ARA 290, a nonerythropoietic peptide engineered from erythropoietin, improves metabolic control and neuropathic symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Brines M, Dunne AN, van Velzen M, Proto PL, Ostenson CG, Kirk RI, Petropoulos IN, Javed S, Malik RA, Cerami A, Dahan A

Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.)13 Mar 2015Cited by 93 (Europe PMC)

PMID25387363PMCIDPMC4365069DOI10.2119/molmed.2014.00215PepBankPUB-25387363

Summary

Although erythropoietin ameliorates experimental type 2 diabetes with neuropathy, serious side effects limit its potential clinical use. ARA 290, a nonhematopoietic peptide designed from the structure of erythropoietin, interacts selectively with the innate repair receptor that mediates tissue protection. ARA 290 has shown efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies of metabolic control and neuropathy. To evaluate the potential activity of ARA 290 in type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study. ARA 290 (4 mg) or placebo were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 d and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment. No potential safety issues were identified. Subjects receiving ARA 290 exhibited an improvement in hemoglobin A(1c) (Hb A(1c)) and lipid profiles throughout the 56 d observation period. Neuropathic symptoms as assessed by the PainDetect questionnaire improved significantly in the ARA 290 group. Mean corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) was reduced significantly compared with normal controls and subjects with a mean CNFD >1 standard deviation from normal showed a significant increase in CNFD compared with no change in the placebo group. These observations suggest that ARA 290 may benefit both metabolic control and neuropathy in subjects with type 2 diabetes and deserves continued clinical evaluation.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

01HumanOther designSafety outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, ARA‑290 4 mg daily for 28 days raised no potential safety issues.
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, no potential safety issues were identified with ARA‑290 in this phase 2 study.
Peptide
Cibinetide (ARA-290)
Outcome
No significant changeSafety issues
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Adverse events · Whole body
Studied dose
4 mg · subcutaneous · 28 days daily, followed for a further monthAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
No potential safety issues were identified.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To evaluate the potential activity of ARA 290 in type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study.
Summary · context
ARA 290 (4 mg) or placebo were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 d and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2538736301
02HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, subjects receiving ARA‑290 showed an improvement in HbA1c throughout the 56-day observation period.
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, people given ARA‑290 had improved HbA1c, a long-term blood sugar marker, over 56 days.
Peptide
Cibinetide (ARA-290)
Outcome
DecreaseHemoglobin A1c over 56-day observation period
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Glycemic control · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
4 mg · subcutaneous · 28 days daily, followed for a further monthAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Subjects receiving ARA 290 exhibited an improvement in hemoglobin A(1c) (Hb A(1c)) and lipid profiles throughout the 56 d observation period
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To evaluate the potential activity of ARA 290 in type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study.
Summary · context
ARA 290 (4 mg) or placebo were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 d and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2538736302
03HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, subjects receiving ARA‑290 showed an improvement in lipid profiles throughout the 56-day observation period.
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, people given ARA‑290 had improved blood fat profiles over 56 days.
Peptide
Cibinetide (ARA-290)
Outcome
Direction not reportedLipid profiles over 56-day observation period
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Lipids · Metabolic and weight
Studied dose
4 mg · subcutaneous · 28 days daily, followed for a further monthAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Subjects receiving ARA 290 exhibited an improvement in hemoglobin A(1c) (Hb A(1c)) and lipid profiles throughout the 56 d observation period.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To evaluate the potential activity of ARA 290 in type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study.
Summary · context
ARA 290 (4 mg) or placebo were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 d and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2538736303
04HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes, neuropathic symptoms assessed by the PainDetect questionnaire improved significantly in the ARA‑290 group.
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes, nerve pain symptoms improved more in the ARA‑290 group.
Peptide
Cibinetide (ARA-290)
Outcome
DecreaseNeuropathic symptoms (PainDetect questionnaire)
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Pain · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
4 mg · subcutaneous · 28 days daily, followed for a further monthAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Neuropathic symptoms as assessed by the PainDetect questionnaire improved significantly in the ARA 290 group.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To evaluate the potential activity of ARA 290 in type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study.
Summary · context
ARA 290 (4 mg) or placebo were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 d and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2538736304
05HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In adults with type 2 diabetes whose mean CNFD was more than 1 standard deviation from normal, ARA‑290 was followed by a significant increase in corneal nerve fiber density, with no change in the placebo group.
In plain wordsIn adults with type 2 diabetes and low corneal nerve fiber density, nerve fibers increased with ARA‑290 and did not change with placebo.
Peptide
Cibinetide (ARA-290)
Outcome
IncreaseCorneal nerve fiber density in subjects with CNFD more than 1 SD from normal
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
4 mg · subcutaneous · 28 days daily, followed for a further monthAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
subjects with a mean CNFD >1 standard deviation from normal showed a significant increase in CNFD compared with no change in the placebo group.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To evaluate the potential activity of ARA 290 in type 2 diabetes and painful neuropathy, subjects were enrolled in this phase 2 study.
Summary · context
ARA 290 (4 mg) or placebo were self-administered subcutaneously daily for 28 d and the subjects followed for an additional month without further treatment.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2538736305

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
9 Oct 2026, 19:08 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:13 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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