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Specimen Atlas of Research Peptides81 plates · MIT
Side-by-side · Research reference

ARA 290vsPNC-27

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
BAnimal-StrongHUMAN-REVIEWED18/41 cited
ARA 290
EPO-Derived Peptide · Innate Repair Receptor Agonist
28 daysPhase 2 durationCulver 2017
Non-erythropoieticSafety profileBrines 2015Liu 2014
PNC-27
p53-HDM-2 Peptide · Membrane-Targeting
32 AAPeptide lengthSarafraz-Yazdi 2022
12-26p53 domain
Pre-clinicalDevelopment stage
In vitro / Pre-clinical only

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter
ARA 290
PNC-27
Primary target
Innate repair receptor (EPO receptor / CD131 heterodimer)
Membrane-bound HDM-2 protein on cancer cell surfaceSarafraz-Yazdi 2022Krzesaj 2024
Pathway
EPO/CD131 → JAK2 activation → PI3K/AKT, MAPK signaling → anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic cascades
PNC-27 binds to membrane HDM-2 1-109 domain → transmembrane pore formation → rapid necrosis (poptosis)Pincus 2024Krzesaj 2024
Downstream effect
Tissue protection, nerve fiber regeneration, suppression of inflammatory macrophage activation, altered T-cell differentiation (↑Treg, ↑Th2, ↓Th1)Liu 2014Culver 2017
Immediate cell lysis and extrusion of intracellular contents; secondary mitochondrial membrane disruptionPincus 2024Krzesaj 2024
Feedback intact?
N/A — does not interact with hematopoietic EPO receptorLiu 2014
N/A — cytotoxic mechanism, not signaling modulation
Origin
11-amino-acid sequence from EPO helix B, engineered to eliminate hematopoietic activity while retaining tissue-protective properties
Chimeric design: p53 transactivating domain (12-26) fused to penetratin CPP sequenceSarafraz-Yazdi 2022
Antibody development
Not reported in clinical trials

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter
ARA 290
PNC-27
Standard dose (Phase 2)
4 mg / dayBrines 2015Culver 2017
Sarcoidosis SFN and diabetic neuropathy trials.
Frequency
Once daily
Self-administered subcutaneously.
Duration
28 days (Phase 2)Culver 2017
Corneal nerve improvements observed by day 28.
Evidence basis
Phase 2 RCTsCulver 2017Brines 2015
64-subject sarcoidosis trial, type 2 diabetes trial.
Pre-clinical / In vitro
Route
SubcutaneousBrines 2015
Timing
Any time of day
No circadian dependence reported.
Clinical status
Pre-clinical only — no human trials
In vitro and animal model data only.
In vitro concentrations
10–100 μM range
Effective concentrations in cell culture studies.
Shorter analogue
PNC-28 (28 AA variant)
Retains HDM-2 binding and cytotoxic activity.

03Metabolic / Fat Loss Evidence

Parameter
ARA 290
PNC-27
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.
Fat loss mechanism
None — cytotoxic anticancer agent

04Side Effects & Safety

Parameter
ARA 290
PNC-27
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
Tolerability
Well-tolerated in Phase 2 trialsCulver 2017Brines 2015
Human safety data
None available — no human trials conducted
Normal cell selectivity
In vitro: no cytotoxicity to normal cells (MCF-10-2A, peripheral blood mononuclear cells)Sarafraz-Yazdi 2010Thadi 2020
Normal cells express minimal membrane HDM-2.
Cancer cell specificity
Depends on membrane HDM-2 expression levels
Ovarian cancer lines with low membrane HDM-2 showed <30% necrosis.
Cell death mechanism
Necrosis (not apoptosis) — rapid membrane lysisPincus 2024
Mitochondrial effects
Secondary mitochondrial membrane disruption in cancer cells
Absolute Contraindications
ARA 290
  • ·Hypersensitivity to ARA 290
PNC-27
  • ·Human use — no clinical trials or safety data
Relative Contraindications
ARA 290
  • ·Active malignancy (theoretical EPO-axis concern; not observed in trials)
PNC-27

05Administration Protocol

Parameter
ARA 290
PNC-27
1. Preparation
Reconstitute lyophilised powder per manufacturer instructions. Use sterile technique.
PNC-27 has not been tested in human subjects. All data derive from in vitro cancer cell line studies and limited animal models. No approved clinical formulation, dosing protocol, or safety profile exists.Pincus 2024
2. Injection site
Subcutaneous — abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate sites to avoid lipohypertrophy.
In vitro studies used 10–100 μM PNC-27 dissolved in cell culture medium. Peptide was added directly to cancer cell cultures (pancreatic, breast, colon, ovarian, leukemia lines) and incubated for 24–72 hours.
3. Timing
Once daily, any time of day. Self-administered in Phase 2 trials.Brines 2015
Dual-labeled PNC-27 (green on N-terminus, red on C-terminus) demonstrated intact peptide binding to cancer cell membranes with combined yellow fluorescence at 30 minutes, persisting during cell lysis.Sookraj 2010
4. Dosing
4 mg daily for 28 days (Phase 2 protocol). Duration for chronic use not established.Culver 2017
Cytotoxicity correlates directly with membrane HDM-2 expression levels. Blocking HDM-2's p53-binding domain (1-109) with monoclonal antibodies prevents PNC-27-induced necrosis.
5. Storage
Lyophilised: store at controlled room temperature. Reconstituted: refrigerate, use within specified timeframe.

06Stack Synergy

ARA 290
+ BPC-157
Moderate
View BPC-157

ARA 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
PNC-27
— no documented stacks