BPC-157
Animal-onlyBody Protection Compound-157 · Body Protective Compound 157 · PL 14736 · Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 · BPC157
Limited evidence: the strongest curated study is Animal-only; no human-trial data found as of 2026-06-04.
Chemical & identity
- Sequence
- GEPPPGKPADDAGLV
- Length
- 15 residues
- Molecular formula
- C62H98N16O22
- Molecular weight
- 1419.5 g/mol · PubChem
- PubChem CID
- 9941957 · PubChem
- SMILES
- C[C@@H](C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(=O)O)C(=O)N[C@@H](C)C(=O)NCC(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)N[C@@H](C(C)C)C(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@@H]1CCCN1C(=O)[C@H](CCCCN)NC(=O)CNC(=O)[C@@H]2CCCN2C(=O)[C@@H]3CCCN3C(=O)[C@@H]4CCCN4C(=O)[C@H](CCC(=O)O)NC(=O)CN
- InChIKey
- HEEWEZGQMLZMFE-RKGINYAYSA-N
- ChEMBL ID
- CHEMBL4297358 · ChEMBL
- Category
- Healing/Recovery
Chemical/structural fields are auto-pulled and source-linked. ChEMBL data: ChEMBL_36, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Mechanism (curated)
No established mechanism of action has been curated yet.
Pharmacology & handling
- Half-life
- Less than 30 minutes (preclinical ADME in two species; hepatic metabolism, renal clearance).
Research
Vasireddi N et al. · HSS journal : the musculoskeletal journal of Hospital for Special Surgery · 2025 · Systematic review
This systematic review synthesized 36 studies (35 preclinical, 1 clinical) on BPC-157, a naturally occurring gastric peptide, for musculoskeletal injuries. Preclinical studies suggest BPC-157 enhances growth hormone receptor expression and angiogenic pathways while reducing inflammatory cytokines, and improved functional, structural, and biomechanical outcomes in muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone injuries in animal models. One retrospective clinical study reported that 7 of 12 patients with chronic knee pain experienced relief for >6 months following intraarticular BPC-157 injection. BPC-157 is hepatically metabolized with a half-life <30 minutes and renally cleared; preclinical safety studies showed no adverse effects, but no clinical safety data were identified.
Lee E, Walker C, Ayadi B · Alternative therapies in health and medicine · 2024 · Case report/series
A pilot study treated 12 women (mean age 58.3 years) with moderate to severe interstitial cystitis who had failed pentosan polysulfate therapy with a single intravesical injection of BPC-157 (10 mg total) via cystoscopy at a private clinic. Ten patients reported complete symptom resolution (100% success), and two reported 80% symptom resolution; all 12 scored 5/5 on the Global Response Assessment questionnaire. No adverse events were reported, and no participants dropped out. The authors conclude this is the first report of intravesical BPC-157 injection for interstitial cystitis patients unresponsive to standard treatment.
Mateescu DM et al. · Pharmaceutics · 2026 · Narrative review
BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide with reported cytoprotective and regenerative properties studied for over three decades in preclinical research, but it lacks an approved formulation, validated dosing regimen, or completed Phase II clinical trial. This narrative review examined its biopharmaceutical properties, formulation challenges, and translational barriers across multiple databases through April 2026. Preclinical studies show unusual gastric stability and activity via multiple routes, with a sub-30-minute plasma half-life confirmed in two animal species and preliminary human pilot data, yet biological effects persist for hours to days—a significant pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic disconnect. Fewer than 30 human subjects have been studied across three uncontrolled pilot studies using non-standardized preparations; the peptide lacks BCS classification, permeability characterization, and excipient compatibility studies. The authors conclude that the primary barrier to clinical translation is not absent biological activity but missing fundamental pharmaceutical science, including characterized formulations and validated pharmacokinetics.
SCHLOSSER SK · 2025 · In-vitro study
BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide from human gastric juice reported to have regenerative and cytoprotective effects. This work proposes via in silico modeling that BPC-157 adopts a polyproline II helix structure that binds to SH3 domains of Src family kinases, potentially relieving autoinhibition and activating downstream signaling (FAK-ERK and PI3K-Akt pathways). To support future experimental validation, the authors generated a baculovirus-expressed mCherry-BPC157₂ fusion protein in Sf9 insect cells, confirmed by fluorescent imaging and western blot at ~31 kDa. The study combines structural modeling and in silico docking with production of a molecular tool for probing BPC-157 interactions.
