BPC-157
Also known as: Body Protection Compound 157, BPC 157, Body Protective Compound 157, Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157, GEPPPGKPADDAGLV
Synthetic pentadecapeptide / gastric cytoprotective peptide
What it is
BPC-157 is described as a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a human gastric protein fragment with reported cytoprotective and regenerative properties. It activates several overlapping pathways including VEGFR2 and nitric oxide synthesis via the Akt-eNOS axis, promoting angiogenesis, fibroblast activity, and neuromuscular stabilization; it also engages ERK1/2 signaling and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. It enhances growth hormone receptor expression and pathways involved in cell growth and angiogenesis while reducing inflammatory cytokines. In wound healing, it acts by resolving vessel constriction, stabilizing platelet plugs, and counteracting arterial and venous thrombosis, and it rapidly increases various gene expression in rat excision skin wounds. In ocular models, it is described as activating collateral pathways to counteract occlusion syndromes and normalize intraocular pressure. It is reported to be stable in gastric juice and to demonstrate activity via oral, parenteral, and topical routes. It is metabolized in the liver, with a half-life of less than 30 minutes, and is cleared by the kidneys.
Class: Synthetic pentadecapeptide / gastric cytoprotective peptide
What it's studied for
- Interstitial cystitis (bladder pain syndrome) Human observational
- Pilot study (n=12 women, mean age 58.3 years) who had failed pentosan polysulfate. Intravesical injection of BPC-157 (10 mg total) around the area of bladder inflammation during a single procedure. 10 of 12 patients reported complete symptom resolution (100% success); the remaining 2 rated success at 80%. All 12 patien PMID 39325560 Lee E, et al. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2024.
- Musculoskeletal soft tissue healing (tendon, ligament, skeletal muscle, bone) Animal studies only
- Review of preclinical literature. All studies demonstrated consistently positive and prompt healing effects for various injury types (traumatic and systemic) in small rodent models. Efficacy in humans not yet confirmed. Few adverse reactions reported. PMID 30915550 Gwyer D, et al. Cell and Tissue Research. 2019.
- Systematic review (36 studies: 35 preclinical, 1 clinical). Preclinical studies showed improved functional, structural, and biomechanical outcomes in muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone injuries. One retrospective clinical study (n=12 patients with chronic knee pain): 7 of 12 reported relief >6 months after intraarticul PMID 40756949 Vasireddi N, et al. HSS Journal. 2025.
- Narrative review. Broad preclinical support for regenerative/cytoprotective effects. Only three pilot studies examined BPC-157 in humans (intraarticular knee pain, interstitial cystitis, IV safety/PK). No adverse effects reported in these limited human studies. Rigorous large-scale trials lacking. PMID 40789979 McGuire FP, et al. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 2025.
- Review of rat injury studies. BPC-157 therapy shown to promote healing of myotendinous junction, muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone injuries, applied intraperitoneally, in drinking water, or topically. Effective across µg–ng dose regimens. Lethal dose not achieved in safety studies. PMID 36551977 Staresinic M, et al. Biomedicines. 2022.
- Wound healing (skin, gastrointestinal, and other tissues) Animal studies only
- Review of rat models. BPC-157 shown effective for incisional/excisional wounds, deep burns, diabetic ulcers, and alkali burns; simultaneous healing of cutaneous and fistular wounds. Effective via multiple equipotent routes at the same dose range. Previously employed in ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis trials w PMID 34267654 Seiwerth S, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2021.
- Gastrointestinal anastomosis healing and fistula therapy Animal studies only
- Review of rat studies. BPC-157 therapy shown to promote healing of various anastomoses (esophagogastric, colocolonic, jejunoileal, ileoileal) and fistulas (colocutaneous, gastrocutaneous, esophagocutaneous, duodenocutaneous, vesicovaginal, colovesical, rectovaginal), alongside concomitant GI disturbances. PMID 39204186 Bajramagic S, et al. Pharmaceuticals. 2024.
- Ocular conditions including glaucoma, retinal ischemia, and corneal injury Animal studies only
- Review of rat glaucoma and ocular injury models. BPC-157 normalized intraocular pressure in glaucomatous rats (three of four episcleral veins cauterized), maintained retinal integrity, recovered pupil function, and counteracted corneal injuries and dry eye. Data are preclinical only. PMID 37513963 Sikiric P, et al. Pharmaceuticals. 2023.
- Muscle (striated, smooth, cardiac) function and recovery Animal studies only
- Review of rat studies. BPC-157 shown to recover muscle disabilities from diverse causes (succinylcholine, vascular occlusion, spinal cord compression, stroke, TBI, electrolyte disturbances, neurotoxins, neuroleptics, alcohol, serotonin syndrome, NO-system blockade, tumor-cachexia) and to support sphincter function reco PMID 36551977 Staresinic M, et al. Biomedicines. 2022.
