Peptide Name
BPC-157
Updated February 2026
Complete BPC-157 protocol guide covering gastric-origin biology, multi-pathway tissue repair mechanisms, community-derived SubQ and oral dosing schedules, reconstitution math, and long-horizon preclinical evidence.
Half-life
<30 minutes
Dose range
250-500 mcg per dose
Status
Not FDA-approved
Developer
N/A (research compound)
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Peptide Name
BPC-157
Aliases
Body Protection Compound-157, Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157, PL-14736, PLD-116, Bepecin
Category / Class
Tissue Repair / Cytoprotective Peptide
Half-Life
<30 minutes (hepatic metabolism; Vasireddi et al. systematic review)
Dosing Frequency
1-2 times daily (subcutaneous or oral)
Dose Range
250-500 mcg per injection (community protocol)
Common Vial Sizes
5mg, 10mg
Route of Administration
Subcutaneous (SubQ), Intramuscular (IM), Oral
Regulatory Status
Not FDA-approved. Research compound. Phase I trial registered (NCT02637284) but results not submitted. Category 2 bulk drug substance in FDA context. Prohibited by WADA under S0 (non-approved substances).
Developer
N/A
Key Stat
Over 30 years of preclinical research (544+ articles, 1993-2024) with tissue-repair findings across muscle, tendon, ligament, bone, gut, and neural models - with no identified toxic dose (no LD1) in tested species.
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a protective protein naturally present in human gastric juice and is one of the most widely researched tissue-repair peptides in the research peptide community. Literature summaries commonly reference more than 544 published articles spanning over 30 years of preclinical investigation.

Structurally, BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid peptide (Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val; molecular weight approximately 1,419 Da). A defining characteristic is stability in gastric juice, supporting both injectable and oral protocol models.
Human efficacy data remains limited. A Phase I safety/PK trial (NCT02637284) was registered in 2015 with 42 healthy volunteers but cancelled in 2016 without posted results. A small Phase II ulcerative-colitis program (PL-14736) and limited retrospective knee data are frequently cited in guide literature.
BPC-157 is not FDA-approved for any indication, is discussed as a Category 2 bulk drug substance in FDA compounding context, and is prohibited by WADA. This page is educational and research-reference only.
BPC-157 is positioned in the literature as a multi-pathway regenerative peptide affecting angiogenesis, nitric-oxide signaling, growth-factor expression, and cytoprotective inflammatory control.

BPC-157 is reported to upregulate VEGF and VEGFR2 signaling and activate Akt-eNOS pathways, supporting endothelial function, local blood-flow recovery, and repair substrate delivery in injury models.
Preclinical literature describes context-dependent modulation of the NO system, including mitigation of both NO-system blockade and excessive NO signaling states.
Evidence reviews describe upregulation across GH receptor, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and HGF-associated pathways with downstream fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis support relevant to tendon and ligament recovery models.
BPC-157 is repeatedly characterized as cytoprotective, with broad organ-system protection signals in gut, liver, muscle, CNS, and cardiovascular models while moderating inflammatory cytokine burden.
The combined mechanism is commonly framed as an environment-level healing signal that supports vascularization, structural repair, and cellular protection simultaneously rather than via a single receptor axis.
Initiation
Weeks 1-2
250 mcg once daily
Assess tolerance. For musculoskeletal targets, inject near injury site when feasible; for gut/systemic targets, abdominal SubQ is common.
Standard Therapeutic
Weeks 3-4
250-500 mcg once daily
Most common community range. Can be split into two doses (125-250 mcg AM + PM).
Acute Injury / Intensive
Weeks 1-6
500 mcg twice daily
Higher-end community protocol for significant injury or post-operative recovery contexts.
Oral Protocol
Weeks 4-8
250-500 mcg 1-2x daily
Commonly used for gut-focused protocols; typically taken on an empty stomach.
Important Dosing Notes
Evidence level: Current dosing paradigms are community-derived and extrapolated from preclinical ranges; optimal human dosing has not been established in large controlled clinical trials.
Injection site matters: Localized peri-tendinous or peri-articular SubQ placement is commonly used for musculoskeletal targets, while abdominal SubQ is common for systemic and GI protocols.
Oral viability: Unlike most peptides, BPC-157 is gastric-stable and can be used orally; oral bioavailability is lower for systemic targets but may support direct GI mucosal exposure.
No titration required: Typical protocols start directly in the 250-500 mcg therapeutic range from day one.
Timing and missed dose: No strict time-of-day requirement; split protocols often separate doses by roughly 12 hours. If a dose is missed, resume next scheduled dose without doubling.
Cycle guidance: Common cycles: 2-4 weeks for mild injury, 4-8 weeks for severe/post-op, and up to 8-12 weeks for chronic contexts with off periods between cycles.
