Ever wondered why peptides have names like BPC-157, TB-500 or CJC-1295? The codes aren’t random — they usually come from the compound’s origin, its developer, or a lab catalog number. Here’s how peptide naming works.
- Letters often abbreviate the source or developer.
- Numbers are usually a sequence or development code.
- There’s no single global system — conventions vary.
Where the names come from
Most research-peptide names are a short code rather than a descriptive chemical name (which would be long and unwieldy). The letters typically point to where the peptide came from, and the number is a development or catalog identifier.
| Name | What the code refers to |
|---|---|
| BPC-157 | “Body Protection Compound” + a development number |
| TB-500 | Relates to Thymosin β4 + a code number |
| SS-31 | “Szeto-Schiller” (the developers) + a series number |
| MOTS-c | Named for the gene region it’s encoded in |
No single naming system
Because peptides come from many different labs and companies, naming conventions vary. Some use the developer’s initials, some use the parent protein, and some use internal project codes. The takeaway: the name is a label, not a description of what’s inside — that’s what the Certificate of Analysis is for.
New to the terminology? See the research glossary and What Are Research Peptides?
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