BPC-157 is a synthetic peptide of 15 amino acids studied in preclinical research for tissue repair and blood-vessel formation. It is a research-use-only compound — not approved for human use. Here’s a quick, no-fluff overview.
- Name: BPC-157 = “Body Protection Compound 157”; a stable synthetic pentadecapeptide.
- Origin: a protective protein sequence found in human gastric juice (University of Zagreb research).
- Studied for: tissue repair, angiogenesis and gastrointestinal models — in animals only.
- Status: not FDA-approved; research use only; banned in competitive sport.
What is BPC-157?
BPC-157 is a chain of 15 amino acids (a “pentadecapeptide”) whose sequence comes from a larger protective protein isolated from gastric juice. In the literature it also appears as bepecin or PL 14736.
| Class | Synthetic pentadecapeptide (15 amino acids) |
| Origin | Partial sequence of a human gastric-juice protein |
| Research areas | Tendon / ligament / muscle repair, GI models, angiogenesis |
| Lab form | Lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder |
| Status | Not approved for human use — research only |
What researchers study
Interest comes almost entirely from animal and in vitro studies. The main areas:
- Connective-tissue repair — tendon-to-bone, ligament and muscle models in rodents.
- Gastrointestinal models — mucosal protection and healing of induced GI lesions.
- Angiogenesis — formation of new blood vessels that supply healing tissue.
Proposed mechanisms
- Upregulation of growth-hormone receptors in tendon fibroblasts.
- VEGF / nitric-oxide signaling linked to new blood-vessel formation.
- FAK–paxillin pathway involved in cell adhesion and migration.
BPC-157 vs TB-500
| BPC-157 | TB-500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pentadecapeptide (15 aa) | Fragment of Thymosin β4 |
| Origin | Gastric-juice protein | Actin-binding protein |
| Research focus | Tendon & GI repair | Cell migration, repair |
The two are sometimes studied together. Compare BPC-157 and TB-500, or the combined BPC-157 / TB-500 blend.
Storage & handling
BPC-157 ships as a lyophilized powder. Keep it cold and dark, reconstitute only when needed for research, and limit freeze–thaw cycles. See our guides on peptide purity (HPLC) and storing lyophilized peptides.
Research status
BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA or any regulator for human use, and human data are limited — essentially all evidence is from animal studies. Treat it strictly as a research compound.
Looking for research-grade BPC-157?
Lab-tested, with third-party purity verification.