ARA-290 vs VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Two investigational cytoprotective/anti-inflammatory peptides with a shared pattern — a real, narrow positive signal in one specific condition, followed by disappointing results everywhere else.
Short answer
With human clinical data on both sides, ARA-290 and VIP differ mainly in what they are for. ARA-290 is marketed for neuropathy and tissue repair; VIP is the choice for readers interested in mold illness and CIRS. For ARA-290, small-fiber neuropathy score fell 11.5 points vs 2.9 on placebo in a 22-patient sarcoidosis pilot RCT.
ARA-290
Cibinetide
An EPO-derived tissue-protective peptide with small but real human small-fiber-neuropathy data in sarcoidosis — still investigational and unapproved.
Full ARA-290 evidence reviewVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Aviptadil
Real vasodilatory/immune biology, and synthetic VIP (aviptadil) reached large trials — but the flagship COVID-ARDS trial (TESICO) was negative, and the compounded nasal 'mold/CIRS' protocol has no controlled evidence.
Full VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) evidence reviewARA-290 vs VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide): head to head
- FDA status / approved use
ARA-290
Investigational and not approved anywhere; sold online as an unregulated research peptideVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Not FDA-approved for any indication; synthetic VIP (aviptadil) has been tested in clinical trials- Marketed for
ARA-290
Neuropathy, tissue repairVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Mold illness / CIRS- Outcome areas
ARA-290
Injury recovery / tissue repairVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Immune function / inflammation- Evidence grade
ARA-290
Clinical dataVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Clinical data- How it works
ARA-290
Activates the tissue-protective EPO repair receptor without raising red blood cell productionVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Binds VPAC receptors to relax blood vessels and calm immune signaling- Route and dosing
ARA-290
Subcutaneous injection daily in a Phase 2 trial; IV in othersVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Compounded nasal spray; IV infusion (aviptadil) in clinical trials- Headline human result
ARA-290
Small-fiber neuropathy score fell 11.5 points vs 2.9 on placebo in a 22-patient sarcoidosis pilot RCTVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
No meaningful recovery benefit from IV aviptadil in the large placebo-controlled TESICO trial in COVID-19 respiratory failure- Strongest evidence
ARA-290
Heij, Mol Med 2012ARA-290 evidence reviewPubMed 23168581VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
TESICO, Lancet Respir Med 2023VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) evidence reviewPubMed 37348524- Key safety signal
ARA-290
No long-term safety data; trials were small and dosed for about 4 weeksVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Very short half-life; no long-term safety data for chronic self-administration- How it is obtained
ARA-290
Legitimately available only inside clinical trials; vials sold online are gray-market research chemicalsVIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
Prescribed and dispensed by compounding pharmacies; legality varies by compound
| ARA-290 | VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) | |
|---|---|---|
| FDA status / approved use | Investigational and not approved anywhere; sold online as an unregulated research peptide | Not FDA-approved for any indication; synthetic VIP (aviptadil) has been tested in clinical trials |
| Marketed for | Neuropathy, tissue repair | Mold illness / CIRS |
| Outcome areas | Injury recovery / tissue repair | Immune function / inflammation |
| Evidence grade | Clinical data | Clinical data |
| How it works | Activates the tissue-protective EPO repair receptor without raising red blood cell production | Binds VPAC receptors to relax blood vessels and calm immune signaling |
| Route and dosing | Subcutaneous injection daily in a Phase 2 trial; IV in others | Compounded nasal spray; IV infusion (aviptadil) in clinical trials |
| Headline human result | Small-fiber neuropathy score fell 11.5 points vs 2.9 on placebo in a 22-patient sarcoidosis pilot RCT | No meaningful recovery benefit from IV aviptadil in the large placebo-controlled TESICO trial in COVID-19 respiratory failure |
| Strongest evidence | Heij, Mol Med 2012ARA-290 evidence reviewPubMed 23168581 | TESICO, Lancet Respir Med 2023VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) evidence reviewPubMed 37348524 |
| Key safety signal | No long-term safety data; trials were small and dosed for about 4 weeks | Very short half-life; no long-term safety data for chronic self-administration |
| How it is obtained | Legitimately available only inside clinical trials; vials sold online are gray-market research chemicals | Prescribed and dispensed by compounding pharmacies; legality varies by compound |
marks a row where the two differ. “Not established” marks a cell the available evidence does not answer. Evidence grades come from our evidence matrix, which grades each molecule on the human data for the use it is marketed for.
- Clinical data:
- Tested in humans — but investigational, discontinued, or proven only on a surrogate marker (not the marketed outcome).
