Page data last changed: . Chemistry registry snapshot: . Registry refreshes and identity assessments are separate from scientific content review.
The most-searched research peptide has hundreds of rodent papers, largely from one group, and — as of 2026 — its first registered human efficacy trials.
Also known as: Body Protection Compound-157 · BPC157 · PL 14736 · Bepecin · pentadecapeptide BPC 157
Part of the Repair & recovery peptides cluster
BPC-157 — evidence brief
A small uncontrolled knee-pain report and a two-person safety pilot leave human efficacy and longer-term safety unresolved. The selected rat comparison did not show a significant BPC-157 advantage on tendon failure load.
- Version
- 2026-10-05.1
- Snapshot updated
Prepared by Peptides Codex. Independent review by a qualified subject specialist is pending.
Scope of this brief
Selected primary studies of author-labelled BPC-157 preparations. The profile's GEPPPGKPADDAGLV reference does not authenticate the material used in every study. This brief is not a systematic review, a dosing guide or an independent expert review.
Lee & Padgett, 2021 · PMID 34324435
- Material tested
- Author-labelled BPC-157 alone or with TB4; exact batch identity not established here.
- Model or population
- People with different causes of knee pain.
- Study design
- Single-clinic retrospective chart review and telephone follow-up; no control group.
- Sample and comparison
- 17 records; 16 reached: 12 BPC-157 alone, 4 BPC-157 + TB4.
- Reported finding
- Reported improvement: 11/12 with BPC-157 alone and 3/4 with the combination.
- Limits of this evidence
- Self-report, variable follow-up and no validated functional measures. Cannot establish efficacy or added combination benefit.
Source access: Primary abstract and author-hosted full text inspected.
Lee & Burgess, 2025 · PMID 40131143
- Material tested
- Intravenous BPC-157-labelled preparation; exact formulation not characterized in the retrieved abstract.
- Model or population
- Two adults previously exposed to intravenous BPC-157.
- Study design
- Uncontrolled safety pilot; blood tests and vital signs across three days.
- Sample and comparison
- 2 participants.
- Reported finding
- No reported side effects or measurable changes in the tested organ and metabolic biomarkers.
- Limits of this evidence
- No efficacy endpoint. Two prior-exposed people and short observation cannot establish general or long-term safety.
Source access: Primary abstract inspected; publisher full text unavailable during this review.
Biçer et al., 2026 · PMID 42542926
- Material tested
- Authors' BPC-157 preparation; comparator and combination used TB-500-labelled material.
- Model or population
- Male rats after Achilles tendon transection and surgical repair.
- Study design
- Randomized four-arm experiment; assessment at four weeks.
- Sample and comparison
- 32 rats, 8/group; separate biomechanical and histology cohorts of 4/group.
- Reported finding
- BPC-157 failure load was not significantly different from control (adjusted p=0.389). Combination showed no added benefit.
- Limits of this evidence
- Small animal endpoint cohorts; no human efficacy inference. TB-500 sequence was not characterized.
Source access: Primary journal full text and PubMed abstract inspected.
A finding applies to the material, model and conditions studied. It does not establish safety or effectiveness in other settings.
Overview
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic 15-residue peptide, GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, derived from a sequence found in human gastric juice. Hundreds of rodent studies, most from a single Zagreb group, report accelerated healing of tendon, muscle, ligament, gut and skin injuries via VEGFR2, nitric-oxide and ERK1/2 pathways. Human evidence is limited to a small safety study and a retrospective chart review; the first phase 2 efficacy trial began recruiting in 2026. It is not approved anywhere and the FDA barred it from compounding in 2023.
