Also known as: Body Protection Compound, PL 14736
A 15-amino-acid fragment of a protein found in stomach juice. The most popular repair peptide, with strong animal data and very little human data.
Educational reference, not medical advice. Many compounds here are not approved, and products sold as research chemicals are not checked for purity. Plan any use with a licensed clinician.
How it works
In animal studies it promotes blood-vessel growth into damaged tissue (VEGFR2), adjusts the nitric oxide system, increases growth-hormone receptors on tendon cells, and protects the gut lining.
Evidence by goal
| Goal | Grade | What the grade means |
|---|---|---|
| Injury & tissue repair | C | Limited human data, case series or practitioner reports |
| Joint pain & inflammation | C | Limited human data, case series or practitioner reports |
| Gut health | C | Limited human data, case series or practitioner reports |
| Nerve pain & neuropathy | D | Animal or cell studies only |
| Heart & circulation | D | Animal or cell studies only |
At a glance
- Route
- Subcutaneous, oral, or intramuscular near injury
- Half-life
- Under 30 minutes in blood (animal data)
Reported dosing
250 to 500 mcg per day (some use up to 800 mcg), split into 1 or 2 doses. Oral 250 to 500 mcg for gut issues.
Timing: Once or twice daily. Injected under the skin near the injury or in the abdomen. Oral on an empty stomach for gut use.
Cycle: 2 to 6 weeks, then reassess.
From approved labels where they exist, otherwise from published trials and practitioner reports.
Side effects
- Injection-site irritation
- Nausea, dizziness, fatigue (occasional reports)
- Unknown long-term effects in humans
Who should avoid it
- Active or recent cancer (it promotes new blood-vessel growth)
- Pregnancy
- Research-grade products vary in purity
Often combined with
Most often paired with TB-500 for injuries ("Wolverine stack").
Key findings
Over 100 animal studies on tendon, ligament, muscle, bone, gut and nerve healing. Human data: a small knee-pain case series (2021), a 12-patient bladder pain pilot (2024), and a 2-person IV safety study (2025). Banned in sport since 2022.
2026 update
Apr 2026: FDA moved to take it off the Category 2 "significant safety concerns" compounding list. Jul 2026: the FDA advisory committee voted 8-6-1 to allow pharmacy compounding. The final rule was not issued as of Sept 2026. FDA staff found no human studies using the routes people use.
Where it is legal (Oct 2026)
| US | Pending |
|---|---|
| Canada | Not approved |
| Mexico | Not approved |
| EU | Not approved |
Mexico: not registered but sold informally, which does not make it legal or quality-controlled.
Sources
Open BPC-157 in the Peptide Guide Compare all peptides by goal
Last reviewed November 2026. Regulatory status reflects the US unless noted and changes often.