ARA-290 is a peptide consisting of 11 amino acids. It is derived from the tertiary structure of erythropoietin, which is a naturally occurring peptide in our body. The main function of erythropoietin is to stimulate the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow alongside exerting other effects in the body.ARA-290 is a peptide consisting of 11 amino acids. It is derived from the tertiary structure of erythropoietin, which is a naturally occurring peptide in our body. The main function of erythropoietin is to stimulate the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow alongside exerting other effects in the body.