What is ARA-290?

ARA-290 (also written ARA 290) is a synthetic peptide developed as a non-hematopoietic analogue of erythropoietin. It is classified as an innate repair receptor agonist. The evidence block for this page does not supply a sequence, molecular formula, or molecular weight for the compound, so none is stated here. The clinical research record describes it as a peptide that does not carry the effects of erythropoietin on blood cells [4].

The work on this compound centres on the innate repair receptor, a receptor complex whose activation is reported to produce anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity across a range of cells, tissues and organs [2].

Research Studies

ARA-290 and diabetic macular oedema in type 1 or type 2 diabetes

A prospective, open-label, interventional, single-centre, investigator-led phase II trial, ARA 290-DMO, was designed to examine the effect of ARA-290 on diabetic macular oedema in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes [1]. The primary objective was to determine whether ARA-290 administered at a daily dose of 4 mg subcutaneously for 12 weeks to patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic macular oedema would have a beneficial effect on the mean change in best corrected visual acuity from baseline to week 12 [1]. This is a registered trial record; the evidence block does not report its results.

ARA-290 and corneal nerve fiber density and neuropathic symptoms in sarcoidosis

A separate study was set up to determine whether ARA-290 is effective in the treatment of the neuropathic symptoms of sarcoidosis [2]. The stated rationale is that brief interaction of ARA-290 with the innate repair receptor results in anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities in a wide range of cells, tissues and organs, activating repair mechanisms and accelerating healing, including the nerve damage that can be associated with sarcoidosis [2]. In that study, subjects with sarcoidosis and symptoms of small fiber neuropathy were to receive ARA-290 or placebo by subcutaneous injection daily for 28 days, with safety monitoring alongside symptom assessment [2].

ARA-290 and blood glucose and insulin secretion in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

A further trial was designed to determine whether the non-hematopoietic erythropoietin analogue ARA-290 exerts beneficial effects on blood glucose levels and insulin secretion in persons with prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose) or drug-naive type 2 diabetes [3]. The same study was to evaluate effects of ARA-290 on insulin sensitivity and serum levels of inflammatory agents such as cytokines, with safety monitored through haematology, kidney and liver function parameters and lipid levels [3].

ARA-290 and cognitive and neural processing of emotion in healthy volunteers

Studies on erythropoietin indicated that it may have antidepressant properties, but repeated administration may cause serious side-effects such as thrombosis, which limits its usefulness as an antidepressant [4]. ARA-290 is described in that context as a peptide that does not have the effects of erythropoietin on blood cells but may still act on brain function [4]. In an attempt to replicate previous findings with a single dose of erythropoietin in healthy volunteers, investigators studied the effects of ARA-290 on the cognitive and neural processing of emotions in healthy volunteers, hypothesising that a single dose would lead to a positive shift in information processing compared with placebo at 7 days post-administration [4].

ARA-290 and the innate repair receptor across tissue models

Across the registered protocols, the mechanistic description is consistent: brief interaction of ARA-290 with the innate repair receptor is reported to produce anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory activities in many cell types, tissues and organs, activating repair mechanisms and accelerating healing [2]. This description is given as the rationale for studying the compound in nerve damage associated with sarcoidosis [2]. The evidence block does not provide in vitro or animal-only datasets for this compound, so no such findings are reported here.

ARA-290 and the comparison with erythropoietin

The distinction drawn in the research record is between erythropoietin, which may cause serious side-effects with repeated administration such as thrombosis, and ARA-290, described as a peptide that does not have the effects of erythropoietin on blood cells while potentially retaining effects on brain function [4]. The table below sets out the two subjects as the evidence block describes them.

ARA-290 and the trial populations studied

The populations named in the registered protocols are patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and diabetic macular oedema [1]; subjects with sarcoidosis and symptoms of small fiber neuropathy [2]; persons with prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose) or drug-naive type 2 diabetes [3]; and healthy volunteers [4]. The table below compares the dosing schedules and durations as stated in those records.

ARA-290 and safety monitoring in the registered protocols

Safety monitoring is described in the trial records. In the sarcoidosis study, safety of the treatment was monitored in addition to the symptoms of the subjects [2]. In the prediabetes and type 2 diabetes study, safety was monitored by following parameters related to haematology, kidney and liver function and lipid levels [3]. The evidence block does not report safety outcomes for any of these studies.

ARA-290 and the regenerative peptide literature

A narrative review of regenerative peptides relevant to chronic pain management covers compounds including collagen peptides, body protection compound-157 (BPC-157), thymosin beta-4 (TB-4), thymosin beta-500 (TB-500) and glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper (GHK-Cu) [5]. This review is reference material supporting the wider field in which ARA-290 is studied; it is not a study of ARA-290 itself.

If you are reading this for personal health reasons

ARA-290 as supplied through our catalogue is sold for laboratory research use only. We do not provide dosing or medical guidance, and nothing on this page is medical advice. Anyone considering a compound for themselves should speak to a licensed clinician.

Sources

• [1] The Use of ARA290 for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Oedema — https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06626971
• [2] Study of Efficacy of ARA 290 on Corneal Nerve Fiber Density and Neuropathic Symptoms of Subjects With Sarcoidosis — https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02039687
• [3] ARA290 in T2D (Effects of ARA 290, an Erythropoietin Analogue) in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes — https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01933529
• [4] Cognitive and Neural Effects of ARA290 — https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02070783
• [5] Peptides in Regenerative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Applications in Tissue Repair and Chronic Pain Management — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42635865/