Educational reference. Research use only.
BPC-157: Mechanism, Research, and Regulatory Status
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide, sequence GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, CAS 137525-51-0, molecular weight 1419.53 Da, derived from a human gastric juice protein. No human clinical trials of BPC-157 have been published; the evidence is preclinical (rat and cell models). BPC-157 has no approved therapeutic use and is supplied for research use only.
Last reviewed 2026-09-29
What is BPC-157?
BPC-157 key facts
BPC-157, short for Body Protection Compound-157, is a synthetic pentadecapeptide with the sequence Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val, CAS number 137525-51-0 and a molecular weight of 1419.53 Da. BPC-157 was derived from a conserved sequence of a protein in human gastric juice and is described as unusually stable in gastric acid, which is why the literature calls it a stable gastric pentadecapeptide. No receptor for BPC-157 has been identified; preclinical work proposes VEGFR2 upregulation, nitric oxide modulation and FAK-paxillin activation. Staresinic and colleagues reported in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research in 2003 that BPC-157 accelerated healing of transected Achilles tendons in rats. Sikiric and colleagues reviewed its effects on NSAID-induced gastric lesions in rodents in Current Pharmaceutical Design in 2011, and Seiwerth and colleagues reviewed its vascular effects in the same journal in 2014. No completed human trial of BPC-157 has been published. BPC-157 has no approved therapeutic use, has been on the WADA S0 prohibited list since 2023, and is supplied for research use only.
How does BPC-157 work?
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic pentadecapeptide, a chain of 15 amino acids, taken from a conserved sequence within the human gastric juice protein BPC. It is unusually stable in gastric acid, plasma, and tissue (hence the name 'stable gastric pentadecapeptide'), which sets it apart from most endogenous peptides. The precise receptor has not been definitively identified.
Several mechanistic pathways have been proposed and characterized in preclinical models. BPC-157 upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and promotes angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, which may underlie its wound-healing effects in tendon, ligament, and muscle tissue. It also modulates nitric oxide (NO) production through both the constitutive (eNOS, nNOS) and inducible (iNOS) nitric oxide synthase isoforms, with context-dependent effects that help restore vascular homeostasis.
BPC-157 activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and paxillin, two proteins critical for cell migration, adhesion, and survival. That may explain why it promotes fibroblast and keratinocyte migration in wound models. It also interacts with the GABA-B receptor system, and preclinical data suggest modulation of dopaminergic and serotonergic pathways.
In gastrointestinal research, BPC-157 protects gastric mucosa by suppressing NF-κB, reducing oxidative stress, and maintaining mucosal integrity. All mechanistic and efficacy data are currently from preclinical studies; no completed human clinical trials exist.
What has research on BPC-157 found?
What published peer-reviewed research and preclinical studies have established about BPC-157:
- 01Pentadecapeptide stable in gastric juice, plasma, and tissue, and unusually resistant to enzymatic degradation
- 02Extensive preclinical evidence: accelerated healing of tendon (Achilles transection), ligament, muscle (crush injury), bone (critical-size defect), and skin in rodent models
- 03Proposed mechanism: VEGFR2 upregulation driving angiogenesis, FAK-paxillin pathway activation for cell migration, nitric oxide modulation for vascular homeostasis
- 04Cytoprotective GI effects in rodent models of NSAID-induced gastropathy, short bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease
- 05No completed or published human clinical trials; all data is from preclinical (rat/mouse) models, which limits clinical translation
- 06WADA banned substance (S0: Non-Approved Substances) since 2023, added because of use by athletes despite the absence of any approved therapeutic use
- 07Modulates dopamine and serotonin systems in rodent behavioral models; potential neurological research relevance
Which studies have examined BPC-157?
Achilles tendon transection (rat model)
Preclinical · 2003In rats, BPC 157 improved load of failure, Young's modulus and Achilles functional index vs saline controls, with smaller tendon defects and more fibroblast and collagen formation; in vitro it opposed 4-hydroxynonenal inhibition of tendocyte growth
NSAID gastropathy (rat model)
Preclinical · 2011BPC-157 reduced indomethacin- and aspirin-induced ulcer area by 60–90% vs vehicle in rat models
Angiogenesis and vascular repair (in vivo model)
Preclinical · 2014BPC-157 upregulated VEGFR2 expression 3–5x vs control; increased vessel density in ischemic flap models; rescued impaired angiogenesis in nitric oxide deficiency models
Frequently asked questions about BPC-157
Has BPC-157 been tested in human clinical trials?+
As of early 2026, no completed, peer-reviewed, randomized controlled trials of BPC-157 in humans have been published. Sikiric's group at the University of Zagreb has published extensively in rodent models, but no Phase 1/2/3 human data exist in the literature. Investigators at PL10 Therapeutics have registered clinical trials studying a related compound (PL14736, a BPC-157 analog) in Crohn's disease, but results have not been published.
