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

ARA 290vsPTD-DBM

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-REVIEWED10/40 cited
ARA 290
EPO-Derived Peptide · Innate Repair Receptor Agonist
28 daysPhase 2 durationCulver 2017
Non-erythropoieticSafety profileBrines 2015Liu 2014
PTD-DBM
Wnt Pathway Activator · Fusion Peptide
Topical / SQAdministrationLee 2023Ryu 2023
Animal-onlyEvidence level
Wnt/β-cateninPrimary pathway
Topical / SQ · Study-dependent

01Mechanism of Action

Parameter
ARA 290
PTD-DBM
Primary target
Innate repair receptor (EPO receptor / CD131 heterodimer)
CXXC5–Dishevelled protein-protein interaction
Pathway
EPO/CD131 → JAK2 activation → PI3K/AKT, MAPK signaling → anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic cascades
Inhibit CXXC5 binding to Dishevelled → Release Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitionLee 2015Ryu 2023
Downstream effect
Tissue protection, nerve fiber regeneration, suppression of inflammatory macrophage activation, altered T-cell differentiation (↑Treg, ↑Th2, ↓Th1)Liu 2014Culver 2017
Activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling promotes hair follicle regeneration, dermal stem cell activation, reduced myofibroblast differentiation
Feedback intact?
N/A — does not interact with hematopoietic EPO receptorLiu 2014
Not applicable — pathway derepression rather than receptor agonism
Origin
11-amino-acid sequence from EPO helix B, engineered to eliminate hematopoietic activity while retaining tissue-protective properties
Engineered fusion: cell-penetrating PTD sequence + Dvl-binding motif targeting CXXC5
Antibody development
Not reported in clinical trials

02Dosage Protocols

Parameter
ARA 290
PTD-DBM
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.
Animal models only (mice)
Route
SubcutaneousBrines 2015
Timing
Any time of day
No circadian dependence reported.
Wound healing protocol
Hydrogel patch delivery (concentration not disclosed)
Pyrogallol-HA patch, murine model.
Hair regeneration protocol
Topical application (exact dose not disclosed)
Wound-induced hair neogenesis model, mice.
Co-administration
Valproic acid (GSK-3β inhibitor) for wound healing synergyLee 2023
Combined treatment maximized scar reduction.
Human translation
No published human studies

03Metabolic / Fat Loss Evidence

Parameter
ARA 290
PTD-DBM
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
PTD-DBM
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
Reported adverse events
None reported in animal studies
Wnt pathway activation risks
Theoretical risk of aberrant proliferation; Wnt dysregulation linked to tumorigenesis
Long-term safety
Unknown — no chronic dosing or human data
Delivery vehicle effects
HA-PG hydrogel well-tolerated in mice; human translation pending
Absolute Contraindications
ARA 290
  • ·Hypersensitivity to ARA 290
PTD-DBM
  • ·Active malignancy (Wnt pathway involvement in tumorigenesis)
  • ·Pregnancy / lactation (no safety data)
Relative Contraindications
ARA 290
  • ·Active malignancy (theoretical EPO-axis concern; not observed in trials)
PTD-DBM
  • ·History of Wnt-driven tumors
  • ·Skin lesions with uncertain malignant potential

05Administration Protocol

Parameter
ARA 290
PTD-DBM
1. Preparation
Reconstitute lyophilised powder per manufacturer instructions. Use sterile technique.
Pyrogallol-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA-PG) hydrogel patch loaded with PTD-DBM peptide, applied directly to wound bed. Adhesive hydrogel provides sustained release over multiple days.Lee 2023
2. Injection site
Subcutaneous — abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. Rotate sites to avoid lipohypertrophy.
Topical application to scalp or wound site. Precise formulation not disclosed; studies used Cxxc5 knockout or direct peptide application in wound-induced hair neogenesis models.Ryu 2023
3. Timing
Once daily, any time of day. Self-administered in Phase 2 trials.Brines 2015
PTD-DBM + valproic acid (GSK-3β inhibitor) in HA-PG patch showed synergistic effect on scar reduction and regenerative wound healing. VPA enhances Wnt pathway activation downstream.Lee 2023
4. Dosing
4 mg daily for 28 days (Phase 2 protocol). Duration for chronic use not established.Culver 2017
Not disclosed in available literature. Peptide stability and storage conditions not published.
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
PTD-DBM
— no documented stacks