Our verdict
ARA-290's real evidence is small-fiber neuropathy in sarcoidosis, a narrow but genuine human signal. VIP's synthetic form (aviptadil) actually reached large trials, but its flagship application — COVID-ARDS — came back negative in the definitive TESICO trial. Neither has an approved product, and the compounded/off-label uses both get sold for run well ahead of any controlled evidence.
ARA-290 fits if
Neuropathy-adjacent nerve protection is the specific interest, understanding the human data is narrow — one condition, small trials.
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) fits if
You're specifically investigating the mold/CIRS nasal-spray claim — know that no controlled trial supports that use, and the compound's one large trial, in a different condition, failed.
ARA-290 vs VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide): common questions
- Is either ARA-290 or VIP FDA-approved?
- No. ARA-290 is investigational and not approved anywhere; sold online as an unregulated research peptide. VIP is not FDA-approved for any indication; synthetic VIP (aviptadil) has been tested in clinical trials.
- Which has stronger human evidence, ARA-290 or VIP?
- Neither clearly. Both have human clinical data. The key source for ARA-290 is Heij, Mol Med 2012; for VIP, it is TESICO, Lancet Respir Med 2023.
- What are the main safety concerns with ARA-290 and VIP?
- ARA-290 has no long-term safety data; trials were small and dosed for about 4 weeks. VIP has a very short half-life; no long-term safety data for chronic self-administration.
Key studies behind each
ARA-290
- Collino M, Thiemermann C, Cerami A, Brines M. (2015). Flipping the molecular switch for innate protection and repair of tissues: Long-lasting effects of a non-erythropoietic small peptide engineered from erythropoietin. Pharmacol Ther. PubMed 25728128
- Hache G, Garrigue P, Bennis Y, Stalin J, Moyon A, et al. (2016). ARA290, a Specific Agonist of Erythropoietin/CD131 Heteroreceptor, Improves Circulating Endothelial Progenitors' Angiogenic Potential and Homing Ability. Shock. PubMed 27172159
- Heij L, Niesters M, Swartjes M, Hoitsma E, Drent M, et al. (2012). Safety and efficacy of ARA 290 in sarcoidosis patients with symptoms of small fiber neuropathy: a randomized, double-blind pilot study. Mol Med. PubMed 23168581
- Culver DA, Dahan A, Bajorunas D, Jeziorska M, van Velzen M, et al. (2017). Cibinetide Improves Corneal Nerve Fiber Abundance in Patients With Sarcoidosis-Associated Small Nerve Fiber Loss and Neuropathic Pain. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. PubMed 28475703
VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide)
- Harmar AJ, Fahrenkrug J, Gozes I, et al. (2012). Pharmacology and functions of receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide: IUPHAR review 1. Br J Pharmacol. PubMed 22289055
- Delgado M, Ganea D. (2013). Vasoactive intestinal peptide: a neuropeptide with pleiotropic immune functions. Amino Acids. PubMed 22139413
- Petkov V, Mosgoeller W, Ziesche R, et al. (2003). Vasoactive intestinal peptide as a new drug for treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension. J Clin Invest. PubMed 12727925
- Youssef JG, Lavin P, Schoenfeld DA, et al. (2022). The Use of IV Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (Aviptadil) in Patients With Critical COVID-19 Respiratory Failure: Results of a 60-Day Randomized Controlled Trial. Crit Care Med. PubMed 36044317
The full evidence reviews
- ARA-290 (cibinetide): the EPO-derived repair peptide and what its trials actually show
An 11-amino-acid peptide engineered from erythropoietin to protect tissue without making red cells. A straight read of the small-fiber-neuropathy evidence — and its limits.
Updated August 2026
- VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide): real biology, mixed trials, unproven nasal use
VIP is a genuine endogenous neuropeptide, and synthetic VIP (aviptadil) was tested properly in serious lung disease — with mixed, largely unconfirmed results. The compounded nasal-VIP "mold / CIRS" protocol has essentially no controlled evidence. The honest read.
Updated August 2026
Where to get it
Where to get peptide therapy
Clinician-led telehealth services that prescribe compounded peptides. The specific peptides offered vary by provider — confirm ARA-290 (Cibinetide) availability before ordering.
Disclosure: Aminoscope is reader-supported. Some links below are affiliate links — if you start care through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Partners are listed first; a commission never changes what we write about a provider. How we make money.
- Oak LongevityPartner
Low-cost sermorelin within a broader longevity stack
- HealthRXPartner
Compounded sermorelin within a broad longevity and weight-care menu
Bodybuilding Health+PartnerSermorelin from Bodybuilding.com's telehealth program
Provider reviews we publish: California Trim ClinicClinic SecretContour HealthDadVantage Men's HealthDr. Gillis' Wellness CenterDrBrainRx