Compound monograph

ARA-290

Cibinetide is a synthetic peptide corresponding to a surface region of erythropoietin, characterized in the literature as a selective agonist at a heteromeric receptor complex distinct from the erythropoietin receptor homodimer.

Published: 2026-09-12Last updated: 2026-10-16Literature/identifier verification: 2026-08-23

Also known asARA 290CibinetidaCibinetidumPHBSP

Identity & nomenclature

Cibinetide is the INN. The development code PHBSP appears in the PubChem synonym set and abbreviates pyroglutamate helix B surface peptide; the related designation HBSP (helix B surface peptide) is used in the literature for the same structural concept. The peptide corresponds to a surface region of the erythropoietin molecule that is not involved in erythropoietin receptor homodimer binding.

Canonical name: Cibinetide.

Declared aliases and development codes: ARA 290, Cibinetida, Cibinetidum, PHBSP.

Molecular properties

Molecular formula	C51H84N16O21
Molecular mass	1257.3 Da
CAS Registry Number	1208243-50-8
PubChem CID	91810664
UNII	9W5677JKDA
Three-letter sequence	pGlu–Glu–Gln–Leu–Glu–Arg–Ala–Leu–Asn–Ser–Ser
Terminal groups	N-terminal pyroglutamate; Free C-terminal carboxyl

pGlu-Glu-Gln-Leu-Glu-Arg-Ala-Leu-Asn-Ser-Ser, eleven residues corresponding to a surface region of helix B of erythropoietin. No oneLetter string is recorded: position 1 is pyroglutamate, and writing it as Q would denote glutamine, a different residue worth 17.03 Da more. Summing the eleven residues with pyroglutamate at position 1 and adding one water gives C51H84N16O21 and 1257.32 Da, which reproduces the recorded formula exactly and the recorded mass to 0.02 Da. That arithmetic is the identity check this record rests on; the automated sequence verifier cannot reach it, because pyroglutamate is outside its derivation model.

Structural characteristics

The source literature distinguishes two receptor arrangements: erythropoietin receptor homodimers, which mediate erythroid maturation, and heteromers of the erythropoietin receptor with the beta common receptor (CD131), termed the innate repair receptor. Cibinetide is characterized in that literature as a selective agonist at the latter. Two qualifications belong with that characterization and are stated here rather than left to the reader. The first is that the heteroreceptor is not an established structure. An independent group tested the proposal directly, examining the extracellular regions of the two receptors both in the presence and in the absence of this peptide, and reported that the two do not specifically associate; the same work described the proposed complex as controversial. No biophysical demonstration of a direct association has been published. The second is that the supporting evidence comes substantially from the group that proposed the complex: three of the five papers cited on this record share an author set with the compound's developer, and the paper reporting the contrary result is not among them. This record therefore reports the selectivity as a characterization in the literature, and makes no claim about what follows for erythropoietic activity.

Terminal features: N-terminal pyroglutamate, Free C-terminal carboxyl.

Molecular targets & mechanisms

Innate repair receptor

IRR · EPOR/CD131 heteromer · beta common receptor complex

A heteromeric receptor complex proposed in 2004 to comprise the erythropoietin receptor together with the beta common receptor (CD131), and described as distinct from the EPOR homodimer that mediates erythroid maturation. The proposal rests on co-purification and co-immunoprecipitation of the two receptors from tissue membranes, colocalization in protected cells, and the absence of erythropoietin's protective activity in beta common receptor knockout animals. It is disputed. An independent group examined the extracellular regions of the two receptors in silico and in vitro, in the presence and in the absence of erythropoietin or the erythropoietin-derived peptide cibinetide, reported that they do not specifically associate, and opens by calling the complex controversial. No biophysical demonstration of a direct association between the two receptors has been published. This record therefore describes a reported complex together with the test that failed to confirm it, not an established one. Peptides characterized as selective agonists at this complex are reported not to engage the homodimeric receptor.

Analytical considerations

The molecular formula contains no sulfur, so sulfur-based oxidation pathways do not apply. Identity confirmation relies on mass and sequence-level methods. PubChem CID 91810664 encodes L-pyroglutamate at residue 1 and a free Ser11 carboxyl, with the complete structure giving C51H84N16O21 and a calculated average mass of 1257.32 Da.

Disagreements and mix-ups

Points where sources disagree about this compound's identity, or where a name or form is easily confused with another, as noted in this record. The discrepancy register quotes the passage for each one.

Often mixed up · Notation
Pyroglutamate at position 1, not glutamine

What the studies reported

Each finding describes one cited study in its stated model. These observations are specific to that study and do not establish effects in other settings.

