Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Informational only. Not medical advice.INFORMATIONAL PLATFORM ONLY — NOT MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT
Head-to-head comparison of ARA-290 and LL-37 — mechanism, dosing, side effects, legal status, and pricing.
ARA-290 (Cibinetide) is a synthetic 11-amino-acid peptide derived from the helix-B surface of erythropoietin (EPO), developed by Araim Pharmaceuticals. It selectively activates the innate repair receptor (IRR) for anti-inflammatory, tissue-protective, and neuroprotective signaling without stimulating erythropoiesis. ARA-290 is not FDA-approved; it has received FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for sarcoidosis-associated small fiber neuropathy and remains in clinical development as of April 2026.
LL-37 is the only human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide — a 37-amino-acid peptide (starting with two leucines) cleaved from the hCAP-18 precursor. It has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and immunomodulatory roles, but is also implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis, rosacea, and lupus. Not FDA-approved; research-use only.
ARA-290
LL-37
Category
Legal Status
Mechanism
Dose Range
Route
Frequency
COA-verified vendors · trust score ≥70 required · single-vial price — bulk/bundle deals may be lower
ARA-290
LL-37
COA corpus from Disclosed Labs — independently tested batches only.
ARA-290
36
COAs
99.4%
Avg purity
10
Labs
LL-37
31
COAs
99.2%
Avg purity
8
Labs
Dahan et al. (Molecular Medicine, 2013, PMID 24136731) conducted a blinded placebo-controlled trial of 28 days of subcutaneous ARA 290 in sarcoidosis patients with documented small nerve fiber loss; treatment improved neuropathic symptoms, increased corneal nerve fiber density on confocal microscopy, altered thermal thresholds, and improved 6-minute walk distance. Brines et al. (Molecular Medicine, 2015, PMID 25387363) reported a placebo-controlled trial of 4 mg daily SubQ ARA 290 for 28 days in type 2 diabetes: the active arm showed improvements in HbA1c, lipid profile, and PainDetect neuropathic symptom scores, with recovery of intraepidermal nerve fiber measurements versus no change on placebo. Heij et al. (2012) and additional Phase 2 work have supported the tissue-protective signal. ARA-290 has not advanced to Phase 3 registration trials and is not FDA-approved.
Key references
LL-37 was characterized in the mid-1990s as the processed antimicrobial product of hCAP-18 (Gudmundsson et al., 1996). Dürr et al. (2006, Biochim Biophys Acta, PMID 16716248) provided a foundational review of its structure and activity as the sole human cathelicidin. Overhage et al. (2008, Infection and Immunity, PMID 18591225) showed LL-37 prevents Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation at 0.5 µg/mL — far below its MIC. A randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1/2 trial (Grönberg et al., 2014, Wound Repair and Regeneration, PMID 25041740) found topical LL-37 safely accelerated healing of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers at low doses. Its dual role in autoimmunity is well established: Lande et al. (2014, Nature Communications, PMID 25470744) identified LL-37 as a T-cell autoantigen in two-thirds of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis patients. No FDA approval exists for any indication. Injectable grey-market protocols for Lyme, biofilm, or mold illness lack controlled clinical evidence and carry theoretical autoimmune risk given LL-37's role in psoriasis, lupus, and rosacea pathogenesis.
ARA-290 (Recovery) and LL-37 (Immune) are in different categories and target different biological pathways. This is a common pattern in multi-compound research protocols. Researchers should monitor the biomarkers from both profiles and watch for interactions listed in each compound’s contraindications. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before combining any research compounds.
This platform provides informational tools only, not medical advice. This comparison is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed provider.
Dosing Notes
Half-life
Side Effects
Contraindications
Lab Testing
Key references
Disclosed Labs