Healing
BPC-157
Not approved; mostly animal dataMostly animal studiesBPCBPC157Body Protection Compound
A 15-amino-acid peptide based on a protein found in stomach juice. Hundreds of animal studies report faster healing of tendon, muscle, gut and other tissue. Human evidence is limited to a few tiny, uncontrolled reports, so whether it helps people, and how safe it is long term, isn't known.
- Canada
- Not authorized; named in Health Canada's 2026 warning
- United States
- Not approved. Removed from FDA Category 2 in Apr 2026; an advisory committee voted 8-6 in Jul 2026 to allow compounding; no final rule yet
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Not medical advice — talk to your doctor before making medical decisions.
At a glance
- Class
- Healing peptide
- Mechanism
- Proposed: promotes new blood vessels and tissue repair (animal data)
- Evidence
- Animal and lab data; a few tiny human reports
- Canada
- Not authorized
- Us
- Not approved; compounding status under review
- Half Life
- Unknown in humans
- Routes
- SubQ, oral
- Common Side Effects
- Few reported; site irritation, nausea, dizziness in anecdotes
- Key Cautions
- Unknown long-term safety; theoretical tumour-growth concern from new blood vessel growth
What the research says
Does it work in people?
Unknown. A 2025 systematic review found only one human musculoskeletal study that met its criteria. The human reports (16 knee-pain patients, 12 women with bladder pain, 2 healthy adults for safety) are too small and uncontrolled to show benefit. A placebo-controlled hamstring-strain trial has been registered.
Is it safe?
There's no long-term human safety data. Because it promotes blood vessel growth in animals, people with cancer or a history of it are usually advised to avoid it.
What's happening with the FDA?
In April 2026 the FDA took BPC-157 off its Category 2 (safety concern) list, and in July 2026 an advisory committee voted 8-6 to let pharmacies compound it. The vote is advisory; nothing is final. That would affect US compounding only, not Canada.
With TB-500?
A very common pairing ("Wolverine") for injuries. There are no human studies of the combination.
If you're drug-tested in sport?
Prohibited by WADA at all times (S0, non-approved substances). Athletes have been banned for it.
What it is
BPC stands for Body Protection Compound. It's a lab-made fragment of a stomach protein, studied since the 1990s mainly by one research group in Croatia. It's sold as injectable powder and as capsules.
What to track
- Pain (0-10) at the same time each day
- One function test you can repeat, like a pain-free lift or range of motion
- Photos of the area if there's visible swelling
- Note other treatment (physio, rest), since these also explain improvement
Get medical care if
- Redness, heat, swelling or pus at a site that spreads or comes with fever
- Hives, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing (call 911)
Buying and quality
- Not authorized by Health Canada. Products sold online as "research use only" are illegal to sell for human use in Canada, and the label doesn't change that.
- Health Canada warns these products may contain too much, too little or none of the peptide, plus contaminants like endotoxins, solvents, heavy metals or bacteria.
- A certificate of analysis (COA) from the seller isn't independent proof. A 98% purity result still leaves 2% unidentified.
- If you use it anyway: one clean needle per injection, sterile technique, label and date every vial, and stop if a site gets hot, red and spreading.
Dose calculator
Doses are set with your prescriber. This converts a dose you already have into what to draw; it doesn't recommend one. Check every number against your syringe and your vial's label.
Doses left in the vial
A blend vial
Not medical advice — talk to your doctor before making medical decisions.
Sources
Researched 2026-10-27. Trial results and approval status change.
General education, not medical advice. Nothing here is a dose recommendation. Doses, schedules and changes are set with a prescriber.