BPC-157
BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide. Rodent studies show tissue-repair effects. Human evidence stays very limited.
What the evidence shows, in short
- Rodent studies report faster tendon, ligament and gut repair across many injury models.
- Human evidence comes from fewer than about 30 people across all published studies.
- The sponsor cancelled the one registered Phase I trial (NCT02637284, 42 volunteers). No results appeared.
- The FDA placed BPC-157 in Category 2 in 2023. Compounding pharmacies cannot use it.
- The FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee reviewed BPC-157 again on 23 July 2026.
- WADA names BPC-157 in the 2026 Prohibited List under S0. WADA prohibits it at all times.
What BPC-157 is
BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid sequence. Researchers derived it from a protein in human gastric juice. Laboratories sell it as a research chemical. No regulator approved it for human use.
What the preclinical research shows
Most BPC-157 research uses rats. Studies report effects across tendon, ligament, muscle and gut injury models.
Proposed mechanisms include a change in growth-factor receptor expression and an effect on the nitric-oxide system. Both mechanisms come from animal and cell work. Neither has human confirmation.
Citations pending verification
Primary sources for this section are being verified before publication. A claim without a citation does not ship.
What the human research shows
The human evidence is small. This is the most important fact on this page.
NCT02637284 was a Phase I safety and pharmacokinetics study of PCO-02 (active ingredient BPC-157) in 42 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 35. Sponsor: PharmaCotherapia d.o.o. Registered December 2015. The trial status stays "Unknown". Reports state that the sponsor cancelled it in 2016. No results appeared.
Lee and Burgess (2025) ran a pilot study of intravenous BPC-157 at doses up to 20 mg in 2 healthy adults. The authors report no adverse effects. Two people and no control group give very limited evidence.
Small retrospective reports describe knee pain and interstitial cystitis outcomes. None used a placebo control.
Add these together and fewer than about 30 people appear across the published human record.
Sources
- Phase I study of PCO-02 (BPC-157), 42 volunteers. Sponsor: PharmaCotherapia d.o.o.NCT02637284View source →
- Lee and Burgess (2025). Pilot study of intravenous BPC-157 in 2 healthy adults.PMID 40131143View source →
Primary research areas
Regulatory status
United States. The FDA placed BPC-157-related bulk drug substances in Category 2 in 2023. Category 2 means the FDA found significant safety risks. A 503A compounding pharmacy cannot legally compound it.
On 23 July 2026 the FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee reviewed BPC-157 (free base) and BPC-157 acetate for the 503A Bulks List. The FDA evaluated it for ulcerative colitis. The FDA published a briefing document for this review.
Sport. The WADA 2026 Prohibited List names BPC-157 as an example under S0, non-approved substances. S0 covers any substance with no current approval for human therapeutic use. WADA prohibits S0 substances at all times, in competition and out of competition.
Sources
- FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee — BPC-157 briefing document.fda.gov/media/193343View source →
- WADA 2026 Prohibited List (S0, non-approved substances).View source →
If you source BPC-157 for laboratory research
Buy only from a vendor that publishes a lot-matched COA from an independent laboratory. Check the lot number on the vial against the certificate. Read the HPLC result and the mass spectrometry result. Ask for the chromatogram.
Disclaimer
BPC-157 carries no approval for human use in any major jurisdiction. This page reports published research. It is not medical advice and it is not a recommendation. Speak to a licensed clinician before any health decision.