BPC-157 vs TB-500
What each peptide is, how the papers linked from their pages compare, and the legal status peptidefix records in the UK, the US and Australia. Counts are the papers on those pages, not every paper in the world.
What each is
- BPC-157. BPC-157 is a synthetic peptide of 15 amino acids. Its sequence is derived from a protein found in human gastric juice. Also called Body Protection Compound-157, Pentadecapeptide BPC 157.
- TB-500. TB-500 is a synthetic peptide corresponding to a fragment of thymosin beta-4, a naturally occurring 43-amino-acid protein involved in regulating actin, a building block of cell structure. Also called Thymosin beta-4 fragment, T-beta-4 (17-23). The TB-500 page describes it as a fragment of thymosin beta-4, a 43-amino-acid protein.
- Listed suppliers: BPC-157, 48 listed suppliers (16 in United Kingdom, 11 in United States, 11 in Australia, 10 in Europe). TB-500, 44 listed suppliers (16 in United Kingdom, 12 in United States, 9 in Australia, 7 in Europe). Listed, not endorsed.
Research on peptidefix
- The BPC-157 page links 13 papers: 3 human studies, 2 animal studies, 3 cell studies, 4 reviews, 1 regulatory note. The human studies are part of that set.
- The TB-500 page links 6 papers: 3 animal studies, 1 cell study, 2 reviews. None is labelled a human study. 5 papers name thymosin beta-4 in the title, summary or subjects. 1 paper names TB-500 in the title.
- 1 paper is linked from both pages: Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats: a histopathological and biomechanical study (Animal study, 2026).
- Each paper below keeps its study-type label and links to the source. A label says what was studied. It is not a finding about a person.
BPC-157 papers
- Protective effects of BPC 157 in rats with experimentally induced lower extremity ischemia-reperfusion injury (2026). Animal study 24 male Wistar rats in four groups of six.
- BPC157 drives angiogenesis through FBXO22-dependent stabilization of BACH1 (2026). Cell study Laboratory cell and biochemical assays (endothelial cells).
- Endothelium-dependent nitric oxide-mediated vasorelaxant effects of BPC 157 in human internal mammary artery (2026). Cell study Artery rings from 12 patients undergoing bypass surgery, ex vivo.
- Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats: a histopathological and biomechanical study (2026). Animal study 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats, four groups of eight.
- BPC 157 in Rodent Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: A Critical Review of Preclinical Evidence (2026). Review n/a (review of rodent studies, literature search to 24 June 2026).
- Former company and directors behind BioV8 to face court for alleged unlawful advertising of peptides (2026). Regulatory note Australia, TGA media release on Federal Court proceedings.
- Safety of Intravenous Infusion of BPC157 in Humans: A Pilot Study (2025). Human study 2 healthy adults; IRB-approved uncontrolled safety pilot with baseline and serial measurements.
- Effect of BPC-157 on Symptoms in Patients with Interstitial Cystitis: A Pilot Study (2024). Human study 12 women (mean age 58.3) with interstitial cystitis that had not responded to conventional therapy; open-label, uncontrolled pilot.
- Intra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee Pain (2021). Human study 17 adults with knee pain, retrospective chart review with telephone follow-up, no control group.
- BPC-157 and the gut–brain axis: emerging links between cytoprotection and neuroregeneration (2026). Review n/a (systematic review of 64 studies: 52 preclinical, 12 early human or observational).
- Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing (2025). Review n/a (scoping review of preclinical and clinical data).
- Brain-gut axis and pentadecapeptide BPC 157: theoretical and practical implications (2016). Review n/a (review).
- The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration (2011). Cell study rat tendon explants and cultured tendon cells.
TB-500 papers
- Adjunctive recombinant human thymosin β4 therapy improves antibacterial outcomes against Staphylococcus aureus (2026). Cell study in vitro bacterial culture; recombinant human thymosin beta-4 (the full protein, not the TB-500 fragment); not tested in animals or people.
- Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats: a histopathological and biomechanical study (2026). Animal study 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats, four groups of eight.
- Reparative outcomes in corneal infection: linking adjunctive Tβ4 treatment to nerve regeneration and visual function (2026). Animal study C57BL/6 mice with Pseudomonas keratitis; thymosin beta-4 with ciprofloxacin vs each alone and vehicle.
- Thymosin beta4 activates integrin-linked kinase and promotes cardiac cell migration, survival and cardiac repair (2004). Animal study embryonic and postnatal cardiomyocytes in culture, then mice after coronary artery ligation.
- Thymosin beta 4 and the eye: the journey from bench to bedside (2018). Review n/a (narrative review by an investigator in the field).
- Thymosin β4: actin-sequestering protein moonlights to repair injured tissues (2005). Review n/a (review).
Legal status
- Legal status on peptidefix is recorded for the UK, the US and Australia, and dated. Both peptides were checked 2026-11-03. Europe has supplier listings and no legal-status line. The full table is on Legal status. Verify with the regulator.
- United Kingdom. BPC-157: Not an approved medicine. TB-500: Not an approved medicine.
- United States. BPC-157: Not an approved medicine. A draft HHS enforcement-discretion policy, published in the Federal Register on 30 October 2026, says HHS does not intend to take enforcement action against a state-licensed pharmacy, a federal facility or a licensed physician that compounds BPC-157 acetate under section 503A, for subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral and topical forms, while the FDA writes the 503A bulks list, when the policy's conditions are met. For an oral form, the policy expects the compounder to keep documentation that the specific formulation reaches an adequate level of oral bioavailability in humans. The policy does not approve BPC-157, does not add it to the 503A bulks list, and is not binding. It covers a product with BPC-157 as the only active ingredient. TB-500: Not an approved medicine. A draft HHS enforcement-discretion policy, published in the Federal Register on 30 October 2026, says HHS does not intend to take enforcement action against a state-licensed pharmacy, a federal facility or a licensed physician that compounds TB-500 acetate under section 503A, for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, while the FDA writes the 503A bulks list, when the policy's conditions are met. The policy does not approve TB-500, does not add it to the 503A bulks list, and is not binding. It covers a product with TB-500 as the only active ingredient.
- Australia. BPC-157: Prescription only. Listed in Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard (October 2026). TB-500: Prescription only. TB-500 and thymosin beta 4 are each listed in Schedule 4 of the Poisons Standard (October 2026).
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