Source & context
Biological / chemical source: Synthetic fragment related to gastric juice protein research
Primary research or clinical context: Not approved in any jurisdiction; FDA barred it from pharmacy compounding in September 2023; first small human efficacy trials registered 2025–2026
What BPC-157 is
BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide — fifteen amino acids, GEPPPGKPADDAGLV — whose sequence was identified in human gastric juice by Predrag Sikirić's group at the University of Zagreb in the early 1990s and named Body Protection Compound. Reviews describe it as a stable fragment of a larger gastric protein that survives the stomach, which is unusual for a peptide and is attributed to its four prolines. Its molecular formula is C62H98N16O22 and its average mass about 1,420 Da. It is by a wide margin the most-searched research peptide, and the gap between that interest and its human evidence base is the main subject of this page.
Sequence and chemistry
The sequence Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val has no cysteines, no cyclisation and no non-canonical residues. The Pro-Pro-Pro motif near the N-terminus and a second proline at position 8 restrict the backbone and resist proteolysis; two aspartates and a glutamate make it acidic, one lysine basic. In analytical terms it is an easy molecule to verify — a single mass, a clean HPLC peak — which is why a certificate of analysis for BPC-157 that lacks a chromatogram and observed mass is a warning sign. The peptide is sold as the free sequence; salt forms (acetate, and the marketed “arginate”) change the counter-ion, not the peptide.
Mechanism: what the reviews say
No receptor for BPC-157 has been identified. A 2025 scoping review (McGuire et al., Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine) summarises the proposed pathways from animal work: activation of VEGFR2 and nitric-oxide synthesis through the Akt–eNOS axis, promoting angiogenesis, fibroblast activity and neuromuscular stabilisation, plus engagement of ERK1/2 signalling. Sikirić's group has framed the peptide as a modulator of standard angiogenic growth factors and of the nitric-oxide system (Seiwerth et al., Current Pharmaceutical Design 2018), and reports that it works at the same dose range and by equivalent routes regardless of the injury tested (Seiwerth et al., Frontiers in Pharmacology 2021). Those are hypotheses drawn from rodent data.
The animal literature and its concentration
BPC-157 has hundreds of preclinical papers covering tendon, ligament, muscle, bone, gut, skin, burns and nervous-system injury models, mostly in rats. The 2021 wound-healing review describes it curing cutaneous and internal fistulas, deep burns, diabetic ulcers and alkali burns, with no reported toxicity and an LD1 never reached. The 2019 Loughborough review (Gwyer et al., Cell Tissue Research) and the 2025 HSS systematic review (Vasireddi et al.) both note that the great majority of this work comes from the Zagreb group, which is not a criticism of the science but does mean independent replication is scarce. A 2026 independent rat tendon study (Biçer et al.) found BPC-157 improved load to failure without reaching significance.
Human evidence
This is the short section. The 2021 review mentions that BPC-157 was previously employed in ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis trials, but those data are not in the peer-reviewed literature. A phase 1 safety and pharmacokinetics study of an oral formulation, PCO-02, is registered (NCT02637284) with unknown status. The only published human outcome paper is a retrospective chart review of 17 patients at a Florida clinic who received intra-articular BPC-157 for knee pain (Lee et al., Alternative Therapies 2021) — no control group, telephone follow-up, and, in the authors' words, no specific tools to measure function or quality of life. The 2025 HSS systematic review concludes that despite lacking FDA approval and being banned in professional sports, BPC-157 is increasingly used by clinicians and athletes on preclinical evidence.
| Registration | Design | Status |
|---|---|---|
| NCT02637284 (PCO-02) | Phase 1 oral safety / pharmacokinetics | Unknown |
| NCT07437547 | Phase 2, acute hamstring muscle strain | Recruiting |
| NCT07803250 | Phase 1, recovery after rotator cuff repair | Not yet recruiting |
| NCT07752381 | Peptide gummies, biomarker study | Completed |
Regulatory status
BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA, Health Canada, the EMA or any other regulator. In September 2023 the FDA placed it in the category of bulk substances that may not be used in pharmacy compounding, citing safety concerns and the absence of human data, which removed the main semi-legitimate channel through which it had been dispensed in the United States. It is prohibited in professional sport. Marketing it for human use is unlawful in the US, Canada and the EU; the “research use only” label on vendor vials does not alter that.
