concentration, and refrigerate at 2–8 °C protected from light.
Worked example at the calculator defaults: 10 mg + 2 mL of bacteriostatic water = 5 mg/mL, so on a U-100 insulin syringe 1 unit = 50 mcg of ARA-290. Change either input and the calculator redoes this for you.
Storage and stability
Supplies math
Whatever amounts your research uses, the planning arithmetic is the same. The calculator runs all of this per compound.
Supplies by protocol length
Based on the maintenance dose above (4 mg, once daily subcutaneous) and a 16 mg vial reconstituted with 1.6 mL.
| Duration | Injections | Vials | Syringes | Bac water | Swabs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | 56 | 14 x 16 mg | 62 | 3 x 10 mL | 112 |
| 12 weeks | 84 | 21 x 16 mg | 93 | 4 x 10 mL | 168 |
| 16 weeks | 112 | 28 x 16 mg | 124 | 5 x 10 mL | 224 |
Syringe count includes ~10% spares. Swabs = 2 per injection (stopper + site). Vial count assumes the full maintenance dose for the entire duration.
Important notes
Practical considerations for consistency and safety.
- Use a new sterile insulin syringe for each injection and dispose in a proper sharps container.
- Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thighs, upper arms) systematically to reduce local irritation and avoid lipohypertrophy.
- Inject slowly and steadily; wait a few seconds before withdrawing the needle to ensure complete delivery.
- Administer at the same time each day for consistent levels. Setting a daily reminder helps maintain the schedule.
- The 16 mg vial size is standard for this compound. Reconstitute with 1.6 mL bacteriostatic water for a convenient concentration.
How ARA-290 works
An 11-amino-acid peptide designed to reproduce a surface feature of the helix-B domain of erythropoietin — it is a shape mimic rather than a contiguous fragment, and its own discovery paper describes it as unrelated to EPO in primary sequence. It is proposed to engage the innate repair receptor without the erythropoietic activity of EPO. That receptor model is contested in the literature.
Benefits & side effects
Potential benefits
- EPO-derived peptide without erythropoietic effects
- Neuroprotective properties in preclinical models
- Anti-inflammatory via innate repair receptor
- Potential for neuropathic pain management
Possible side effects
- Injection site reactions
- Well tolerated in available clinical studies
- Headache reported occasionally
- Limited long-term safety data
This list reflects published literature and community reports. Individual responses vary. Not medical advice.
Bloodwork worth tracking
The community-standard practice is a baseline panel before starting, a recheck 8 to 12 weeks in, and another after time off. For ARA-290, the markers most worth watching:
CMPCBCHbA1c
Typical time off: 2-4 wks
Lab panels are how a research protocol stays honest: numbers move before symptoms do. Interpretation belongs with a clinician. Not medical advice.
Lifestyle factors
None of the literature above was run on a background of poor sleep and no protein. These variables move outcomes more reliably than any compound on this site.
- Protein in the 1.6 to 2.2 g/kg range preserves lean mass through any body-composition phase.
- Resistance training 2 to 4 days per week plus 150+ minutes of weekly aerobic work reinforces whatever the protocol is doing.
- Sleep is the recovery window: 7 to 9 hours at consistent times.
- Hydration matters more than usual on compounds with GI or flushing effects: 2 to 3 liters daily.
- Track the variables that matter: weigh-ins, measurements, photos, and labs at sensible intervals.
Subcutaneous technique and practical notes
General best practice from clinical injection guidance — the same fundamentals nurses are taught, none of it specific to any compound.
References
Quick answers
How many syringe units is a 4 mg dose of ARA-290?
At the standard reconstitution of 16 mg with 1.6 mL bacteriostatic water (10 mg/mL), a 4 mg dose draws 40 units (0.4 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe.
How do you reconstitute ARA-290?
Add 1.6 mL of bacteriostatic water to the 16 mg vial for 10 mg/mL. Inject the water slowly down the inside wall of the vial, swirl gently without shaking, and refrigerate at 2 to 8 °C after mixing.
How long does a 16 mg vial of ARA-290 last?
About 4 maintenance doses of 4 mg, roughly 0.6 weeks at once daily subcutaneous.
Does ARA-290 have human trial data?
Yes. The dosing on this page is anchored to published human research (Dahan A et al., "ARA 290 improves symptoms in patients with sarcoidosis-associated small nerve fiber loss and increases corneal nerve fiber density", Mol Med 2013).
How does ARA-290 work?
An 11-amino-acid peptide designed to reproduce a surface feature of the helix-B domain of erythropoietin — it is a shape mimic rather than a contiguous fragment, and its own discovery paper describes it as unrelated to EPO in primary sequence. It is proposed to engage the innate repair receptor without the erythropoietic activity of EPO. That receptor model is contested in the literature.
Sourcing ARA-290
Whatever you are working with, the documentation matters more than the price. Ask for a batch certificate of analysis whose lot number matches the vial you actually receive — a COA for a different batch tells you nothing about yours.
ARA-290 at Summit Research Supply → Grade a COA first
Summit is the supplier we feature and an affiliate link. Our COA checklist applies the same way to any vendor.
