Wikipedia

BPC-157

Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC-157 (also known as Body Protection Compound 157, bepecin, or PL 14736) is a synthetic fifteen amino acid oligopeptide derived from a protein found in human gastric juice. BPC-157 has been studied primarily in laboratory animals. BPC-157 is not approved by any drug regulatory agency for human use, and there is limited data regarding its effectiveness on humans.

BPC-157
Clinical data
Routes of
administration		IM, IV, IP (in animals), oral, subQ
Drug classpeptide
Legal status
Legal status
  • Not marketed
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life7.9–30 minutes (rat, IV and IM)[1]
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
ChEMBL
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC62H98N16O22
Molar mass1419.556 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
  • 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
  • InChI=1S/C62H98N16O22/c1-31(2)25-37(55(92)74-50(32(3)4)62(99)100)71-46(81)29-65-51(88)33(5)67-53(90)38(26-48(84)85)73-54(91)39(27-49(86)87)72-52(89)34(6)68-57(94)41-15-10-21-75(41)58(95)35(13-7-8-20-63)70-45(80)30-66-56(93)40-14-9-22-76(40)60(97)43-17-12-24-78(43)61(98)42-16-11-23-77(42)59(96)36(18-19-47(82)83)69-44(79)28-64/h31-43,50H,7-30,63-64H2,1-6H3,(H,65,88)(H,66,93)(H,67,90)(H,68,94)(H,69,79)(H,70,80)(H,71,81)(H,72,89)(H,73,91)(H,74,92)(H,82,83)(H,84,85)(H,86,87)(H,99,100)/t33-,34-,35-,36-,37-,38-,39-,40-,41-,42-,43-,50-/m0/s1
  • Key:HEEWEZGQMLZMFE-RKGINYAYSA-N

The peptide has gained popularity among athletes and the general public for injury recovery, leading the World Anti-Doping Agency to ban it in 2022. Health authorities discourage its use due to insufficient human safety data, and some jurisdictions have restricted it as a prescription-only medicine despite it not being available through legitimate prescriptions.[2][3] Additionally, because the compound promotes blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), there are theoretical concerns about potential cancer promotion that require further investigation.

The peptide was discovered during research on human gastric juice.[4] The amino acid sequence is Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val.[5] BPC-157 is stable at room temperature and bioavailable in rodent models when administered IM or IV.[1] The peptide demonstrates unusual stability in human gastric juice, remaining intact for more than 24 hours.[6]

Research

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Pre-clinical research has indicated that BPC-157 may have cytoprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects, and may also accelerate tissue and organ healing.[7][8][6][9][10]

This substance is sometimes used in functional medicine despite not being approved by any drug regulatory agency.[11] The compound promotes angiogenesis and as a result has some concerns over cancer promotion.[12]

As of 2022, the peptide has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency under the S0 category of non-exempt substances.[13][14]

BPC-157 has been widely used both by athletes and among the general public, mainly for recovery from injury or stimulating healing in chronic conditions,[15][16][17][18] but there is as yet only very limited human trial data on efficacy and only a few preliminary safety studies,[19][20][21] so use of BPC-157 is discouraged by health authorities and it has been controlled as a prescription medicine in several jurisdictions such as New Zealand and Australia, despite not actually being available for prescription.[22][23]