Safety: what is and is not known
Rodent studies report no toxicity across wide dose ranges. Human safety data consist of the unpublished oral safety study and clinic case series; there is no systematic adverse-event collection, and the 2025 and 2026 sports-medicine reviews (Vasireddi et al.; McGuire et al.; Mendias and Awan; Mayfield et al.) all flag the absence of human safety data as the central concern. A peptide that promotes angiogenesis raises a theoretical question about tumour growth that has not been studied in humans. Reports of harm are anecdotal because nobody is counting; that is not evidence of safety.
BPC-157 vs TB-500, and the blends
BPC-157 is sold alongside TB-500 as a “healing stack” and in the Wolverine, GLOW and KLOW blends. The two peptides have different origins and have not been tested together in humans; the 2026 rat tendon study tested the combination and found no advantage over TB-500 alone on its significant endpoints. The comparison guide and the blend guides cover the differences and the regulatory position of each component. This profile is educational and does not describe how to obtain or use anything.
Sequence
One-letter sequence commonly cited for BPC-157 (educational; isoforms and modifications may differ):
GEPPPGKPADDAGLV
Residues plotted ~100° apart around an α-helix — clustering of one color reveals an amphipathic face.
Structure & chemistry
Molecular identity & reference confidence
Source-supported reference
Reference values are taken from the cited molecular record or curated profile. A database match is not independent laboratory verification; modifications, counter-ions, and formulations can change the measured mass.
- Molecular form
- Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV), 15 residues, linear, proline-rich; described as a stable fragment of a larger gastric-juice protein
- Species
- Not established by this molecular identity audit
- Termini (N / C)
- Not specified / Not specified
Average reference mass
Reference policy updated: 2026-10-05
- PubChem molecular record · 2026-10-01
- Molecular formula
- C62H98N16O22
- Average reference mass
- ≈ 1,419.5
- Receptors
- No receptor identified. Reviews describe activation of VEGFR2, nitric-oxide synthesis via the Akt–eNOS axis, and ERK1/2 signalling, promoting angiogenesis and fibroblast activity
- Backbone
- Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV), 15 residues, linear, proline-rich; described as a stable fragment of a larger gastric-juice protein
- Status
- Not approved anywhere as of September 2026. FDA declined to allow it in compounding (September 2023). Four registered trials, including a recruiting phase 2 in hamstring strain
No modifications: the commercial peptide is the free linear sequence. Proline richness (four prolines in fifteen residues) is credited for its unusual stability in gastric juice.
- PubChem CID: 9941957
- CAS RN: 137525-51-0
- UNII: 8ED8NXK95P
Chemistry values: curated profile, PubChem · fetched 2026-10-01.
Clinical development snapshot
ClinicalTrials.gov lists 4 registered studies with “BPC-157” as an intervention (snapshot 2026-09-06). A registry footprint is not evidence of efficacy or approval.
| NCT | Title | Phase | Status | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07803250 | Impact of BPC-157 on Recovery Following Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery | Phase 1 | not yet recruiting | 2026-09-03 |
| NCT07752381 | A Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effects of Peptide Gummies on Markers of Inflammation, Physical Performance, | Not applicable | completed | 2026-08-07 |
| NCT07437547 | BPC 157 for Acute Hamstring Muscle Strain Repair | Phase 2 | recruiting | 2026-02-27 |
| NCT02637284 | PCO-02 - Safety and Pharmacokinetics Trial | Phase 1 | unknown | 2015-12-22 |
BPC-157 — reconstitution calculator
Enter how much peptide is in the vial and how much diluent (e.g. bacteriostatic water) is added. The tool returns the resulting solution concentration — and, for any amount you type, the volume it corresponds to. This is educational arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.
