BPC-157
Synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from gastric juice protein
- Class
- Repair peptide
- Half-life
- ~30 min
- Route
- Subcutaneous (SubQ)
- Cadence
- Daily
- Evidence
- Animal data primarily
Overview
It's a 15-amino-acid sequence derived from a protein found in human gastric juice, now synthesised in labs. The parent protein appears to play a role in gut tissue repair; BPC-157 is the synthetic fragment that retained much of that activity.
The big asterisk: the human evidence is almost nonexistent. There were Phase 1 and 2 trials in ulcerative colitis (under the name PL 14736) that didn't advance to large studies. Everything else — joint healing, post-surgical recovery, tendinopathy — is extrapolated from rodent studies. That's not nothing, but it's not the same as proof in humans.
How it seems to work: increases VEGF (a signal that says "build new blood vessels here") and modulates nitric oxide and growth-hormone signalling at the injury site. The result, in animals, is faster blood vessel formation and faster tissue rebuilding. Whether that translates the same way in human tendons or joints is genuinely unknown.
A small 2025 pilot study (Lee & Burgess, PMID: 40131143) administered IV BPC-157 up to 20 mg in two healthy adults with no reported adverse effects, though this two-person uncontrolled study provides limited evidence.
Safety considerations
A few of the safety signals worth knowing — the full list, with dosing context and what to monitor, is inside AIx Core.
- No approved human use. The safety record we have is dominated by short rodent studies and small open-label human series — most lasting weeks to a few months.
- Theoretical concern: VEGF upregulation could in principle accelerate growth of a hidden tumour you don't know about. Probably low risk for a healthy person; relevant if you have a cancer history.
- No long-term human safety data. Years-of-daily-use questions are unanswerable right now.
+ 4 more safety notes inside AIx Core →
Commonly monitored
Markers and signals people track when researching BPC-157.
- Subjective injury markers — pain (0-10), range of motion, swelling — daily log if you're tracking healing
- Imaging if you have a specific structural injury (MRI before/after is the gold standard)
- Mood / sleep — anecdotal but commonly reported
- Any new GI symptoms (rare, but the drug works on gut tissue)
Frequently asked questions
What is BPC-157?
Synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from gastric juice protein. It's a 15-amino-acid sequence derived from a protein found in human gastric juice, now synthesised in labs. The parent protein appears to play a role in gut tissue repair; BPC-157 is the synthetic fragment that retained much of that activity.
How is BPC-157 administered?
Subcutaneous (SubQ), typically daily.
What is the half-life of BPC-157?
~30 min — Cleared from blood fast, but tissue effects last much longer in animals.
Is BPC-157 approved for human use?
BPC-157 is investigational — not approved by the FDA, EMA, or MHRA for human use at the time of writing.
What does the evidence show for BPC-157?
Evidence tier: Animal data primarily. The Sikiric 2018 review is the most-cited paper in the BPC-157 literature — it summarises ~20 years of rodent studies. Read it sceptically: most authors are from one research group, which is something to factor in.
What is commonly monitored when researching BPC-157?
Commonly tracked markers + signals: Subjective injury markers — pain (0-10), range of motion, swelling — daily log if you're tracking healing, Imaging if you have a specific structural injury (MRI before/after is the gold standard), Mood / sleep — anecdotal but commonly reported, Any new GI symptoms (rare, but the drug works on gut tissue).
Related compounds
Open this in AIx Core for the full picture
Mechanism breakdown, receptor pathway diagram, full safety list, monitored items, source citations, and one-tap add-to-protocol. Free with any account.