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Recovery & Repair
Synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4, used for whole-body recovery.
Recovery & Repair
An EPO-derived peptide that protects tissue without raising red blood cells.
TB-500 is not FDA-approved and rated 2/5 for evidence; ARA-290 is not FDA-approved and rated 3/5. ARA-290 has more human evidence behind it. Both are banned in sport by WADA. Both are used for recovery & repair goals.
| Compare | TB-500 Synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4, used for whole-body recovery. | ARA-290 An EPO-derived peptide that protects tissue without raising red blood cells. |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Recovery & Repair | Recovery & Repair |
| Evidence | 2/5Full-length Tβ4 has some human trials (eye, wound); TB-500 fragment is mostly animal and anecdotal. | 3/5Small human Phase 2 trials (sarcoidosis small-fiber neuropathy, type 2 diabetes neuropathy). No Phase 3. |
| FDA status | Not FDA-approved | Not FDA-approved |
| WADA (sport) | Banned | Banned |
| Also known as | Thymosin Beta-4 fragment, Tβ4 (Ac-SDKP / LKKTETQ region) | Cibinetide, Helix B surface peptide analog |
| How it works | Binds actin, helping cells migrate to injured tissue; promotes angiogenesis and reduces inflammation in models. Full-length thymosin beta-4 has been studied in dry eye and wound healing trials; the TB-500 fragment itself has little human data. | Activates the 'innate repair receptor' (EPO receptor paired with the beta-common receptor), which calms inflammation and protects nerves. It does not activate the receptor that makes red blood cells, so it does not thicken blood the way EPO does. |
| Half-life | Not well characterized; dosed twice weekly by convention | About 2 minutes in plasma; effects last much longer via receptor signaling |
| Commonly reported doses |
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| Route | Subcutaneous | Subcutaneous |
| Good once mixed | ~28 days in the fridge | ~28 days in the fridge |
| Top side effects |
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| Lowest research-listing price per mg | $2.40 (10 mg vial, 40% off) | $3.00 (10 mg vial, 40% off) |
| Latest lab purity | 99.51% (lot TB0002) | 99.93% (lot ARA0002) |
Want a third? Add another peptide. Doses are commonly reported ranges, not recommendations.
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TB-500 is not FDA-approved and rated 2/5 for evidence; ARA-290 is not FDA-approved and rated 3/5. ARA-290 has more human evidence behind it. Both are banned in sport by WADA. Both are used for recovery & repair goals.
TB-500: Not FDA-approved. ARA-290: Not FDA-approved. Regulations change, so confirm with the FDA.
TB-500 is rated 2 out of 5: Full-length Tβ4 has some human trials (eye, wound); TB-500 fragment is mostly animal and anecdotal. ARA-290 is rated 3 out of 5: Small human Phase 2 trials (sarcoidosis small-fiber neuropathy, type 2 diabetes neuropathy). No Phase 3. The scale is explained on our methodology page.
TB-500 is banned by WADA, by name or as part of a named class. ARA-290 is banned by WADA, by name or as part of a named class.