Reference form: Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV), 15 residues, linear, proline-rich; described as a stable fragment of a larger gastric-juice proteinAverage reference mass: 1,419.5 Da
Enter an amount to see the volume it corresponds to.
Educational concentration mathematics only. This tool does not recommend a dose, amount, or protocol, and nothing here is medical advice. Many peptides are not authorized by Health Canada for human use — see our reconstitution and bacteriostatic-water guides for context.
Change log
Dated observations from the data pipeline (registry flags, trial footprints, identifiers) and editorial reviews of this profile.
- EditorialProfile content reviewed and updated by the editorial team.
FAQ about BPC-157
What is BPC-157?+
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic 15-residue peptide, GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, derived from a sequence found in human gastric juice. Hundreds of rodent studies, most from a single Zagreb group, report accelerated healing of tendon, muscle, ligament, gut and skin injuries via VEGFR2, nitric-oxide and ERK1/2 pathways. Human evidence is limited to a small safety study and a retrospective chart review; the first phase 2 efficacy trial began recruiting in 2026. It is not approved anywhere and the FDA barred it from compounding in 2023.
What Canadian product status is recorded for BPC-157?+
Canadian product status for BPC-157 has not been verified in this profile. No verified record here does not mean no authorization exists. Status depends on the product, formulation and use; consult Health Canada's product records.
What is the typical length of BPC-157?+
BPC-157 is commonly described as approximately 15 amino acids (Research pentadecapeptide (gastric-juice-derived sequence)).
What is BPC-157?+
A synthetic 15-residue peptide (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV) derived from a sequence in human gastric juice, studied mainly in rat injury models by a group at the University of Zagreb.
Is BPC-157 FDA approved?+
No. It is approved nowhere, and in September 2023 the FDA barred it from pharmacy compounding, citing safety concerns and lack of human data.
Is there human evidence for BPC-157?+
Almost none: an unpublished oral safety study and a 17-patient retrospective chart review with no control group. The first phase 2 efficacy trial (hamstring strain) began recruiting in 2026.
How does BPC-157 work?+
No receptor is known. Reviews of rodent data propose VEGFR2 activation, nitric-oxide synthesis via Akt–eNOS, and ERK1/2 signalling, leading to angiogenesis and fibroblast activity.
What are the side effects of BPC-157?+
Unknown in humans. Rodent studies report no toxicity; no systematic human safety data exist, which is the main concern raised in 2025–2026 sports-medicine reviews.
What is the sequence of BPC-157?+
Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val; formula C62H98N16O22, mass about 1,420 Da.
Is BPC-157 banned in sport?+
Yes — reviews describe it as banned in professional sports.
Further reading
- ComparisonBPC-157 vs TB-500: Differences, Research Context & ComparisonSide-by-side educational comparison of BPC-157 and TB-500—sequences, research themes, stacking discussions, and evidence limits.
- Recovery peptidesBPC-157: Oral vs Injectable — What the Research Actually ShowsThe oral-versus-injectable question for BPC-157, framed by what preclinical research actually reports about stability, gut effects, and systemic exposure. Educational only, not a protocol.
- Blends explainedWhat Is the “Wolverine” Peptide? BPC-157 + TB-500, and What the Evidence Actually Shows“Wolverine peptide” (or “Wolverine stack”) is a vendor nickname for BPC-157 combined with TB-500. This guide explains what each component is, what has actually been studied in humans (very little), what a rat combination study found and what remains untested in humans, and where it stands legally.
- Blends explainedWhat Is the “GLOW” Peptide? GHK-Cu + BPC-157 + TB-500, Explained From the Evidence“GLOW peptide” is a vendor blend name for GHK-Cu, BPC-157 and TB-500 in one vial. This guide explains each component, the linked cellular and animal evidence, the gaps for a three-way injectable blend, and product-specific authorization.
