ARA-290 (Cibinetide) vs TB-500
A peptide that awakens your body's natural repair system to heal damaged nerves and reduce pain
A powerful fragment of thymosin beta-4 that acts like your body's repair signal—speeding up healing of muscles, tendons, and tissues by promoting cell migration and new blood vessel growth right where you need it most.
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Quick comparison
Dose range
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
4–4 mg
TB-500
2–2.5 mg
Frequency
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Once daily
TB-500
Twice weekly
Administration
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Subcutaneous injection
TB-500
Subcutaneous injection
Cycle length
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Ongoing/indefinite
TB-500
4-6 weeks
Onset speed
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Moderate (1-2 weeks)
TB-500
Moderate (1-2 weeks)
Evidence level
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
TB-500
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
Benefit ratings
Nerve Regeneration
Pain Management
Tissue Protection
Healing Speed
Tissue Repair
Anti-Scarring
Compound specifications
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Molecular formula
C51H84N16O21
Molecular weight
1257.31 g/mol
Half-life
Approximately 1-2 hours in circulation, but cellular effects last much longer
Bioavailability
Subcutaneous: ~100% (complete absorption); Intravenous: Immediate
CAS number
1208243-50-8
TB-500
Molecular formula
C38H68N10O14
Molecular weight
889.01 g/mol
Half-life
2-3 days (systemic)
Bioavailability
High via subcutaneous injection (~100%)
CAS number
885340-08-9
Dosing compared
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Subcutaneous
1 mg
Once daily · 28 days
Lowest dose tested in the phase 2 sarcoidosis nerve study. A good starting point while watching how the body responds [1].
4 mg
Once daily · 28 days
The 4 mg dose gave the strongest nerve-fiber regrowth and pain relief in the trial — better than the higher 8 mg dose [1][2].
8 mg
Once daily · 28 days
Highest daily dose studied in the sarcoidosis trial. It was safe but did not beat 4 mg for nerve outcomes [1].
Intravenous
2 mg
Three times weekly · 4 weeks
An earlier sarcoidosis pilot gave 2 mg into a vein three times a week and saw improved nerve symptoms [6].
TB-500
Subcutaneous
2-2.5 mg
Twice weekly · Loading phase, 4-6 weeks
Research peptide with no human trials of the fragment; [9] loading doses used in practice [6].
2-2.5 mg
Once weekly · Maintenance after loading
Maintenance dose used in practice following the loading phase [6].
Best suited for
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Treating small fiber neuropathy
ARA-290 (Cibinetide) is particularly well-suited for individuals focused on treating small fiber neuropathy. Research and clinical experience suggest meaningful benefits in this area when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Managing neuropathic pain from diabetes or sarcoidosis
ARA-290 (Cibinetide) is particularly well-suited for individuals focused on managing neuropathic pain from diabetes or sarcoidosis. Research and clinical experience suggest meaningful benefits in this area when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Supporting nerve regeneration after injury
ARA-290 (Cibinetide) is particularly well-suited for individuals focused on supporting nerve regeneration after injury. Research and clinical experience suggest meaningful benefits in this area when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
Reducing chronic inflammation
ARA-290 (Cibinetide) is particularly well-suited for individuals focused on reducing chronic inflammation. Research and clinical experience suggest meaningful benefits in this area when used as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.
TB-500
Athletes Recovering from Muscle Injuries
If you've pulled a hamstring, strained your back, or torn a muscle, TB-500 helps accelerate the healing process by promoting cell migration to the injury site and supporting new blood vessel growth. It's especially useful for injuries that just won't seem to fully heal [1][5].
Tendon and Ligament Problems
Tendons and ligaments are notoriously slow healers because they have poor blood supply. TB-500 promotes angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) and helps repair these stubborn connective tissue injuries—think Achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow, or rotator cuff issues [5].
Post-Surgical Recovery
After surgery, your body needs to repair a lot of tissue quickly. TB-500 supports wound healing, reduces inflammation, and may help minimize scar tissue formation. Some protocols use it alongside traditional recovery to potentially speed up the healing timeline [1][4].
Chronic Inflammation and Slow Healers
Some people just heal slowly—whether due to age, diabetes, or other factors. TB-500 helps regulate the inflammatory response and promotes the cellular processes needed for tissue repair. It essentially tells your body to focus healing resources where they're needed most [1].
Side effects
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Common
- Injection Site Reactions
- Headache
- Dizziness
Uncommon
- Elevated Blood Pressure
- Fatigue
Serious
- Blood Clot Formation
TB-500
Common
- Injection site redness
- Mild fatigue or lethargy
- Mild headache
- Slight flushing
Uncommon
- Head rush or lightheadedness
- Temporary nausea
Serious
- Allergic reaction
Safety & evidence
ARA-290 (Cibinetide)
Evidence level
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
FDA status
Not FDA approved
Safety overview
ARA-290 is a synthetic innate repair receptor agonist that has completed Phase 2 clinical trials for small fiber neuropathy and is under active development. Animal toxicology studies show a good safety margin with no organ damage or cytotoxicity at doses far exceeding therapeutic levels. Early clinical data from Phase 2 trials demonstrate tolerability with mild injection site reactions and transient headache as primary concerns. However, immunogenicity remains a potential risk with repeated dosing of synthetic peptides, requiring anti-drug antibody monitoring. Long-term safety data beyond 12 weeks does not yet exist.
Contraindications
- Polycythemia vera or erythrocytosis
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Known hypersensitivity to peptides
- Concurrent use with certain cancer medications
TB-500
Evidence level
Moderate human trials (Phase 1-2)
FDA status
Research compound
Safety overview
TB-500 has shown a good safety profile across preclinical studies and limited human research. It's a fragment of thymosin beta-4, a naturally occurring protein in your body involved in healing. Most side effects are mild and transient, primarily injection site reactions. However, large-scale clinical trials are still needed to fully establish its safety profile in humans [1].
Contraindications
- Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant
- Currently breastfeeding
- Active cancer or history of cancer
- Known allergy to peptide components
- Children and adolescents
Which is right for you?
Choose ARA-290 (Cibinetide) if...
- Treating small fiber neuropathy
- Managing neuropathic pain from diabetes or sarcoidosis
- Supporting nerve regeneration after injury
- Reducing chronic inflammation
Choose TB-500 if...
- Accelerating injury recovery
- Tendon and ligament healing
- Reducing chronic inflammation
- Post-surgical recovery support