BPC-157
Synthetic gastric pentadecapeptide (research chemical)
Status
Not approved
Not approved anywhere; FDA removed it from 503A Category 2 (significant safety risks) in April 2026 after the nominations were withdrawn, and in July 2026 an FDA advisory committee voted 8-6 (1 abstention) to recommend adding it to the 503A bulks list against FDA staff advice, but until FDA finishes rulemaking it still cannot lawfully be compounded.
Evidence
Animal data only
Almost all data come from rodent studies; human data are limited to early-2000s enema trials reported only as meeting abstracts and a few tiny uncontrolled pilots.
In sport
WADAProhibited (WADA)
BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide, reportedly derived from a stomach-juice protein, sold as a research chemical and promoted for healing tendons, muscles and the gut. It is not approved anywhere and human evidence is minimal.
Structure
15 residuesPoint at a bead, or focus the chain and use the arrow keys, to name it. Pick a chemistry to highlight it.
Sequence as text
H-G-E-P-P-P-G-K-P-A-D-D-A-G-L-V-OH
What it is used for
- Ulcerative colitis, in small early enema trials and as the use FDA reviewed in 2026 (studied)
- Tendon, ligament, muscle and bone injury, in animal models only (studied)
- Knee pain and interstitial cystitis, in tiny uncontrolled human pilots (studied)
- Gut repair, joint healing and general injury recovery (claimed, unproven)
How it works
How BPC-157 works is not established. Animal and cell studies suggest it promotes new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis), raises growth hormone receptor expression in tendon cells and damps inflammatory cytokines, which researchers link to faster healing of tendon, ligament, muscle, bone and gut lining in rodents. FDA found no human pharmacokinetic data, so how much reaches tissues after oral or injected use in people is unknown.
How strong the evidence is
Animal data only
A 2025 systematic review in orthopaedic sports medicine found 36 relevant studies, 35 of them preclinical. FDA's 2026 briefing lists all known human exposure: two enema trials of PL 14736 reported only as meeting abstracts (32 healthy volunteers; 53 people with ulcerative colitis, where FDA judged the result inconclusive), a retrospective review of knee injections (16 patients contacted), a 12-woman uncontrolled bladder-injection pilot for interstitial cystitis, and a 2-person intravenous safety pilot. An oral phase 1 trial (NCT02637284) never posted results. No adequately controlled trial shows benefit for any use.
Risks and side effects
- No reliable human safety data: FDA found no human pharmacokinetic studies and too little information to judge long-term use.
- Unregulated products may contain peptide impurities, aggregates or contaminants, and FDA flags a risk of unwanted immune reactions (immunogenicity).
- FDA adverse event reports mention injection-site reactions, shortness of breath and skin and gum darkening, though causation is unclear.
- Prohibited in sport at all times: WADA names BPC-157 in its S0 (non-approved substances) class.
Regulatory status
Status by country
| Jurisdiction | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USUnited States | No authorised medicine | Source 1 |
| EUEuropean Union | No authorised medicine | Source 11 |
| UKUnited Kingdom | No authorised medicine | Source 12 |
| AUAustralia | No authorised medicine | Source 13 |
| CACanada | No authorised medicine | Source 14 |
Timeline
2026
- ResearchReview of 565 studies finds little human evidence for popular injectable peptides
- RegulatoryAustralian regulator seizes illegal peptides allegedly sold by a social media influencer
- RegulatoryParadigm Peptides owner sentenced to 70 months for selling unapproved drugs
- RegulatoryFDA advisers vote to allow compounding of BPC-157, KPV, TB-500 and MOTS-c
- RegulatoryFDA removes BPC-157 and 11 other peptides from its compounding safety-risk list
- SafetyAustralia's TGA warns of severe reactions to unapproved injectable peptides
- SafetyHealth Canada warns against injecting peptides bought online and names seized products
Articles about BPC-157
Sources
- 01FDA Briefing Document: BPC-157-Related Bulk Drug Substances, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee(opens the source in a new tab)
- 02Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks(opens the source in a new tab)
- 03July 23-24, 2026: Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee(opens the source in a new tab)
- 04FDA Briefing Document Introduction, Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, July 23-24, 2026(opens the source in a new tab)
- 05FDA advisory committee backs two controversial peptides(opens the source in a new tab)
- 06FDA Advisory Committee Endorses Compounding of Certain Peptides(opens the source in a new tab)
- 07Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review(opens the source in a new tab)
- 08PubChem Compound Summary: BPC-157 (CID 9941957)(opens the source in a new tab)
- 09World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026(opens the source in a new tab)
- 10BPC-157: Experimental Peptide Creates Risk for Athletes(opens the source in a new tab)
- 11Find medicine: centrally authorised medicines(opens the source in a new tab)
- 12MHRA Products: active substances beginning with B(opens the source in a new tab)
- 13Understanding your responsibilities when importing, compounding and supplying unapproved peptide products(opens the source in a new tab)
- 14Think twice before injecting peptides bought online: unauthorized products can seriously harm you(opens the source in a new tab)
Educational information, not medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.