# BPC-157

> BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide (pentadecapeptide) with the sequence GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, originally described as isolated from human gastric juice and studied mainly in animal models of tissue repair. Its molecular formula is C62H98N16O22 and its molecular weight is 1419.5 g/mol. Human data are limited to small pilot studies, and BPC-157 is not FDA approved for any medical use.

Canonical: https://peptideproperties.com/compounds/bpc-157/

## Identity

- **Class:** Tissue-Repair Peptides
- **Also known as:** Body Protection Compound 157, Bepecin, PL 14736, PL-10
- **Molecular formula:** C62H98N16O22
- **Molecular weight:** 1419.5 g/mol
- **Monoisotopic mass:** 1418.7042 Da
- **CAS number:** 137525-51-0
- **PubChem CID:** 9941957
- **InChIKey:** HEEWEZGQMLZMFE-RKGINYAYSA-N
- **Sequence:** GEPPPGKPADDAGLV
- **Sequence notes:** No modifications; free N-terminal amine and C-terminal carboxylic acid (free acid).

## Key facts

- Class: synthetic tissue-repair research peptide (pentadecapeptide)
- Length: 15 amino acids (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV) with unmodified termini
- Origin: originally described as isolated from human gastric juice
- Formula C62H98N16O22; molecular weight 1419.5 g/mol; CAS 137525-51-0
- Development codes PL 14736 and PLD-116; also known as Bepecin
- Evidence: mostly rodent studies; three small human pilot studies reported
- Regulatory status: not FDA approved; considered investigational

## What Is BPC-157?

BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide, or pentadecapeptide, studied in laboratory and animal research on tissue repair. It was originally described as a peptide isolated from human gastric juice, and its name stands for "Body Protection Compound" [1][2].Much of the literature calls it a "stable gastric pentadecapeptide," a label that reflects reports that it is not degraded in human gastric juice for more than 24 hours [3]. Preclinical work has examined it across a wide range of models, including tissue injury, inflammatory bowel disease, and central nervous system disorders [1].The evidence base is overwhelmingly preclinical. A 2025 systematic review of musculoskeletal research included 36 studies, of which 35 were preclinical and one was clinical [4]. BPC-157 has not been approved by the FDA or other major regulatory authorities for medical use [1].

## Chemical Structure and Molecular Identity

BPC-157 is a linear peptide of 15 L-amino acids with the sequence Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV) [5]. Its molecular formula is C62H98N16O22, its molecular weight is 1419.5 g/mol, and its CAS registry number is 137525-51-0.The sequence contains a run of three consecutive proline residues near the N-terminus and a fourth proline at position 8. It carries three acidic side chains (one glutamate and two adjacent aspartates) and one basic lysine. Both termini are unmodified: the peptide has a free N-terminal amine and a C-terminal carboxylic acid on valine. PubChem's computed XLogP of -9 reflects a highly hydrophilic molecule.Synonyms in chemical databases include Bepecin and the development codes PL 14736, PLD-116, and PL-10. Salt forms, such as the trifluoroacetate listed among PubChem synonyms, have a higher formula weight than the free-base figure above.

## Research History and Development

BPC-157 has been studied since the early 1990s, and its developers frame it within the Robert and Szabo concept of gastrointestinal cytoprotection [6]. A 2025 systematic review identified records on the peptide published from 1993 onward [4].By 2003 the peptide was in clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease under the development codes PL 14736 and PLD-116, associated with the company Pliva [5]. Later reviews state that it was employed in ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis trials [7][3]; the abstracts reviewed here do not report outcomes from those trials.Research has remained concentrated. A 2019 review noted that only a handful of research groups had performed in-depth studies over the preceding two decades and that most studies used small rodent models [8]. Since 2025, several systematic and narrative reviews in orthopedic and sports medicine journals have assessed the preclinical record and the scarcity of human data [4][2][9]. A 2025 review also documented a number of patent applications and granted patents covering the peptide [1].