Detection

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BPC-157 is detected in urine using a weak cation exchange solid phase extraction and was found to be stable in urine for 4 days.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 He L, Feng D, Guo H, Zhou Y, Li Z, Zhang K, et al. (2022-12-14). "Pharmacokinetics, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of body-protective compound 157, a potential drug for treating various wounds, in rats and dogs". Frontiers in Pharmacology. 13 1026182. Frontiers Media SA. doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.1026182. PMC 9794587. PMID 36588717.
  2. ↑ Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Feingold CL, Lin EH, Liu JN, Rick Hatch GF, Gamradt SC, Weber AE. Injectable Peptide Therapy: A Primer for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Physicians. Am J Sports Med. 2026 Jan;54(1):223-229. doi:10.1177/03635465251357593 PMID 41476424
  3. ↑ Mendias CL, Awan TM. Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Sports Med. 2026 Apr 12. doi:10.1007/s40279-026-02437-0 PMID 41966639
  4. ↑ Chang CH, Tsai WC, Lin MS, Hsu YH, Pang JH (March 2011). "The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration". Journal of Applied Physiology. 110 (3). American Physiological Society: 774–780. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00945.2010. PMID 21030672.
  5. ↑ Jelovac N, Sikiric P, Rucman R, Petek M, Marovic A, Perovic D, et al. (August 1999). "Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 attenuates disturbances induced by neuroleptics: the effect on catalepsy and gastric ulcers in mice and rats". European Journal of Pharmacology. 379 (1): 19–31. doi:10.1016/S0014-2999(99)00486-0. PMID 10499368.
  6. 1 2 Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Rucman R, Turkovic B, Rokotov DS, Brcic L, et al. (2011). "Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: novel therapy in gastrointestinal tract". Current Pharmaceutical Design. 17 (16): 1612–1632. doi:10.2174/138161211796196954. PMID 21548867.
  7. ↑ Chang C, Tsai W, Lin M, Hsu Y, Pang JS (October 28, 2010). "The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves possible tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration". Journal of Applied Physiology. 110 (3): 774–780. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00945.2010. PMID 21030672.
  8. ↑ Staresinic M, Sebecic B, Patrlj L, Jadrijevic S, Suknaic S, Perovic D, et al. (2003). "Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 accelerates healing of transected rat Achilles tendon and in vitro stimulates tendocytes growth". Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 21 (6): 976–983. doi:10.1016/S0736-0266(03)00110-4. PMID 14554208.
  9. ↑ Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Brcic L, Blagaic AB, Zoricic I, Sever M, et al. (December 2006). "Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in trials for inflammatory bowel disease (PL-10, PLD-116, PL 14736, Pliva, Croatia). Full and distended stomach, and vascular response". Inflammopharmacology. 14 (5–6): 214–221. doi:10.1007/s10787-006-1531-7. PMID 17186181. S2CID 24132425.
  10. ↑ Cerovecki T, Bojanic I, Brcic L, Radic B, Vukoja I, Seiwerth S, et al. (September 2010). "Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736) improves ligament healing in the rat". Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 28 (9): 1155–1161. doi:10.1002/jor.21107. PMID 20225319. S2CID 22085833.
  11. ↑ Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Rucman R, Kolenc D, Vuletic LB, Drmic D, et al. (2016). "Brain-gut Axis and Pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Theoretical and Practical Implications". Current Neuropharmacology. 14 (8): 857–865. doi:10.2174/1570159x13666160502153022. PMC 5333585. PMID 27138887.
  12. ↑ Józwiak M, Bauer M, Kamysz W, Kleczkowska P (January 2025). "Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review". Pharmaceuticals. 18 (2). MDPI: 185. doi:10.3390/ph18020185. PMC 11859134. PMID 40005999.
  13. ↑ "2022 Prohibited List: SUBSTANCES AND METHODS PROHIBITED AT ALL TIMES (IN- AND OUT-OF-COMPETITION)" (PDF). World Anti-Doping Agency. WADA. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "WORLD ANTI-DOPING CODE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD PROHIBITED LIST 2025" (PDF). World Anti-Doping Agency. WADA. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  15. ↑ Defoor MT, Dekker TJ (2025). "Injectable Therapeutic Peptides—An Adjunct to Regenerative Medicine and Sports Performance?". Arthroscopy. 41 (2): 150–152. doi:10.1016/j.arthro.2024.09.005. PMID 39265666.
  16. ↑ Józwiak M, Bauer M, Kamysz W, Kleczkowska P (2025). "Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide—Literature and Patent Review". Pharmaceuticals. 18 (2): 185. doi:10.3390/ph18020185. PMC 11859134. PMID 40005999.
  17. ↑ Vasireddi N, Hahamyan H, Salata MJ, Karns M, Calcei JG, Voos JE, et al. (2025). "Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review". HSS Journal. 21 (4) 15563316251355551. doi:10.1177/15563316251355551. PMC 12313605. PMID 40756949.
  18. ↑ McGuire FP, Martinez R, Lenz A, Skinner L, Cushman DM (2025). "Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing". Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 18 (12): 611–619. doi:10.1007/s12178-025-09990-7. PMC 12446177. PMID 40789979.
  19. ↑ Xu C, Sun L, Ren F, Huang P, Tian Z, Cui J, et al. (2020). "Preclinical safety evaluation of body protective compound-157, a potential drug for treating various wounds". Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 114 104665. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104665. PMID 32334036.
  20. ↑ Lee E, Padgett B (2021). "Intra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee Pain". Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 27 (4): 8–13. PMID 34324435.
  21. ↑ Lee E, Walker C, Ayadi B (2024). "Effect of BPC-157 on Symptoms in Patients with Interstitial Cystitis: A Pilot Study". Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 30 (10): 12–17. PMID 39325560.
  22. ↑ Notice of interim decisions to amend (or not amend) the current Poisons Standard. Therapeutic Goods Administration, 3 April 2024
  23. ↑ Classification of Unscheduled Peptides. Submission to the Medicines Classification Committee. Medsafe, June 2025
  24. ↑ Cox HD, Miller GD, Eichner D (October 2017). "Detection and in vitro metabolism of the confiscated peptides BPC 157 and MGF R23H". Drug Testing and Analysis. 9 (10): 1490–1498. doi:10.1002/dta.2152. PMID 28035768.
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