Vial Size: 5mg
BAC Water: 2 mL
Concentration: 2,500 mcg/mL
250 mcg: 0.10 mL (10 units)
500 mcg: 0.20 mL (20 units)
750 mcg: 0.30 mL (30 units)
Vial Size: 5mg
BAC Water: 5 mL
Concentration: 1,000 mcg/mL
250 mcg: 0.25 mL (25 units)
500 mcg: 0.50 mL (50 units)
750 mcg: 0.75 mL (75 units)
Vial Size: 10mg
BAC Water: 2 mL
Concentration: 5,000 mcg/mL
250 mcg: 0.05 mL (5 units)
500 mcg: 0.10 mL (10 units)
750 mcg: 0.15 mL (15 units)
Vial Size: 10mg
BAC Water: 5 mL
Concentration: 2,000 mcg/mL
250 mcg: 0.125 mL (12.5 units)
500 mcg: 0.25 mL (25 units)
750 mcg: 0.375 mL (37.5 units)
Vial Size: 10mg
BAC Water: 10 mL
Concentration: 1,000 mcg/mL
250 mcg: 0.25 mL (25 units)
500 mcg: 0.50 mL (50 units)
750 mcg: 0.75 mL (75 units)

Critical limitation: BPC-157 has no completed human clinical safety trials. Current safety framing is derived primarily from preclinical animal studies plus limited case-level and community reporting.
Preclinical safety profile: Across decades of animal research, reviews report favorable tolerability with no identified lethal dose and no consistent teratogenic, genotoxic, or anaphylactic signal in available models.
Injection-site reactions: Most commonly reported effects are mild local redness, irritation, or swelling that usually resolve and can be reduced by rotating sites.
Oral or nasal tolerability: Oral protocols may cause mild GI discomfort in some users; nasal formats may cause transient irritation, sneezing, or cough.
Theoretical angiogenesis concern: Because BPC-157 may promote angiogenic pathways, there is theoretical caution for individuals with active malignancy, despite no direct evidence of carcinogenesis in available studies.
Hormonal profile: BPC-157 is not generally associated with endocrine suppression or post-cycle therapy requirements in community use reports.
Grey-market risk: A practical risk is product quality variance in unregulated supply chains, including contamination, potency mismatch, and impurity exposure.
Vasireddi et al. (Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Systematic Review)
Systematic review • 2025 publication
36 studies (35 preclinical, 1 clinical)
Reported enhanced angiogenesis and repair signaling with favorable preclinical safety profile; half-life context under 30 minutes.
Gwyer et al. (Cell Tissue Research)
Review • 2019 publication
Musculoskeletal healing literature
Described BPC-157 potential in tendon, ligament, and muscle repair; evidence base largely rodent.
Sikiric et al. program (multiple publications)
Primary preclinical research • 1993-2024
Rat models across organ systems
Broad cytoprotective and regenerative findings across GI, CNS, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal injury models.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02637284
Phase I • Registered 2015; cancelled 2016
42 healthy volunteers
Safety and PK study was registered but no results were published after cancellation.
PL-14736 ulcerative-colitis program
Phase II • Early 2000s
Ulcerative colitis patients
Guide literature cites efficacy signal and acceptable safety profile; complete modern trial dataset is limited.
Retrospective chronic knee-pain cohort
Retrospective • Published in review context
12 patients
7 of 12 reported pain relief longer than 6 months after a single intra-articular injection.
Philp et al. (FASEB Journal)
Preclinical • 2004 publication
Rat wound model
Topical/IP BPC-157 increased re-epithelialization by 42% at 4 days and 61% at 7 days versus controls, with increased collagen deposition and angiogenesis.

BPC-157 has broad preclinical breadth but limited clinical depth. Published literature emphasizes consistency across animal injury models and administration routes (SubQ, IM, oral, topical, IP), while the key evidence gap remains controlled human efficacy and long-term safety datasets.
Lyophilized (powder)
-20C (freezer)
Long-term (years)
Lyophilized (powder)
2-8C (refrigerator)
Months
Lyophilized (powder)
15-25C (room temp)
Weeks (shipping tolerance)
Reconstituted
2-8C (refrigerator)
Up to 30 days
Reconstituted (frozen aliquots)
-20C (freezer)
3-4 months
Protect from light, use bacteriostatic water for multi-dose handling, minimize freeze-thaw cycles, and discard any cloudy or discolored solution.
