ARA-290 (cibinetide)

A lab-made peptide tested for nerve pain in small studies. It is not approved, and the FDA says it was nominated without enough support.

AI illustration of a vial labeled ARA-290 — AI illustration

FDA statusNot approved

Not an FDA-approved medicine. This alone does not tell you if it works.

Proof it works in people for nerve painEarly

Small, short trials. They mostly measured nerve fibers, not pain.

Safety data in peopleLimited

Small groups for weeks.

These are 3 different questions. FDA status is about the law. Proof is about whether it works. Safety data is about how much we know about its risks. A lack of safety data does not mean it does not work, and "not approved" does not mean "illegal."

By the Peptide Science Desk Editorial TeamFact-checked against FDA and official sources · Oct 18, 2026Not yet reviewed by a licensed clinician. How we check facts

What is it?

ARA-290 is a lab-made peptide. Its drug name is cibinetide. It was made from EPO, a body signal that helps make red blood cells. But ARA-290 does not make red blood cells.

Why do people use it?

Some people use it hoping to ease nerve pain or swelling. These are claims. They are not proven facts.

Does it really work?

Small, short studies tested it in people with sarcoidosis (a swelling disease) who had nerve damage and pain. In one 28-day study, one dose group grew more tiny nerve fibers than people on a fake shot (placebo). Studies this small and short cannot prove it works or is safe long-term.

Studies in people

Study	People	What they found	Limits
Randomized trial (phase 2b)	64	One dose grew more tiny nerve fibers. Pain improved in all groups, even placebo.	28 days. Measured nerve fibers more than pain.

We only list studies we read on PubMed or ClinicalTrials.gov. Checked October 18, 2026.

Is it safe? Side effects

It is not approved, so there is no FDA label listing its side effects.
The studies were small and short, so rare or long-term problems may not have shown up.
Ask a doctor about proven treatments for nerve pain.

Is it legal in the US?

ARA-290 is not an FDA-approved medicine. (The FDA is the US agency that checks if medicines are safe and work.) It is on the FDA’s "Category 3" list for regular pharmacies, which means people asked for it without giving enough support.

What "not approved" does and does not mean

"Not FDA approved" is not the same thing as "illegal." It means the FDA has not reviewed proof that it works and is safe.
Outside the narrow pharmacy rules below, selling it as a medicine for people breaks federal law. The FDA has warned companies that sold unapproved drugs labeled "for research" or "not for human consumption" to people. (FDA)
A regular pharmacy may only mix (compound) a drug from a raw ingredient that has an official quality standard, is part of an FDA-approved drug, or is on the FDA’s 503A list. Big "outsourcing" pharmacies (503B) have their own list. (FDA)
The FDA says that in most cases it is illegal for people to bring unapproved drugs into the US for their own use. (FDA)
State rules differ. State boards of pharmacy oversee most pharmacies day to day. Sports leagues and the military have their own bans. (FDA)

Banned in sports? Drug tests

Not named, but may be banned.

ARA-290 is not named on WADA's list. But WADA says its list is not complete. It also bans any drug that is not approved for people by any government anywhere (section S0). From Jan 1, 2027, that rule names "peptides" too. Ask USADA before you use it.

Check work, NCAA, and military rules for ARA-290

Talk to your doctor

Do not start any peptide on your own. Ask a doctor first. We never share doses or tell you where to buy. Print our doctor questions sheet.

Check any peptide in 1 secondFree FDA Status Checker: approved, being tested, or not proven.

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Not medical advice. Medical disclaimer.