Why is BPC-157 on the WADA prohibited list?+
WADA added BPC-157 to its S0 (Non-Approved Substances) list in 2023. S0 prohibits any pharmacological substance that has no current approval by a governmental regulatory health authority for human therapeutic use. WADA added BPC-157 because of increasing use by athletes, not because of established performance-enhancing efficacy. The prohibition does not require proven doping benefit, only that the substance lacks regulatory approval.
What are the proposed mechanisms for BPC-157's tendon healing effects?+
Preclinical mechanistic data implicate: (1) FAK-paxillin pathway activation promoting fibroblast and tenocyte migration and proliferation; (2) VEGFR2 upregulation driving angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation to the healing tendon); (3) upregulation of early growth response protein 1 (Egr-1), a transcription factor driving tendon-specific matrix gene expression; (4) normalization of NO system activity in ischemic tendon tissue.
Can BPC-157 be stacked with TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) in research?+
TB-500 (a fragment of thymosin beta-4) and BPC-157 are often studied in combination by researchers interested in tissue repair. The compounds have distinct and potentially complementary mechanisms: BPC-157 primarily targets angiogenesis and FAK/paxillin pathways, while TB-500 (Tβ4) acts via actin polymerization regulation and VEGF-mediated effects. Combinations are not supported by published clinical data. All combination research is preclinical or anecdotal.
What is the storage stability of BPC-157?+
Lyophilized BPC-157 is stable for 24+ months at −20°C in properly sealed, desiccated vials. The peptide sequence (15 amino acids) has no disulfide bonds, which reduces oxidative degradation risk. Primary stability concerns are moisture absorption (use desiccant packs during storage) and repeated thermal cycling.
What GI conditions has BPC-157 been studied for in preclinical models?+
Preclinical models where BPC-157 showed efficacy include: NSAID-induced gastric ulcers, alcohol-induced gastric lesions, short bowel syndrome (intestinal anastomosis healing), inflammatory bowel disease (acetic acid colitis model), fistula healing, and cytoprotection against chemotherapy-induced intestinal damage. The range of GI effects has driven interest in BPC-157 analogs for human GI disease, though human data remain unpublished.
References & sources
Every citation below was resolved against its primary source before publication. Each PMID was checked against its PubMed record and each DOI through doi.org. Follow any link to read the paper at the publisher rather than taking our summary on trust.
- [1]Seiwerth S, Brcic L, Vuletic LB, et al. BPC 157 and blood vessels. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2014. PMID: 23782145 DOI: 10.2174/13816128113199990421
- [2]Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Rucman R, et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: novel therapy in gastrointestinal tract. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2011. PMID: 21548867 DOI: 10.2174/138161211796196954
- [3]Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Rucman R, et al. Toxicity by NSAIDs. Counteraction by stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2013. PMID: 22950504 DOI: 10.2174/13816128130111
- [4]Chang CH, Tsai WC, Lin MS, Hsu YH, Pang JH. The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration. Journal of Applied Physiology. 2011. PMID: 21030672 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00945.2010
- [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. 2003. PMID: 14554208 DOI: 10.1016/S0736-0266(03)00110-4
- [6]Sikiric P, Rucman R, Seiwerth S, et al. Novel Cytoprotective Mediator, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Vascular Recruitment and Gastrointestinal Tract Healing. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2018. PMID: 29879879 DOI: 10.2174/1381612824666180608101119
Where this data comes from
- Citations & trial data: PubMed (NCBI, U.S. National Library of Medicine), Crossref and ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Chemical identity: PubChem and UniProt. Where sources conflicted, the disputed value is omitted rather than guessed.
- Regulatory status: U.S. FDA publications and, where applicable, the WADA Prohibited List. Compounding status changes often, so check FDA directly before relying on it.
- Purity, form and storage are handling and supplier conventions, not literature-derived values. Confirm against the lot-specific certificate of analysis. General handling is covered in the storage and stability guide.
Content last reviewed 2026-09-29. Compiled by Veridian Research from the primary literature. This page is an educational reference for laboratory researchers. It is not medical advice, and it describes no human use.
Is BPC-157 approved for human use?
BPC-157 is an investigational peptide with no approved therapeutic use in any jurisdiction. No completed human clinical trials have been published. WADA added BPC-157 to its S0 Prohibited List (Non-Approved Substances) in 2023. For research purposes only.
Research-use-only material
Specifications and certificate of analysis
BPC-157 is stocked as a research reagent. The most recent batch (2026-02) was analysed by Janoshik Analytical at 99.694% purity; the signed certificate is published in full.