## Mechanisms Studied in Research

Research links BPC-157's effects in animal and cell models mainly to angiogenesis, nitric oxide signaling, and growth-factor-related pathways, although reviewers note that its precise healing mechanisms are still not understood [8].
### Angiogenesis and nitric oxide
Reviews describe activation of VEGFR2 and of nitric oxide synthesis through the Akt-eNOS axis, along with ERK1/2 signaling. These effects are proposed to promote angiogenesis and fibroblast activity, particularly in poorly vascularized tissues such as tendons and myotendinous junctions [2]. Its developers describe BPC-157 as a membrane stabilizer that acts on VEGF and nitric oxide pathways and differs from standard peptide growth factors [6].
### Growth hormone receptor and inflammatory signaling
A 2025 systematic review reported that, across included studies, BPC-157 enhanced growth hormone receptor expression and pathways involved in cell growth and angiogenesis while reducing inflammatory cytokines [4]. An orthopedic review groups it with other wound-healing peptides that promote angiogenesis, integrin-mediated extracellular matrix remodeling, and fibroblast activation [10].
### Collateral vessels and cell-level findings
In rat models of major vessel occlusion, the developing group reports rapid activation of collateral blood vessels that bypass the blocked vessel [6][11][12]. In vitro, BPC-157 did not stimulate cultured tendocyte growth on its own, in contrast to TGF-beta, but it opposed the growth-inhibiting effect of 4-hydroxynonenal [5].

## Key Findings From Published Studies

Published studies report consistent healing effects in rodent injury models, but human evidence is limited to three small pilot studies and no large controlled trials [2].
### Animal studies

- Tendon: In a rat Achilles tendon transection model, BPC-157 improved load to failure, Young's modulus, functional index scores, and fibroblast and collagen formation, with smaller tendon defects than saline controls [5].
- Musculoskeletal injury: Preclinical models showed improved functional, structural, and biomechanical outcomes in muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone injuries [4]. Muscle studies included systemic insults such as hyperkalemia and hypermagnesemia [8].
- Skin wounds: Rat studies covered incisional and excisional wounds, deep burns, diabetic ulcers, and alkali burns, with rapid changes in gene expression in excisional wounds [7].
- Gastrointestinal fistulas: In rats, healing was reported for external fistulas, internal colovesical and rectovaginal fistulas, and impaired surgical anastomoses [3].
- Central nervous system: In rats, BPC-157 given at reperfusion after bilateral carotid clamping resolved neuronal damage and memory and locomotor deficits; spinal cord compression models showed functional recovery [13].
- Eye: In glaucomatous rats with three of four episcleral veins cauterized, BPC-157 normalized intraocular pressure and preserved retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve appearance [14].
- Vascular occlusion: Rat occlusion models showed attenuated intracranial, portal, and caval hypertension and counteracted thrombosis and organ lesions [12], with similar reports for liver ischemia-reperfusion and Budd-Chiari models [6].
### Human data
The three human pilot studies examined intra-articular knee pain, interstitial cystitis, and intravenous safety and pharmacokinetics; no adverse effects were reported [2]. The knee study was a retrospective chart review at one clinic: of 12 patients who received BPC-157 alone, 11 reported significant improvement, with outcomes collected by phone survey and no standardized measurement tools [15]. The 2025 systematic review summarized the retrospective knee data as 7 of 12 patients reporting relief lasting more than six months [4]. The 2025 systematic review rated the overall evidence as level IV and V and summarized BPC-157 as liver-metabolized, renally cleared, and short-lived, with a half-life under 30 minutes [4].
### Safety evidence
Preclinical safety studies reported no adverse effects across several organ systems, and the developing group reports that no lethal threshold (LD1) was reached in animal testing [4][7]. No clinical safety data were found, and reviewers warn that adverse effects are possible from unregulated manufacturing or contamination [4], noting a potential for serious harm given scarce human safety data [9].Because reviewers flag contamination and unregulated manufacturing as risks, researchers typically confirm peptide identity and purity with HPLC and mass spectrometry certificates of analysis.

## Regulatory and Research Status

BPC-157 is not FDA approved and remains an investigational compound. Reviewers attribute the lack of approval by the FDA and other regulators to the absence of sufficient clinical studies in humans [1][2].Its anti-doping status has shifted. One 2025 review states that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) temporarily banned BPC-157 in 2022 and that it was not listed as banned at the time of writing [1], while another 2025 review describes its use as banned in professional sports [4]. The current WADA Prohibited List is the authoritative reference. The same systematic review noted that, despite lacking FDA approval, BPC-157 is increasingly used by clinicians and athletes, and it advised clinicians to make sure athletes understand their organizations' testing rules [4].A 2026 review places BPC-157 among unapproved peptides marketed directly to patients in a "gray market" outside regulatory oversight [9]. That review also discusses the placebo effect as a mediator of reported peptide efficacy and the role of social media in amplifying it [9]. Recent orthopedic reviews agree that clinical trials are lacking and call for well-designed human studies of safety and efficacy [10][2].

## FAQ

**What does BPC-157 stand for?**
BPC-157 stands for Body Protection Compound 157. The name reflects its original description as a protective peptide isolated from human gastric juice. It is a 15-amino-acid peptide, often called a stable gastric pentadecapeptide in the literature because it has been reported to resist degradation in human gastric juice for more than 24 hours.