Cell and tissue studies

LPS-activated mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages
Using LPS-activated mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages, the study reported that cibinetide-associated inhibition of NF-κB p65 activity depended on CD131 and functional JAK2.
Reference [1]
Extracellular erythropoietin receptor and β-common receptor biophysical assays
In biophysical assays of extracellular erythropoietin receptor and β-common receptor regions conducted with and without ARA290, the study found no specific association between the two receptor regions.
Reference [5]

Animal studies

Rats with neuropathic pain after spared nerve injury
In rats with neuropathic pain after spared nerve injury, the study observed reduced tactile and cold allodynia for as long as 15 weeks with ARA290 (P < 0.001 versus vehicle; n = 8/group).
Reference [4]
β-common-receptor-deficient mice with neuropathic pain after spared nerve injury
In β-common-receptor-deficient mice with neuropathic pain after spared nerve injury, the study observed no effect of ARA290 on allodynia (n = 8/group).
Reference [4]
C57BL/6 N mice with dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis
In C57BL/6 N mice with dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis, the study reported improved weight gain and survival with cibinetide, along with preserved tissue integrity and reduced myeloid-cell infiltration.
Reference [1]

Verified bibliography

Cited studies by type

The 5 papers this record cites, counted by the kind of work each reports. A count is the size of this record's selection, not of the research that exists, and says nothing about results, safety, effectiveness or approval.

A paper can report more than one kind of work. Each count opens those papers in the bibliography. Compare every record on the Evidence Map.

Reference 1
Cibinetide dampens innate immune cell functions thus ameliorating the course of experimental colitis.
Nairz M, Haschka D, Dichtl S, Sonnweber T, Schroll A, Aßhoff M, Mindur JE, Moser PL, Wolf D, Swirski FK, Theurl I, Cerami A, Brines M, Weiss G
Scientific reports · 2017-10-12 · Journal Article
current
PMID 29026145 PMC5638901 DOI 10.1038/s41598-017-13046-3 ARA-290 IRR
Reference 2
Renoprotection and Mechanisms of Erythropoietin and Its Derivatives Helix B Surface Peptide in Kidney Injuries.
Zhang Y, Chen W, Wu Y, Yang B
Current protein & peptide science · 2017 · Review
current
PMID 27634442 DOI 10.2174/1389203717666160909144436 ARA-290
Reference 3
Nonerythropoietic, tissue-protective peptides derived from the tertiary structure of erythropoietin.
Brines M, Patel NS, Villa P, Brines C, Mennini T, De Paola M, Erbayraktar Z, Erbayraktar S, Sepodes B, Thiemermann C, Ghezzi P, Yamin M, Hand CC, Xie QW, Coleman T, Cerami A
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2008-08-01 · Journal Article
current
PMID 18676614 PMC2504825 DOI 10.1073/pnas.0805594105 ARA-290 IRR
Reference 4
ARA290, a peptide derived from the tertiary structure of erythropoietin, produces long-term relief of neuropathic pain: an experimental study in rats and β-common receptor knockout mice.
Swartjes M, Morariu A, Niesters M, Brines M, Cerami A, Aarts L, Dahan A
Anesthesiology · 2011-11 · Journal Article
current
PMID 21873879 DOI 10.1097/ALN.0b013e31822fcefd ARA-290 IRR
Reference 5
EPO does not promote interaction between the erythropoietin and beta-common receptors.
Cheung Tung Shing KS, Broughton SE, Nero TL, Gillinder K, Ilsley MD, Ramshaw H, Lopez AF, Griffin MDW, Parker MW, Perkins AC, Dhagat U
Scientific reports · 2018-08-20 · Journal Article
currentreports against
Reports against Innate repair receptor — Examined the extracellular regions of both receptors in silico and in vitro, in the presence and absence of erythropoietin or this peptide, and reports that they do not specifically associate.
PMID 30127368 PMC6102255 DOI 10.1038/s41598-018-29865-x ARA-290 IRR

Study models of these references

What kind of experiment each cited paper reports, taken from its abstract unless marked. Not a summary of results.

Reference	Study models
Nairz M et al. 2017	Study models reported: in vitro; animal (mouse) · from the abstract
Zhang Y et al. 2017	Review article
Brines M et al. 2008	Study models reported: in vitro; animal (rat, mouse, rabbit) · from the full text
Swartjes M et al. 2011	Study models reported: animal (rat, mouse) · from the abstract
Cheung Tung Shing KS et al. 2018	Study models reported: in vitro; animal (mouse) · from the abstractCorrection published: Sci Rep. 2019 May 21;9(1):7851. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-43988-9.

Catalog listing

Record history

Published 2026-09-12.

2026-10-16: Sequence and structure
2026-10-14: Sequence and structure, Analytical notes
2026-09-20: Sequence and structure, References
2026-09-17: Sequence and structure

Each entry names the parts of this record that changed on that date. Changes to links between records and to catalogue links are not listed. This history covers the tracked record fields; study findings are not listed here.

Cite this record: Purely Peptides Research Library. ARA-290. Published 2026-09-12; updated 2026-10-16. https://purelypeptides.org/research/compounds/ara-290/

Methodology & citation verification

Reference identity is checked against official PubMed metadata. Local deterministic receipts bind each normalized title and canonical metadata record to its verification date. Scientific values remain absent when an authoritative source has not been verified.

Read the full methodology →