- Biopharmaceutical characterization and pharmacokinetics Mixed
- Narrative review. Preclinical ADME study in two species confirmed sub-30-min plasma half-life, linear dose-proportional kinetics, and intramuscular bioavailability of 14–51% depending on species. A two-subject human pilot confirmed plasma half-life under 30 min. No validated pharmaceutical-grade formulation exists. No PMID 42198317 Mateescu DM, et al. Pharmaceutics. 2026.
Community-reported dosing
| Route | Dose | Frequency / Duration | Population / context | Source tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intravesical injection (around area of bladder inflammation) | 10 mg total | Single procedure | human | Research PMID 39325560 |
| Intraperitoneal, drinking water, or topical | µg–ng regimens (specific values not stated in abstract) | Not specified in abstract | animal | Research PMID 36551977 |
| Multiple routes (oral, parenteral, topical) described as equipotent | Same dose range across equipotent routes (specific values not stated in abstract) | Not specified in abstract | animal | Research PMID 34267654 |
| Intramuscular (preclinical); intravenous (human pilot pharmacokinetics) | Not specified in abstract (human pilot: two subjects; species-dependent IM bioavailability 14–51%) | Not specified in abstract | human | Research PMID 42198317 |
| Intraarticular injection (retrospective clinical study for chronic knee pain) | Not specified in abstract | Not specified in abstract | human | Research PMID 40756949 |
| subcutaneous injection | 250 mcg | once daily | biohackers and athletes for localized injury recovery | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 500 mcg | once daily | biohackers and athletes for localized injury recovery | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 250 mcg | twice daily | athletes and biohackers with acute or severe injuries | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| intramuscular injection | 500 mcg | once daily | athletes targeting deep muscle or joint injuries | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| oral (capsule or dissolved in water) | 250 mcg | once daily | biohackers and individuals with GI tract issues (IBS, leaky gut, gastric ulcers) | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| oral (capsule or dissolved in water) | 500 mcg | once daily | biohackers and individuals with GI tract conditions | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| sublingual (dissolved under tongue) | 250 mcg | once daily | biohackers seeking needle-free systemic or GI effects | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 500 mcg | once daily | biohackers using BPC-157 for longevity and systemic anti-inflammatory effects | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 500 mcg | 5 days on, 2 days off | biohackers and athletes following structured peptide cycling protocols | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 1000 mcg | once daily | experienced biohackers or those with severe/chronic injuries | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 500 mcg | once daily | post-cycle (anabolic steroid) recovery users seeking tissue and joint repair | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
| subcutaneous injection | 250 mcg | once daily | biohackers and athletes stacking BPC-157 with TB-500 for synergistic healing | [S] Claude Sonnet 4.6 — synthesized from aggregate training data |
Tier key: Research = PMID-cited study · [C] = scraped community source · [S] = model-synthesized from aggregate community reports (softer evidence). How we source.
Safety signals
- No adverse events reported in the 12-patient intravesical pilot study for interstitial cystitis. PMID 39325560
- No adverse reactions reported in the majority of preclinical animal studies reviewed; lethal dose not achieved in animal safety studies. PMID 36551977
- Only a few side effects have been reported following BPC-157 administration across preclinical models; described as having a 'desirable safety profile'. PMID 40005999
- No adverse effects across several organ systems found in preclinical safety studies; no clinical safety data were found in the systematic review. PMID 40756949
- Adverse effects considered possible due to unregulated manufacturing, contamination, or unknown clinical safety — not from the compound itself in controlled studies. PMID 40756949
- No reported toxicity (LD1 not achieved) noted in prior ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis trials referenced in wound healing review. PMID 34267654
- The precise healing mechanisms are not fully understood, and there is still a need to understand them for clinical realisation. PMID 30915550
Contraindications
- No formal contraindications are established in the reviewed literature. BPC-157 is not approved for any indication and has no validated clinical dosing or safety profile. Use is contraindicated outside of research/supervised clinical settings given the absence of Phase II trial data. PMID 42198317
- Use in competitive sports athletes may violate organization-specific anti-doping rules; WADA temporarily banned BPC-157 in 2022 (not currently listed as banned per reviewed literature, but professional sport bans may persist). Athletes should verify current rules with their organization. PMID 40005999
Frequently asked
What is BPC-157 and where does it come from?
BPC-157, or Body Protection Compound 157, is a synthetic pentadecapeptide (15-amino-acid peptide) originally derived from a fragment of a human gastric protein. It is reported to have cytoprotective and regenerative properties across multiple organ systems. It is stable in gastric juice and has been studied via oral, parenteral, and topical routes in preclinical models (PMID 42198317, PMID 40005999).
What has BPC-157 been studied for?
Published preclinical and limited clinical research has examined BPC-157 for: musculoskeletal soft tissue healing (tendons, ligaments, muscle, bone) (PMID 30915550, PMID 40756949); wound healing including burns and diabetic ulcers; gastrointestinal anastomosis healing and fistula therapy in animal models; ocular conditions including glaucoma in rat models; and interstitial cystitis in a small human pilot study. The overwhelming majority of evidence is from animal studies, with very limited human data.
