Cibinetide, PHBSP, PH-BSP, Helix B surface peptide
An 11-amino acid peptide derived from erythropoietin, providing tissue protection, anti-inflammation, and neuroprotection without erythropoietic effects.
Collino. Massimo M; Thiemermann. Christoph C; Cerami. Anthony A; Brines. Michael M
ARA‑290 (also called pHBSP) is a tiny 11‑amino‑acid peptide that mimics a part of the hormone erythropoietin but only talks to the body’s “repair” receptor, not the one that makes more red blood cells. Even though it disappears from the blood in about two minutes, it flips a molecular switch that keeps tissue‑protective and anti‑inflammatory pathways active for a long time. Animal studies and early human trials show it can reduce inflammation, protect organs, and aid healing without the clot‑risk that regular EPO has.
Winicki. Nolan M NM; Nanavati. Alay P AP; Morrell. Christopher H CH; Moen. Jack M JM; Axsom. Jessie...
In an aging rat study, long‑term daily dosing of the peptide ARA290 (cibinetide) lowered heart inflammation, kept the heart's pumping ability strong, reduced blood pressure, maintained body weight, and lowered overall frailty, suggesting it may help protect the cardiovascular system and extend a healthy lifespan.
Dahan. Albert A; Dunne. Ann A; Swartjes. Maarten M; Proto. Paolo L PL; Heij. Lara L; Vogels. Oscar O...
In a small, blinded study, daily injections of the peptide ARA 290 for four weeks helped people with sarcoidosis‑related nerve damage feel less pain, walk farther, and grow more tiny nerve fibers in the eye, suggesting it can repair damaged nerves.
Brines. Michael M; Dunne. Ann N AN; van Velzen. Monique M; Proto. Paolo L PL; Ostenson. Claes-Goran...
A short 28‑day study gave people with type‑2 diabetes a daily 4 mg injection of ARA‑290, a tiny peptide made from the part of the hormone erythropoietin that protects tissue but doesn’t raise red blood cells. The treated group saw lower blood‑sugar (HbA1c), better cholesterol numbers, and less nerve‑pain, with no safety problems reported. Nerve health in the eye also improved compared with placebo.
Devalliere. Julie J; Dooley. Kevin K; Hu. Yong Y; Kelangi. Sarah S SS; Uygun. Basak E BE; Yarmush. M...
Scientists attached the protective peptide ARA290 and the growth factor KGF to a stretchy protein that makes them more resistant to breakdown. In diabetic mice with full‑thickness skin wounds, this formulation (especially when both peptides were given together) sped up healing, grew more blood vessels, and produced thicker new tissue.
Culver. Daniel A DA; Dahan. Albert A; Bajorunas. Daiva D; Jeziorska. Maria M; van Velzen. Monique M;...
A 28‑day trial in people with sarcoidosis‑related nerve loss showed that taking the drug cibinetide (also called ara‑290) at 4 mg a day can grow tiny nerve fibers in the eye and skin, and this growth was linked to better walking ability and less pain. The effect was strongest at the 4 mg dose, while lower or higher doses were less clear.
Patel. Nimesh S A NS; Kerr-Peterson. Hannah L HL; Brines. Michael M; Collino. Massimo M; Rogazzo. Ma...
In rats, a tiny peptide called pHBSP (also known as ara-290) given a few hours after kidney blood‑flow loss helped protect the kidneys from damage, working similarly to the hormone erythropoietin but without strongly boosting blood‑cell production. The peptide turned on cell‑survival signals (Akt) and shut down inflammation (NF‑κB), showing it can act as a tissue‑protective agent.
Robertson. Claudia S CS; Garcia. Robert R; Gaddam. Samson Sujit Kumar SS; Grill. Raymond J RJ; Ceram...
In a rat study, a tiny protein called pHBSP (an erythropoietin‑mimic) given after a mild brain injury helped the animals find a hidden platform faster, meaning their memory improved. The peptide also lowered brain inflammation, but it didn’t change the animals' basic motor abilities.
Collino. M M; Benetti. E E; Rogazzo. M M; Chiazza. F F; Mastrocola. R R; Nigro. D D; Cutrin. J C JC;...