Lee E, Burgess K · Alternative therapies in health and medicine · 2025 · Case report/series
This IRB-approved pilot study assessed the safety of intravenous BPC-157 infusion in 2 healthy human participants (a 58-year-old male and 68-year-old female), each with prior IV BPC-157 exposure. Participants received 10 mg BPC-157 on day 1 and 20 mg on day 2, each in 250 cc saline over one hour, with baseline and follow-up blood work and vital signs recorded. The infusions produced no measurable effects on biomarkers of heart, liver, kidney, thyroid, or blood glucose, with no adverse effects or side effects reported. The authors conclude that IV BPC-157 up to 20 mg was well-tolerated and safe in these 2 healthy adults, though they note that future studies are needed to confirm safety in humans.
Tepes M et al. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023 · Animal study
This animal study examined stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in a rat model of severe intra-abdominal hypertension (grades III–IV) with subsequent reperfusion injury. BPC 157 (10 µg/kg or 10 ng/kg, subcutaneous) given at 3 minutes into reperfusion counteracted multiorgan failure, vascular dysfunction, thrombosis, and metabolic markers of oxidative stress across brain, heart, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tissues. Treatment reversed venous hypertension, restored blood flow in collapsed or congested vessels, and nearly eliminated thrombosis and intracerebral hemorrhage. The authors conclude that BPC 157's capacity to reverse reperfusion-induced occlusion syndrome suggests potential for clinical translation.
Ilic S et al. · Life sciences · 2011 · Animal study
In a rat model, the pentadecapeptide BPC 157 was administered to antagonize toxicity induced by diclofenac (an NSAID). Given intraperitoneally or orally, BPC 157 at doses of 10 μg/kg, 10 ng/kg, or 0.16 μg/mL in drinking water was reported to reverse gastrointestinal lesions, liver damage (elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin, increased liver weight), and brain pathology (hepatic encephalopathy with brain edema and neuronal damage) that occurred in untreated diclofenac-exposed rats. The authors conclude that BPC 157's antagonization of diclofenac toxicity may encourage its further evaluation as a therapy against NSAID-induced toxicity.
Ilic S et al. · Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society · 2010 · Animal study
This animal study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of BPC 157, a stable gastric pentadecapeptide, against acute paracetamol toxicity in rats. Rats receiving a high paracetamol dose (5 g/kg intraperitoneally) developed hepatic encephalopathy with generalized convulsions, increased liver enzymes (ALT, AST), elevated ammonium, and brain damage. BPC 157 treatment (10 microg, 10 ng, or 10 pg/kg via intraperitoneal or intragastric administration) reduced convulsions, liver lesions, brain damage, and normalized enzyme and ammonium levels when given either immediately after paracetamol (prophylactically) or 3 hours later (therapeutically). The study reports that BPC 157 demonstrated clinical, microscopic, and biochemical counteraction of paracetamol-induced toxicity.
Cerovecki T et al. · Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2010 · Animal study
This animal study in rats examined whether pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736), a stable gastric peptide with prior evidence in tendon, muscle, and wound healing, could improve medial collateral ligament (MCL) healing after surgical transection. The peptide was administered via three routes (intraperitoneal, per-oral in drinking water, and topical cream) at specified doses once daily for 90 days following MCL transection. BPC 157 at all doses and routes showed consistent functional, biomechanical, macroscopic, and histological improvements in ligament healing compared to controls. The authors conclude BPC 157 may have therapeutic potential for acute ligament injuries.
Tudor M et al. · Regulatory peptides · 2010 · Animal study
This study examined the effects of gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice induced by falling weight. BPC 157 administered at doses of 10.0 μg or 10.0 ng/kg intraperitoneally reduced damage severity, improved early outcomes, and decreased mortality over 24 hours post-injury. Prophylactic administration 30 minutes before TBI improved conscious/unconscious/death ratios across multiple force impulse levels (0.068–0.159 Ns), with higher doses effective at the maximum force tested. Administration immediately prior to injury was beneficial at lower force impulses, and timing to improvement varied by injury severity (5–30 minutes for severe injuries).
