BPC-157

BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157) is a synthetic 15-amino-acid pentadecapeptide derived from a protective protein found in human gastric juice. It is one of the most studied peptides in the recovery and tissue-repair research literature, with documented activity in animal models on tendon, ligament, muscle, vascular, and gastrointestinal tissue.

Peppudex card: see the mechanism + evidence-grade summary at [Peppudex / BPC-157](https://peppudex.com/peptides/bpc-157).

Overview

BPC-157 was first characterized in the 1990s by researchers at the University of Zagreb. The sequence (Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val) is a partial fragment of a larger "body protection compound" identified in stomach lining. The synthetic peptide is stable at room temperature in lyophilized form, soluble in bacteriostatic water, and is the most common entry-point peptide for researchers new to the space.

Mechanism

The proposed mechanism centers on upregulation of growth-hormone receptor expression in injured tissue, VEGF-driven angiogenesis at injury sites, and modulation of the nitric-oxide pathway in vascular endothelium. BPC-157 does not bind a single canonical receptor, which complicates classical pharmacology · its action appears to be permissive of healing processes already underway rather than agonistic at a specific target.

See: Angiogenesis, Nitric_oxide_signaling, Growth_hormone_receptor.

Evidence

The published animal-model evidence base is substantial. A PubMed search for "BPC-157" returns more than 100 papers, the majority from the Sikiric group at the University of Zagreb and their collaborators. Independent replication outside that research network is more limited. Notable readouts:

• Achilles tendon detachment · promoted tendon-to-bone healing in rats (Krivic et al., 2006, PMID 16583442)
• Transected quadriceps muscle · accelerated functional and histological recovery in rats (Staresinic et al., 2006, PMID 16609979)
• Medial collateral ligament transection · improved collagen organization in rats (Cerovecki et al., 2010, PMID 20225319)
• Ileoileal anastomosis · reduced dehiscence rate in rats (Vuksic et al., 2007, Surgery Today)
• Skeletal muscle crush injury · accelerated functional recovery in rats (Novinscak et al., 2008, PMID 18668315)

Human clinical evidence is sparse. No completed phase III trials have been registered with the FDA. ClinicalTrials.gov currently lists exploratory studies, none enrolling at scale.

Dosing literature

Animal-model studies have used doses on the order of 10 µg/kg/day via intraperitoneal or oral routes. Direct extrapolation to human dosing is not validated by published clinical evidence, and the wiki does not recommend any specific human dose. The "250–500 µg twice daily" range frequently quoted in online discussion is community-reported research practice and is not a clinical recommendation. See Reconstitution for vial-prep math.

Storage

Lyophilized BPC-157 is stable at 4 °C for at least 24 months and at –20 °C for indefinite periods. Once reconstituted with bacteriostatic water, store at 2–8 °C and use within 28 days. Never freeze the reconstituted solution; lyophilized cake handles freeze cycles, dissolved peptide does not.

Regulatory status

• United States. Placed on the FDA Category 2 of the 503A bulks list in the September 2023 update, which bars compounding pharmacies from preparing it under section 503A of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Research use only. ([FDA bulks list](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks))
• World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited in-competition and out-of-competition under S0 ("non-approved substances") since the [2022 Prohibited List](https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wadas-2022-prohibited-list-now-force).

See also

• TB-500 · synergistic partner in many recovery stacks
• Reconstitution · how to prepare the vial
• Storage · 2-8 °C, 28-day reconstituted shelf
• [Peppudex card · BPC-157](https://peppudex.com/peptides/bpc-157) · mechanism, evidence grades A-F, FAQs, peer-reviewed sources

References

• Sikiric P, et al. "Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157." Curr Pharm Des. 2011;17(16):1612-32. PMID 21548867.
• Krivic A, et al. "Achilles detachment in rat and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: promoted tendon-to-bone healing and reduced procollagen organization." J Orthop Res. 2006;24(5):982-9. PMID 16583442.
• Staresinic M, et al. "Effective therapy of transected quadriceps muscle in rat: Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157." J Orthop Res. 2006;24(5):1109-17. PMID 16609979.
• Cerovecki T, et al. "Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736) improves ligament healing in the rat." J Orthop Res. 2010;28(9):1155-61. PMID 20225319.
• Novinscak T, et al. "Sciatic nerve recovery by pentadecapeptide BPC 157." Surg Today. 2008;38(8):716-25. PMID 18668315.
• Vuksic T, et al. "Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 heals ileoileal anastomosis in the rat." Surg Today. 2007.