Research Use Only (RUO). This content is strictly educational and applies to licensed research settings. Nothing here constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before handling any peptide compound.
What Is BPC-157?
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157) is a synthetic pentadecapeptide — 15 amino acids — derived from a partial sequence of a protein isolated from human gastric juice. It was first characterized in the 1990s by researcher Predrag Sikiric and colleagues at the University of Zagreb, Croatia, and has since become one of the most-cited peptides in pre-clinical research.
Animal and in vitro studies have investigated BPC-157 in areas including gastrointestinal mucosal integrity, tendon and ligament healing, inflammatory modulation, and neurological function. As of 2026, no regulatory agency — including the FDA, EMA, or ANVISA — has approved BPC-157 for any human therapeutic indication. All available evidence remains at the pre-clinical stage.
Understanding Your 5mg BPC-157 Vial
Research-grade BPC-157 arrives as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) white powder sealed in a sterile glass vial. A 5mg vial contains 5,000 micrograms (mcg) of peptide. Before any research protocol can be followed, the powder must be reconstituted — dissolved in a sterile diluent to produce a measurable liquid solution.
| Vial Contents | Milligrams | Micrograms |
|---|---|---|
| Standard research vial | 5 mg | 5,000 mcg |
Reconstitution Protocol
What You Will Need
- 1 vial of lyophilized BPC-157 (5mg)
- Bacteriostatic water (BW) — preferred for multi-dose vials due to its benzyl alcohol preservative (0.9%)
- Sterile alcohol swabs (70% isopropyl)
- A sterile syringe for transferring diluent
- An insulin syringe (1 mL / 100-unit) for drawing doses after reconstitution
Step-by-Step Reconstitution
- Swab both vial stoppers with an alcohol swab. Allow 30 seconds to air-dry before inserting any needle.
- Draw the desired volume of bacteriostatic water into your transfer syringe. The volume you choose determines the final concentration (see table below).
- Inject BW slowly along the inner wall of the BPC-157 vial. Do not aim the stream directly at the powder — the force can shear the peptide structure.
- Do not shake. Gently swirl or roll the vial between your palms until the powder is fully dissolved. The solution should be clear and colorless.
- Label the vial immediately with the reconstitution date and final concentration before refrigerating.
Dilution Reference Table — 5mg Vial
| Bacteriostatic Water Added | Final Concentration | mcg per 0.1 mL (10 units on syringe) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 5,000 mcg/mL | 500 mcg |
| 2 mL | 2,500 mcg/mL | 250 mcg |
| 5 mL | 1,000 mcg/mL | 100 mcg |
| 10 mL | 500 mcg/mL | 50 mcg |
Calculate Your Exact Volume — Free PeptideMed Calculator
Converting between mg, mcg, and insulin syringe units is one of the most common sources of error in peptide research. A single decimal misplacement can produce a 10× dosing error.
PeptideMed's Reconstitution & Dose Calculator eliminates this risk: enter your vial size, the volume of BW added, and the target research dose — and it outputs the exact number of syringe units to draw. No manual math required.
Storage and Stability After Reconstitution
- Lyophilized, unopened: Store at 2–8°C, away from light. Stability is typically 12–24 months depending on manufacturer specifications and storage conditions.
- Reconstituted with bacteriostatic water: Refrigerate at 2–8°C. Generally considered stable for 4–6 weeks. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which degrade peptide integrity.
- Discard immediately if the solution appears cloudy, discolored, or contains visible particulates — these indicate contamination or degradation.
Mechanisms Under Pre-Clinical Investigation
The research interest in BPC-157 stems from several consistently observed effects in rodent models. These mechanisms have not been validated in randomized controlled human trials:
- Angiogenesis: BPC-157 appears to upregulate VEGFR2 signaling in animal models, potentially supporting vascularization in healing tissue.
- Nitric oxide modulation: Multiple rodent studies link BPC-157 to the NO-synthase pathway, with observed effects on blood pressure regulation and cytoprotection.
- Tendon and connective tissue repair: Fibroblast activation and increased collagen synthesis have been documented in tendon injury models.
- Gastrointestinal mucosal integrity: Consistent with its origin from gastric protein, BPC-157 has demonstrated cytoprotective effects in GI tract models involving NSAIDs, alcohol, and surgical stress.
Evidence classification: pre-clinical only (in vitro and rodent models). No Phase II or III human clinical trial data is available as of mid-2026.
Related Peptides in Tissue Repair Research
BPC-157 is frequently examined alongside other peptides with complementary mechanisms in musculoskeletal and recovery research:
- TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) — a naturally occurring peptide involved in actin regulation, cell migration, and angiogenesis. Commonly studied alongside BPC-157 in tendon and muscle repair models, with the two peptides thought to act on overlapping but distinct recovery pathways. Anti-doping notice: TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) has been prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List since 2011 and remains banned in 2026 under S0 (Non-Approved Substances) and S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics). Athletes subject to anti-doping jurisdiction must not use this compound under any circumstances.
- GHK-Cu (Copper Peptide) — a tripeptide-copper complex with documented pre-clinical activity in wound healing, collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, and anti-inflammatory signaling.
Regulatory and Disclaimer Notice
BPC-157 is classified as a research compound under most global regulatory frameworks. It is not approved by the FDA (USA), EMA (EU), or ANVISA (Brazil) for any therapeutic use. In Brazil, ANVISA's compounding pharmacy regulations do not include BPC-157 on the authorized peptide list as of 2026. Acquisition, storage, and handling must comply with all applicable local regulations governing research chemicals.
FDA 2026 update: BPC-157 was removed from the FDA's Category 2 bulk drug substance list (substances flagged for significant safety concerns) effective April 23, 2026, and is scheduled for Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) review on July 23, 2026 regarding potential 503A compounding eligibility. Removal from Category 2 does not constitute drug approval and does not authorize therapeutic or clinical use — BPC-157 remains an unapproved research compound pending that determination.
Anti-doping notice (WADA 2026): BPC-157 is prohibited at all times under the WADA 2026 Prohibited List, classified under both S0 (Non-Approved Substances) and S2 (Peptide Hormones, Growth Factors, Related Substances and Mimetics). This prohibition applies in-competition and out-of-competition. No Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) is available, as TUEs require an approved therapeutic indication. TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4), referenced above, is similarly prohibited under WADA S0 and S2 since 2011. Detection of either compound can result in anti-doping rule violations with sanctions of two to four years.
PeptideMed publishes this content for educational and scientific information purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, a clinical protocol, or a treatment recommendation. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making decisions related to peptide research or health interventions.