Hrelec M et al. · Journal of physiology and pharmacology : an official journal of the Polish Physiological Society · 2009 · Animal study
This animal study in male Albino rats examined the effects of the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV, MW 1419) on outcomes following abdominal aorta clamping, transection, and termino-terminal anastomosis. BPC 157 was administered at 10 microg/kg either immediately after anastomosis creation or at 24 hours post-operation. The study reports that BPC 157 appeared to decrease cloth (clot) formation at the anastomosis site, preserved walking ability and muscle strength when given immediately post-surgery, and rapidly recovered lower limb function and muscle strength when given 24 hours post-anastomosis, with no cloth observed at the anastomosis site in treated animals. In untreated controls, aortic anastomosis normally resulted in clot obstruction of more than one-third of the aortic lumen, severely impaired walking, and weak muscle strength.
Effective therapy of transected quadriceps muscle in rat: Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157.
Animal-onlyStaresinic M et al. · Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2006 · Animal study
This animal study examined the effects of gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 administered intraperitoneally on healing of completely transected quadriceps muscle in rats. BPC 157 (10 microg, 10 ng, or 10 pg/kg) was given daily for 72 days starting 30 minutes after transection. The peptide improved biomechanical strength (increased load at failure), functional recovery (walking and motor function), microscopic findings (muscle fiber reconnection, desmin positivity, increased myofibril diameter), and macroscopic appearance (reduced atrophy, minimal contracture). The authors suggest BPC 157 may have therapeutic application in muscle disorders based on these consistent improvements in muscle healing.
Krivic A et al. · Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2006 · Animal study
This animal study examined healing of the Achilles tendon-to-bone junction in rats following surgical detachment. BPC 157 (administered intraperitoneally at doses of 10 µg, 10 ng, or 10 pg/kg) improved tendon-to-bone healing as measured by functional tests, biomechanical properties (load to failure, stiffness, elasticity), and histological parameters including collagen organization and vascular appearance. The corticosteroid 6α-methylprednisolone aggravated healing, and BPC 157 substantially reduced this corticosteroid-induced aggravation. The authors suggest BPC 157 without a carrier might replace current reconstructive surgical approaches for tendon-to-bone healing.
Lovric-Bencic M et al. · Journal of pharmacological sciences · 2004 · Animal study
This animal study evaluated the effects of the gastric pentadecapeptide BPC157, amlodipine, and losartan on doxorubicin-induced congestive heart failure in male Wistar rats and NMRI mice. BPC157 was administered intragastrically (rats) or in drinking water (mice) at doses of 10 μg/kg or 10 ng/kg for 14 days following doxorubicin challenge. Both BPC157 (10 μg/kg) and amlodipine reversed increased big endothelin-1 (BET-1) and multiple cardiac enzyme markers (AST, ALT, CK, LDH), while BPC157 (10 ng/kg) and losartan opposed further BET-1 increase. Clinical status improvements (hypotension, heart rate, respiratory rate, ascites) were reported with BPC157 and amlodipine treatment, while untreated controls showed progressive deterioration and worsening biochemical markers.
Gojkovic S et al. · Biomedicines · 2021 · Animal study
This animal study evaluated whether the pentadecapeptide BPC 157 could counteract acute alcohol-induced injury in Robert's gastric lesion model. Intragastric 96% alcohol induced gastric lesions, brain swelling and lesions, vascular hypertension and thrombosis, and multi-organ damage (heart, lung, liver, kidney). BPC 157 (10 µg/kg or 10 ng/kg given intraperitoneally 1 min after alcohol) reversed brain swelling, vascular congestion, and microscopic lesions in brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tissue. The authors conclude BPC 157 demonstrates cytoprotective properties and potential therapeutic application, possibly via activation of specific molecular pathways (not detailed in the abstract).
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Regulatory status
- FDA approved
- No
- WADA prohibited
- Yes
- Compounding status
- No FDA-approved formulation; prepared by compounding pharmacies.
- Notes
- Not FDA-approved — no approved formulation as of 2026-06-04. Prohibited in sport under WADA.
Legal/regulatory status varies by jurisdiction and changes over time — accurate as of last review (2026-06-04).
Data sources: Curated IDs (PubChem/UniProt/ChEMBL) + Europe PMC + ClinicalTrials.gov (2026-06-04).
Last reviewed 2026-06-04