BPC-157 vs TB-500
The two most-discussed repair peptides: how their proposed mechanisms differ and how thin the human data is.
Research use only. A summary of published literature for educational reference — not medical advice and not a guide to human use.
The short version
BPC-157 is a gastric-derived pentadecapeptide studied mostly for local tendon, gut and vascular effects in animals. TB-500 is a fragment of thymosin beta-4 studied for actin regulation and cell migration. Neither has completed controlled human efficacy trials.
At a glance
Origin
Synthetic fragment of a gastric protein (15 amino acids)
Synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4
Proposed target
No confirmed receptor; nitric oxide and VEGFR2 pathways proposed
G-actin binding (LKKTET motif)
Approval status
Not approved; WADA prohibited
Not approved; WADA prohibited
Evidence base
Mainly rodent studies
Animal and cell studies; parent protein in early human trials
Research vial sizes
5 / 10 mg
5 / 10 mg
01How they work
BPC-157 research describes increased angiogenesis, fibroblast migration and modulation of nitric oxide signalling. TB-500 research centres on sequestering G-actin, which affects how cells move and remodel, plus anti-inflammatory signalling.
02What studies measured
Rodent studies of BPC-157 report faster tendon, ligament, muscle and gut healing. Thymosin beta-4 studies report improved wound closure and cardiac repair in animal models. Human evidence for both fragments is limited to small or uncontrolled reports.
03Reported side effects
There is no systematic human safety dataset for either fragment. Reviews note theoretical concerns about pro-angiogenic activity in the presence of existing tumours.
04Approval & evidence status
Neither is approved for human use. Both appear on the WADA prohibited list.
Citations
- [1]Narrative review (animal data)2018
BPC 157 and Standard Angiogenic Growth Factors. Gastrointestinal Tract Healing, Lessons from Tendon, Ligament, Muscle and Bone Healing
Seiwerth S, et al. Curr Pharm Des, 2018.
Read paper ↗ - [2]Narrative review2012
Thymosin β4: a multi-functional regenerative peptide
Goldstein AL, et al. Expert Opin Biol Ther, 2012.
Read paper ↗
Research use only. A summary of published literature for educational reference — not medical advice and not a guide to human use.