Side-by-side · Research reference
ARA 290vsLL-37
Side-by-side comparison across mechanism, dosage, evidence, side effects, administration, and stack synergies. Citations on every claim where available.
APhase 2HUMAN-REVIEWED17/59 cited
BHuman-MechanisticHUMAN-REVIEWED15/35 cited
LL-37
Cathelicidin · Human AMP
Broad-spectrumAntimicrobial activity
Endogenous · Secreted at inflammation sites
01Mechanism of Action
Parameter
ARA 290
LL-37
Primary target
Innate repair receptor (EPO receptor / CD131 heterodimer)
Pathway
EPO/CD131 → JAK2 activation → PI3K/AKT, MAPK signaling → anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic cascades
hCAP-18 precursor → Proteinase-3 cleavage → LL-37 release → Membrane insertion/disruption
Downstream effect
Tissue protection, nerve fiber regeneration, suppression of inflammatory macrophage activation, altered T-cell differentiation (↑Treg, ↑Th2, ↓Th1)Liu 2014Culver 2017
Membrane permeabilization, cytokine induction, autophagy, phagosome-lysosome fusion, chemotaxisAhmad 2026Zhang 2026
Origin
11-amino-acid sequence from EPO helix B, engineered to eliminate hematopoietic activity while retaining tissue-protective properties
Endogenous human cathelicidin (37-AA fragment, residues 134–170 of hCAP-18)
Antibody development
Not reported in clinical trials
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02Dosage Protocols
Parameter
ARA 290
LL-37
Standard dose (Phase 2)
4 mg / dayBrines 2015Culver 2017
Sarcoidosis SFN and diabetic neuropathy trials.
—
Frequency
Once daily
Self-administered subcutaneously.
—
Evidence basis
Phase 2 RCTsCulver 2017Brines 2015
64-subject sarcoidosis trial, type 2 diabetes trial.
In vitro, animal models, human observational
Timing
Any time of day
No circadian dependence reported.
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Endogenous expression
—
Constitutive in neutrophils, epithelial tissues
Upregulated during infection and inflammation.Pinheiro 2026
Exogenous (experimental)
—
Dose varies by study; antimalarial ~10–50 μM in vitro
No FDA-approved exogenous formulation.
03Metabolic / Fat Loss Evidence
Parameter
ARA 290
LL-37
Primary effect
Improved metabolic control (HbA1c, fasting glucose)Brines 2015
Secondary to neuropathy treatment; direct lipolytic effects not established.
—
HbA1c
Significant reduction vs placebo
Observed in type 2 diabetes + neuropathy trial.
—
Fasting glucose
Improved in ARA 290 group
—
Body composition
Not directly quantified
Fat loss not a primary endpoint; metabolic improvements may reflect insulin sensitivity.
—
04Side Effects & Safety
Parameter
ARA 290
LL-37
Injection site reaction
Mild, transient
—
Hematopoiesis
None — non-erythropoietic
Distinguishes ARA 290 from native EPO.
—
Cardiovascular
No thrombotic events or hypertension reported
—
Immunogenicity
No antibody formation reported
—
Cytotoxicity (high dose)
—
Membrane disruption in host cells at supraphysiological concentrations
Pro-inflammatory signaling
—
Can exacerbate inflammation in certain contexts (context-dependent)Pinheiro 2026
Theoretical cancer risk
—
Immunomodulatory roles in tumor microenvironment under investigation
Absolute Contraindications
ARA 290
- ·Hypersensitivity to ARA 290
LL-37
—Relative Contraindications
ARA 290
- ·Active malignancy (theoretical EPO-axis concern; not observed in trials)
LL-37
- ·Active autoimmune disease (theoretical immune dysregulation)
05Administration Protocol
Parameter
ARA 290
LL-37
1. Preparation
Reconstitute lyophilised powder per manufacturer instructions. Use sterile technique.
LL-37 is constitutively expressed in neutrophils and epithelial cells, cleaved from hCAP-18 by proteinase-3 at sites of infection or inflammation.
2. Injection site
Subcutaneous — abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate sites to avoid lipohypertrophy.
Synthetic LL-37 and derivatives (e.g., SAMP-12aa) tested in vitro and animal models. Administered via topical, intraperitoneal, or intravenous routes in research settings.
3. Timing
Once daily, any time of day. Self-administered in Phase 2 trials.Brines 2015
LL-37 is resistant to pepsin degradation at gastric pH. Synthetic short peptides designed to retain this stability while reducing toxicity.Lu 2026
4. Dosing
4 mg daily for 28 days (Phase 2 protocol). Duration for chronic use not established.Culver 2017
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5. Storage
Lyophilised: store at controlled room temperature. Reconstituted: refrigerate, use within specified timeframe.
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06Stack Synergy
ARA 290
+ BPC-157
ModerateARA 290 targets the innate repair receptor (EPO/CD131) for nerve regeneration and anti-inflammatory signaling, while BPC-157 promotes angiogenesis and tissue repair through distinct mechanisms (likely involving VEGF, growth hormone receptor pathways). Combined, they may address both neuroinflammation and structural tissue repair in neuropathy or injury models. No direct clinical data; mechanistic overlap in tissue protection.
- ARA 290
- 4 mg SQ · daily
- BPC-157
- 250–500 mcg SQ · daily
- Frequency
- Once daily, same or separate injections
- Primary benefit
- Nerve regeneration, pain reduction, tissue healing
LL-37
— no documented stacks