Peptide reference

BPC-157

Body Protection Compound 157 · a synthetic pentadecapeptide

A 15-amino-acid fragment derived from a protein sequence found in human gastric juice.

Residues

15

Formula

C62H98N16O22

Molecular weight

~1419.5 g/mol

Class

Synthetic pentadecapeptide

GEPPPGKPADDAGLV

Researched effects

Areas BPC-157 has been studied in. Every card carries an evidence-level badge.

Tendon & ligament healing

Increased fibroblast migration and F-actin formation in tendon-derived cells.

Rodent studiesIn vitro

Muscle injury repair

Accelerated recovery in crush and transection injury models.

Rodent studies

Bone healing

Improved defect healing in segmental bone models.

Rodent studies

Gastrointestinal protection

Ulcer healing and mucosal protection; the compound derives from a gastric juice protein and is stable in gastric acid.

Rodent studiesLimited human data

NSAID and alcohol lesion counteraction

Reduced GI damage from these agents in models.

Rodent studies

Angiogenesis

New vessel formation at injury sites.

Rodent studiesIn vitro

Nerve regeneration

Improved recovery in peripheral nerve and spinal injury models.

Rodent studies

Anti-inflammatory activity

Reduced inflammatory markers in injury models.

Rodent studies

Sequence

Fifteen residues, N-terminus to C-terminus. Hover a node to inspect; filter by class to isolate.

Hover or focus a residue to inspect.

Sequence: GEPPPGKPADDAGLV. Fifteen residues in order: Gly, Glu, Pro, Pro, Pro, Gly, Lys, Pro, Ala, Asp, Asp, Ala, Gly, Leu, Val.

Amino acid composition

How the fifteen positions distribute across eight unique residues.

15residues
Pro× 4
Gly× 3
Ala× 2
Asp× 2
Glu× 1
Lys× 1
Leu× 1
Val× 1
Pro26.7%

Proline

count · 4pos · 3, 4, 5, 8
Gly20%

Glycine

count · 3pos · 1, 6, 13
Ala13.3%

Alanine

count · 2pos · 9, 12
Asp13.3%

Aspartic acid

count · 2pos · 10, 11
Glu6.7%

Glutamic acid

count · 1pos · 2
Lys6.7%

Lysine

count · 1pos · 7
Leu6.7%

Leucine

count · 1pos · 14
Val6.7%

Valine

count · 1pos · 15

Structural properties

Four readouts characterising the chain.

Readout · 01

Proline-rich

26.7% proline, including a PPP triplet at positions 3–5, which constrains backbone flexibility and confers rigidity.

Readout · 02

Net charge ≈ −2

Three acidic residues (2× Asp, 1× Glu) against one basic residue (Lys).

Readout · 03

No cysteine

No disulphide bridges, so no tertiary folding via cross-links.

Readout · 04

No aromatic residues

No Trp, Tyr or Phe, meaning negligible absorbance at 280 nm (relevant to how it's quantified analytically).

Proposed mechanisms

Pathways inferred from animal and cell studies. Proposed / preclinical — not confirmed human mechanism.

Proposed · preclinical
BPC-157
VEGFR2
Akt-P
eNOS
NO
Vasodilation & angiogenesis
FAK–paxillin pathway → cell migration
Upregulation of growth hormone receptor in fibroblasts

Research & regulatory status

Not an approved medicine.

BPC-157 has no marketing approval as a drug in the US, UK or EU.

US compounding restriction.

In 2023 the FDA placed BPC-157 in Category 2 of its 503A bulk drug substances review — substances with significant safety risks — meaning it should not be used in compounded preparations.

Prohibited in sport.

Listed by WADA under S0 (non-approved substances), banned at all times.

The overwhelming majority of published evidence is preclinical, from a relatively small number of research groups, and long-term human safety data is absent.