Origin
BPC-157: Synthetic fragment of gastric protective protein
TB-500: Synthetic version of thymosin beta-4
GHK-Cu: Naturally occurring tripeptide-copper complex
Primary Mechanism
BPC-157: VEGF/angiogenesis, NO modulation, cytoprotection
TB-500: Actin regulation, cell migration, stem cell mobilization
GHK-Cu: Copper-dependent collagen synthesis and remodeling
Half-Life
BPC-157: <30 minutes
TB-500: <2 hours (plasma)
GHK-Cu: ~30 minutes
Route
BPC-157: SubQ, IM, Oral
TB-500: SubQ
GHK-Cu: SubQ, Topical
Dose Range
BPC-157: 250-500 mcg 1-2x daily
TB-500: 2-5 mg 2x weekly
GHK-Cu: 1-2 mg daily (injectable)
Best For
BPC-157: Localized tissue repair, GI healing
TB-500: Systemic healing and deep tissue recovery
GHK-Cu: Skin/wound healing and collagen focus
Oral Viability
BPC-157: Yes
TB-500: No
GHK-Cu: No (topical route used)
Clinical Trials
BPC-157: Phase I/II (limited); extensive preclinical evidence
TB-500: Phase II programs
GHK-Cu: Phase II skin/wound contexts
FDA Status
BPC-157: Not approved
TB-500: Not approved
GHK-Cu: Not approved
Unique Advantage
BPC-157: Oral viability plus broad preclinical tissue-repair evidence
TB-500: Systemic recovery and migration-driven repair profile
GHK-Cu: Skin and collagen-focused copper pathway support
BPC-157 and TB-500 are often paired as a tissue-repair combination in community protocols, while GHK-Cu is usually used for collagen- and skin-focused goals.
BPC-157 is usually selected for localized tendon, ligament, joint, and GI contexts, whereas TB-500 is used for broader systemic recovery paradigms.
Reconstitution concentration and dose frequency differ substantially across all three compounds and should be calculated carefully.
See the TB-500 protocol and GHK-Cu protocol for compound-specific guides.
Stack 1
Compounds: BPC-157 (250-500 mcg daily) plus TB-500 (2-5 mg twice weekly). This stack combines localized BPC-157 repair signaling with broader systemic TB-500 regenerative support.
Timing model: BPC-157 is commonly dosed daily near the target tissue while TB-500 is used twice weekly; both may be administered on shared dosing days with separate syringes.
View stack protocolStack 2
Compounds: BPC-157 (250-500 mcg daily) with CJC-1295/Ipamorelin (commonly 100 mcg each at bedtime) for combined tissue-repair and GH-pulse support context.
See the compound-specific See CJC-1295 with DAC protocol for additional context.
View stack protocolThe most common starting dose is 250 mcg subcutaneously once daily for 1-2 weeks, with many protocols then moving to 500 mcg daily or 250 mcg twice daily based on response and goals.
Published review context describes a plasma half-life under 30 minutes, but downstream biological repair effects may persist longer than plasma presence due to pathway-level signaling.
Community reports often describe early pain/mobility changes within 5-10 days, with tendon/ligament and structural healing trends commonly discussed across 2-8 weeks. These are not large-trial clinical endpoints.
Common setups include 5 mg + 2 mL (2,500 mcg/mL) or 5 mg + 5 mL (1,000 mcg/mL). Inject BAC water down the vial wall, swirl gently, do not shake, and refrigerate mixed solution. Use https://www.peppal.app/calculator for custom concentration math.
No. BPC-157 is not FDA-approved for any indication. It is discussed as a Category 2 bulk drug substance in FDA compounding context and is prohibited by WADA under S0 non-approved substances.
Most commonly reported effects are mild injection-site irritation. The broader risk profile in real-world settings often relates to unregulated product quality and contamination risk rather than demonstrated peptide toxicity in preclinical studies.
BPC-157 is usually used for localized tissue and GI repair contexts, TB-500 for broader systemic regenerative protocols, and GHK-Cu for collagen and skin-focused outcomes. BPC-157 is also notable for oral viability.
The most common research vials are 5 mg and 10 mg lyophilized powder formats.
Popular options include 5 mg + 2 mL for low injection volume or 5 mg + 5 mL for easier syringe math. For 10 mg vials, 2 mL, 5 mL, and 10 mL are all commonly used depending on concentration preference.
Animal studies report exposures up to 10 mcg/kg without identified lethal dose in published safety context. Community protocols typically remain at 250-500 mcg per dose, occasionally up to 1,000 mcg/day for acute contexts.
Store mixed solution upright at 2-8C and use within about 30 days. Lyophilized powder is more stable for longer storage, and frozen aliquots may be used short-term when freeze-thaw cycling is minimized.
Yes. BPC-157 is unusual among peptides in that it is described as stable in gastric juice, supporting oral protocols, particularly in gut-focused applications.
<2 hours
Tissue Repair / Actin Sequestration
View protocol~30 minutes
Collagen Remodeling
View protocol~2 hours
GH Secretagogue
View protocol~6-8 days
GHRH Analog
View protocolReference guide coming soon
Joint Protection
View protocolStack protocol
BPC-157 + TB-500
View protocolThe information on this page is for educational and research reference purposes only. BPC-157 is not FDA-approved and is discussed as a Category 2 bulk drug substance. It is prohibited by WADA. No compounds discussed on this site are intended for human consumption. This is not medical advice.
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