In mice fed a high‑fat, high‑sugar diet, a synthetic peptide called ara‑290 (pHBSP) – a version of erythropoietin that doesn’t boost blood cells – improved several signs of metabolic disease. Over 11 weeks of daily injections, the mice showed better insulin sensitivity, lower blood sugar and fats, less liver fat, healthier kidneys, and more mitochondria (energy factories) in their muscles.
Zhang. Wenjia W; Yu. Guanling G; Zhang. Mengyuan M
The study shows that ARA‑290, a short protein derived from erythropoietin, can calm pain by directly blocking the TRPV1 channel that senses heat and chemical irritants. This adds to its known anti‑inflammatory actions and suggests it could work as a new kind of pain‑killer.
In diabetic mice, a peptide called cibinetide (also known as ara‑290) was given daily and helped wounds heal faster and stronger. It boosted healing signals like VEGF and Akt, reduced oxidative damage, and improved blood vessel growth and scar strength compared to untreated diabetic mice.
Yao. Ming M; Domogatskaya. Anna A; Ågren. Nils N; Watanabe. Masaaki M; Tokodai. Kazuaki K; Brin...
The study shows that cibinetide (also called ara-290) can protect human pancreatic islet cells from inflammation and improve their survival when transplanted, at least in lab dishes and mouse models. It keeps the cells' energy levels up, reduces cell death signals, helps them release insulin better, and lessens the blood clotting reaction that normally kills many transplanted cells. While promising for future diabetes treatments, the work is still early and not ready for personal use.
van Rijt. Willem G WG; Nieuwenhuijs-Moeke. Gertrude J GJ; van Goor. Harry H; Ottens. Petra J PJ; Plo...
In rats, giving the peptide ARA290 soon after the kidney’s blood flow is restored (about 1 hour later) helped the organ work better and cut down inflammation, while waiting longer or giving it multiple times didn’t add much benefit.
In mice that had a stroke, a short peptide called ARA290 protected brain cells and improved neurological scores. It worked through a specific receptor (β‑common receptor) and, unlike the full hormone erythropoietin, it didn’t boost red‑blood‑cell production. When that receptor was blocked, the protection disappeared.
Merzbach. Shira S; Schumacher-Klinger. Adi A; Klazas. Michal M; Hoffman. Amnon A; Lazarovici. Philip...
A lab-made cyclic peptide called Clarstatin was given to mice with an eye inflammation model. It cut the disease severity by 30‑80% and lowered key inflammatory signals, doing about as well as steroids. The work shows the peptide can act as an anti‑inflammatory agent in animals, but it’s still far from being a usable supplement or drug for people.
Liu. Guixian G; Liang. Jie J; Li. Wei W; Jiang. Suli S; Song. Meiying M; Xu. Shuo S; Du. Qiaochu Q;...
Erythropoietin (EPO) does more than boost red blood cells—it can protect nerves. Because regular EPO can cause side effects when used long‑term, scientists made smaller peptide versions like ARA290 that keep the protective benefits but are safer. ARA290, however, disappears from the body quickly, so researchers created a modified version called CHBP that lasts longer. The review highlights these peptides as promising future drugs for nerve injury, but they’re still experimental.
Gammella. Elena E; Diaz. Victor V; Recalcati. Stefania S; Buratti. Paolo P; Samaja. Michele M; Dey....
The study shows that giving high doses of erythropoietin (EPO) lowers the liver hormone hepcidin, but it does this indirectly by making red‑blood‑cell precursors release another protein called erythroferrone (ERFE). The liver itself doesn’t need EPO receptors for this effect, and EPO‑like drugs (including the ara‑290 analog) don’t directly change hepcidin levels in liver cells.
Sarcoidosis can lead to a painful nerve condition called small‑fiber neuropathy. The pain is often burning or shooting and can include abnormal sensations. Researchers think a protein called TNF‑α may play a role, and a new drug called ARA‑290 – a modified form of erythropoietin that reduces inflammation without affecting blood cells – looks promising, but no human trial results are reported yet.
Pulman. K G T KG; Smith. M M; Mengozzi. M M; Ghezzi. P P; Dilley. A A
In a rat study, the peptide ARA290 (a modified form of erythropoietin) stopped the development of touch‑related pain (mechanical allodynia) after a nerve inflammation injury, but it didn't change heat‑related pain or the levels of two inflammation markers. The effect was seen at two different doses and the peptide didn't trigger the blood‑building side effects that regular EPO can cause.