- Blends explainedWhat Is the “KLOW” Peptide? KPV + GHK-Cu + BPC-157 + TB-500, Component by Component“KLOW peptide” is a four-peptide vendor blend: KPV, GHK-Cu, BPC-157 and TB-500. This guide explains what each is, what has been studied in humans (very little beyond topical GHK-Cu), why a four-way mix is untested, and where it stands legally.
- SafetyPeptide Safety and Risks: A Balanced Educational OverviewAn objective, balanced overview of what research does and does not establish about peptide risks—unknowns, purity and contamination concerns, and why unapproved compounds carry uncertainty. Not reassurance and not medical advice.
- FoundationsWhat Are Research Peptides? A Clear Educational GuideLearn what “research peptides” means, how they differ from approved peptide drugs, quality markers (COA, purity), and how to study them responsibly.
Related peptides
References & further reading
- 1.Sikiric et al. (2014). Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157-NO-system relation. Curr Pharm Des
- 2.Hsieh et al. (2017). Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation. J Mol Med (Berl)
- 3.Brcic et al. (2009). Modulatory effect of gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on angiogenesis in muscle and tendon healing. J Physiol Pharmacol
- 4.Cerovecki et al. (2010). Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736) improves ligament healing in the rat. J Orthop Res
- 5.Krivic et al. (2006). Achilles detachment in rat and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Promoted tendon-to-bone healing and opposed corticosteroid aggravation. J Orthop Res
- 6.Krivic et al. (2008). Modulation of early functional recovery of Achilles tendon to bone unit after transection by BPC 157 and methylprednisolone. Inflamm Res
- 7.Japjec et al. (2021). Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 as a Therapy for the Disable Myotendinous Junctions in Rats. Biomedicines
- 8.Perovic et al. (2019). Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 can improve the healing course of spinal cord injury and lead to functional recovery in rats. J Orthop Surg Res
- 9.Mikus et al. (2001). Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 cream improves burn-wound healing and attenuates burn-gastric lesions in mice. Burns
- 10.Seiwerth et al. (2021). Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and Wound Healing. Front Pharmacol
- 11.Vuksic et al. (2007). Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in trials for inflammatory bowel disease (PL-10, PLD-116, PL14736, Pliva, Croatia) heals ileoileal anastomosis in the rat. Surg Today
- 12.Sikiric et al. (2020). Fistulas Healing. Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Therapy. Curr Pharm Des
- 13.Sikiric et al. (2016). Brain-gut Axis and Pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Theoretical and Practical Implications. Curr Neuropharmacol
- 14.Vukojevic et al. (2022). Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and the central nervous system. Neural Regen Res
- 15.Xu et al. (2020). Preclinical safety evaluation of body protective compound-157, a potential drug for treating various wounds. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol
- 16.Tian et al. (2023). Stable Isotope Labeling-Based Nontargeted Strategy for Characterization of the In Vitro Metabolic Profile of a Novel Doping BPC-157 in Doping Control by UHPLC-HRMS. Molecules
- 17.Sikiric et al. (2025). Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 as a Therapy and Safety Key: A Special Beneficial Pleiotropic Effect Controlling and Modulating Angiogenesis and the NO-System. Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
- 18.Józwiak et al. (2025). Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
- 19.McGuire et al. (2025). Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med
- 20.Vasireddi et al. (2025). Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review. HSS Journal
- 21.Seiwerth et al. (2018). BPC 157 and Standard Angiogenic Growth Factors. Gastrointestinal Tract Healing, Lessons from Tendon, Ligament, Muscle and Bone Healing. Current Pharmaceutical Design
- 22.Gwyer et al. (2019). Gastric pentadecapeptide body protection compound BPC 157 and its role in accelerating musculoskeletal soft tissue healing. Cell and Tissue Research
- 23.Lee & Padgett (2021). Intra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee Pain. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine
- 24.Biçer et al. (2026). Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats. Joint Diseases and Related Surgery
- 25.PubChem — BPC-157 (CID 9941957)