**What is the molecular weight of BPC-157?**
The molecular weight of BPC-157 is 1419.5 g/mol for the free peptide, with the molecular formula C62H98N16O22 (PubChem CID 9941957, CAS 137525-51-0). Salt forms, such as the trifluoroacetate, have a higher formula weight, so the counterion should be considered when comparing material from different sources.

**Is BPC-157 FDA approved?**
No. BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA or other major regulatory authorities for any medical use. Published reviews attribute this to the lack of sufficient clinical studies in humans. Most evidence comes from rodent models, and only three small human pilot studies have been described, so reviewers classify it as an investigational compound.

**Is BPC-157 banned by WADA?**
Its status has changed over time. A 2025 review reports that WADA temporarily banned BPC-157 in 2022 and that it was not listed at the time of that review, while another 2025 review describes its use as banned in professional sports. The current WADA Prohibited List is the authoritative source for its present status.

**What does the research on BPC-157 show?**
Research on BPC-157 shows consistent healing effects in rodent models of tendon, muscle, ligament, bone, skin, gastrointestinal, vascular, and nervous system injury. Proposed mechanisms include VEGFR2 activation, nitric oxide signaling, and growth hormone receptor expression. Human evidence is limited to three small pilot studies, including a retrospective knee pain chart review, and no clinical safety data have been established.

**How is BPC-157 different from TB-500?**
BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid peptide originally described from human gastric juice, while TB-500 is described in reviews as a fragment of thymosin beta-4, a different protein. Orthopedic reviews group both as wound-healing peptides studied for angiogenesis and tissue remodeling. Both remain unapproved, and human data for each are scarce. One retrospective knee study included patients given both peptides.

**Is BPC-157 the same as Bepecin or PL 14736?**
Yes. Bepecin is a synonym for BPC-157, and PL 14736 and PLD-116 are development codes under which the same pentadecapeptide entered clinical trials for inflammatory bowel disease by 2003. PL-10 also appears as a synonym in chemical databases. All refer to the sequence GEPPPGKPADDAGLV.

## References

1. Józwiak M, Bauer M, Kamysz W, et al. Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) 2025. PMID: 40005999
2. McGuire FP, Martinez R, Lenz A, et al. Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine 2025. PMID: 40789979
3. Sikiric P, Drmic D, Sever M, et al. Fistulas Healing. Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Therapy. Current pharmaceutical design 2020. PMID: 32329684
4. Vasireddi N, Hahamyan H, Salata MJ, et al. Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review. HSS journal : the musculoskeletal journal of Hospital for Special Surgery 2025. PMID: 40756949
5. Staresinic M, Sebecic B, Patrlj L, et al. Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 accelerates healing of transected rat Achilles tendon and in vitro stimulates tendocytes growth. Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society 2003. PMID: 14554208
6. Sikiric P, Skrtic A, Gojkovic S, et al. Cytoprotective gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 resolves major vessel occlusion disturbances, ischemia-reperfusion injury following Pringle maneuver, and Budd-Chiari syndrome. World journal of gastroenterology 2022. PMID: 35125818
7. Seiwerth S, Milavic M, Vukojevic J, et al. Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and Wound Healing. Frontiers in pharmacology 2021. PMID: 34267654
8. Gwyer D, Wragg NM, Wilson SL. Gastric pentadecapeptide body protection compound BPC 157 and its role in accelerating musculoskeletal soft tissue healing. Cell and tissue research 2019. PMID: 30915550
9. Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) 2026. PMID: 41966639
10. Rahman OF, Lee SJ, Seeds WA. Therapeutic Peptides in Orthopaedics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews 2026. PMID: 41490200
11. Sikiric P, Gojkovic S, Knezevic M, et al. Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Prompt Particular Activation of Collateral Pathways. Current medicinal chemistry 2023. PMID: 36200148
12. Sikiric P, Gojkovic S, Krezic I, et al. Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 May Recover Brain-Gut Axis and Gut-Brain Axis Function. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) 2023. PMID: 37242459
13. Vukojevic J, Milavić M, Perović D, et al. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and the central nervous system. Neural regeneration research 2022. PMID: 34380875
14. Sikiric P, Kokot A, Kralj T, et al. Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157-Possible Novel Therapy of Glaucoma and Other Ocular Conditions. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) 2023. PMID: 37513963
15. Lee E, Padgett B. Intra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee Pain. Alternative therapies in health and medicine 2021. PMID: 34324435