What dose of BPC-157 should I take?
I'm not a medical professional and can't recommend a protocol for you specifically. What research has shown: The only published human dosing used 10 mg total via intravesical injection in 12 women with interstitial cystitis during a single cystoscopy procedure. Animal studies have used µg–ng dose regimens via intraperitoneal, oral, or topical routes. No validated human dosing regimen exists as of the reviewed literature.
Is BPC-157 safe? Are there any side effects?
Based on the reviewed literature: No adverse events were reported in the 12-patient human pilot study, and preclinical animal studies have not achieved a lethal dose and report few side effects (PMID 36551977, PMID 40005999). However, human clinical safety data are extremely limited — fewer than 30 subjects across three uncontrolled pilot studies. Adverse effects are considered possible due to unregulated manufacturing, contamination, or unknown clinical safety. No pharmaceutical-grade formulation exists, and long-term human safety is unknown. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before use.
Is BPC-157 FDA-approved?
No. BPC-157 is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for any therapeutic indication (PMID 39325560, PMID 40005999). No completed Phase II clinical trial has been conducted as of the reviewed literature. The reviewed abstracts note it has been manufactured by compounding pharmacies in at least one human study.
Is BPC-157 banned by WADA or in professional sports?
BPC-157 was temporarily banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2022 but is not currently listed as banned by WADA per the reviewed literature. One review notes its use is banned in professional sports, and athletes should verify the current rules of their specific sport organization, as policies may vary and change over time.
Can BPC-157 help my tendon or ligament injury?
I can't suggest treatments for medical conditions. Please speak with a licensed healthcare provider. What the research shows: Preclinical animal studies have consistently demonstrated positive healing effects for tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries (PMID 30915550, PMID 40756949). One small retrospective human study (n=12) reported that 7 of 12 patients with chronic knee pain had relief for more than 6 months after intraarticular injection. However, no large-scale controlled human trials have been conducted, and efficacy in humans remains unconfirmed.
What is the half-life of BPC-157 and how long does it stay in the body?
Based on the reviewed literature, BPC-157 has a plasma half-life of less than 30 minutes, confirmed in preclinical studies across two species and in a preliminary two-subject human pilot study (PMID 42198317, PMID 40756949). Despite this short half-life, biological effects lasting hours to days have been observed in preclinical studies — a disconnect that has significant implications for dosing strategy. It is metabolized in the liver and cleared by the kidneys. Human pharmacokinetic data beyond this preliminary pilot are critically undercharacterized.
Can I stack BPC-157 with other peptides or compounds?
I can't recommend combining compounds — that's a prescribing decision. Here's what has been studied individually: BPC-157 has been studied as a standalone agent in animal models and very limited human pilots (PMID 30915550, PMID 39325560, PMID 40756949). No reviewed abstracts address combination use with other peptides or compounds.
Where can I buy BPC-157?
I don't recommend vendors or sources. Please consult a licensed provider. Note that BPC-157 is not FDA-approved and lacks a validated pharmaceutical-grade formulation; the reviewed literature flags risks from unregulated manufacturing and contamination.
References
- [1] PMID 39325560 — Pilot study (n=12 women, mean age 58.3 years) who had failed pentosan polysulfate. Intravesical injection of BPC-157 (10 mg total) around the area of bladder in
- [2] PMID 30915550 — Review of preclinical literature. All studies demonstrated consistently positive and prompt healing effects for various injury types (traumatic and systemic) in
- [3] PMID 40756949 — Systematic review (36 studies: 35 preclinical, 1 clinical). Preclinical studies showed improved functional, structural, and biomechanical outcomes in muscle, te
- [4] PMID 40789979 — Narrative review. Broad preclinical support for regenerative/cytoprotective effects. Only three pilot studies examined BPC-157 in humans (intraarticular knee pa
- [5] PMID 36551977 — Review of rat injury studies. BPC-157 therapy shown to promote healing of myotendinous junction, muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone injuries, applied intraperit
- [6] PMID 34267654 — Review of rat models. BPC-157 shown effective for incisional/excisional wounds, deep burns, diabetic ulcers, and alkali burns; simultaneous healing of cutaneous
- [7] PMID 39204186 — Review of rat studies. BPC-157 therapy shown to promote healing of various anastomoses (esophagogastric, colocolonic, jejunoileal, ileoileal) and fistulas (colo
- [8] PMID 37513963 — Review of rat glaucoma and ocular injury models. BPC-157 normalized intraocular pressure in glaucomatous rats (three of four episcleral veins cauterized), maint
- [9] PMID 42198317 — Narrative review. Preclinical ADME study in two species confirmed sub-30-min plasma half-life, linear dose-proportional kinetics, and intramuscular bioavailabil
- [10] PMID 40005999 — Only a few side effects have been reported following BPC-157 administration across preclinical models; described as having a 'desirable safety profile'.