What does the research show about bpc-157?

BPC-157

Grey marketNot approved for human use in the US, and sold anyway.

BPC-157 is not FDA-approved and is banned in sport. Its claimed benefits for tendons, muscle, gut and inflammation rest on animal and lab studies, mostly in rats. One small uncontrolled human study reported knee pain relief. FDA found too little human safety information to characterize it, flagged immune reaction risk, and found identity and purity data lacking.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-13

Status: Not FDA-approved for any use in the US. FDA removed BPC-157 from compounding category 2 on April 22, 2026, after its nominations were withdrawn, and did not place it in category 1. Under a draft, interim HHS policy announced October 30, 2026, HHS does not intend to take enforcement action against state-licensed pharmacies, federal facilities or licensed physicians compounding with BPC-157 while the 503A bulks list is developed through rulemaking. Prohibited at all times by WADA (S0, non-approved substances).
Also called: body protection compound 157, pentadecapeptide BPC 157, BPC 157 acetate, Wolverine peptide
Taken for: injury recovery, tendon and ligament healing, gut healing, joint pain, inflammation

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help1

LimitedOne small uncontrolled study found 14 of 16 patients reported knee pain relief after BPC-157 injections, some combined with thymosin beta-4.

Reported risks6

LimitedFDA states compounded BPC-157 may pose an immune reaction risk and that it lacks enough information to know whether it would harm humans.How often is not known
LimitedFDA concluded there is insufficient clinical safety information to characterize BPC-157, finding no human studies for most routes. Its advisory committee's vote is only advice to FDA.How often is not known
LimitedHHS states it does not intend to take enforcement action against licensed compounding with BPC-157 while rulemaking proceeds. It notes compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.How often is not known
LimitedCase reports: FDA held three reports for injected BPC-157, including injection site swelling, shortness of breath and skin darkening. FDA states it is unclear whether BPC-157 caused them.How often is not known
LimitedFDA warned a seller that injectable and nasal BPC-157 were unapproved new drugs, and states injectable products can lead to serious conditions such as sepsis.How often is not known
LimitedWADA lists BPC-157 as a non-approved substance, prohibited at all times, since its 2022 list.How often is not known

What people take it for, and what was found

Shown to help1

Limited

Knee pain

One small uncontrolled study found 14 of 16 patients reported knee pain relief after BPC-157 injections, some combined with thymosin beta-4.

Compared with the same patients' recall of their pain before the injection, with no other group [14]

The numbers and sources

Effect: A chart review at one US clinic reached 16 patients by phone 6 months to 1 year after a knee injection. Of 12 who received BPC-157 alone, 11 reported significant improvement in knee pain. Of 4 who received BPC-157 with thymosin beta-4, 3 reported significant improvement. Overall, 14 of 16 (87.5%) reported relief. No tools were used to measure function, stiffness, quality of life or daily activities [14]. A 2026 systematic review judged the study of poor methodological quality and rated the certainty of evidence very low [9].
Population: 16 patients with knee pain of several causes, from a chart review covering 2019 to 2020 [14].
Sources: [14], [9], [10]
Caveats: Retrospective, uncontrolled and unblinded, with pain recalled in a phone survey [14]. With no comparison group, the study cannot separate an effect of the injection from placebo response or natural recovery. A 2026 review describes human musculoskeletal evidence for BPC-157 as limited to this one small case series without validated outcome measures [10].

Claimed, not studied in people4

Untested

Tendon and ligament healing

Not studied in people. Animal studies found faster healing of cut tendons and ligaments in rats, from a handful of research groups.

No study in people. This rests on animal studies, lab studies.

The numbers and sources

Effect: A 2019 review found that studies of BPC-157 reported consistent healing effects on tendon, ligament and skeletal muscle, mostly in small rodent models, from a handful of research groups [15]. A 2025 systematic review included 35 preclinical studies and found that BPC-157 improved functional, structural and biomechanical outcomes in tendon, ligament, muscle and bone injuries in those models [16]. After the medial collateral ligament of the knee was cut in rats, BPC-157 given by injection, in drinking water or as a cream improved functional, biomechanical, macroscopic and microscopic healing over 90 days [17]. In the lab, it sped the outgrowth of fibroblasts from rat Achilles tendon tissue, raised their survival under oxidative stress and increased their migration, without directly changing how fast they multiplied [18]. In a 2026 study, rats given BPC-157 after Achilles tendon repair had a higher load to failure and lower tendon damage scores than controls at 4 weeks, but neither difference was statistically significant [19].
Population: Rats, and tendon cells from rats in the lab [15][16][17][18]. 32 rats in the 2026 study [19].
Sources: [15], [16], [17], [18], [19]
Caveats: The 2019 review notes that efficacy has not been confirmed in humans [15]. Surgically cut tendons and ligaments in rats do not show what happens in people. A 2026 review found no controlled human orthopaedic evidence for BPC-157 [10].

Untested

Muscle injury

Not studied in people. Animal studies found faster recovery of cut and crushed leg muscles in rats.

No study in people. This rests on animal studies.

The numbers and sources

Effect: In rats whose quadriceps muscle was cut through, BPC-157 given by injection improved load to failure, walking recovery, muscle fiber regeneration and the muscle's appearance over 72 days [20]. In rats with a crushed calf muscle, BPC-157 given by injection or as a cream over 14 days reduced bruising and swelling and improved function, microscopic healing and muscle enzyme levels [21]. A 2019 review found that skeletal muscle injury models suggested a benefit after direct trauma [15].
Population: Rats [15][20][21].
Sources: [20], [21], [15]
Caveats: The two injury studies come from the same research group [20][21]. Cut and crushed muscles in rats do not show what happens after a muscle strain in people. The human studies located concerned knee pain, interstitial cystitis and intravenous safety [9].

Untested

Gut healing

Not studied in people. Rat studies report colitis counteracted, and surgical joins in the intestine and fistulas healed.

No study in people. This rests on animal studies.

The numbers and sources

Effect: A 2012 review reports that in animal studies BPC-157 healed intestinal anastomoses, reversed short bowel syndrome and healed fistulas, and describes an antiulcer effect [22]. A 2024 review of rat studies reports that BPC-157 healed surgical joins at several points along the gut, counteracted colitis, esophagitis and short bowel syndrome, and healed fistulas running from the colon, stomach, esophagus or duodenum to the skin [23].
Population: Rats [22][23].
Sources: [22], [23]
Caveats: The 2012 review states that BPC-157 was tested in inflammatory bowel disease in a phase II clinical trial [22]. No published results of that trial were located for this page, so it is not graded here. FDA found no studies giving BPC-157 to humans by mouth [3].

Untested

Inflammation

Not studied in people. Animal and lab studies report lower inflammatory cytokines.

No study in people. This rests on animal studies, lab studies.

The numbers and sources

Effect: A 2025 systematic review of mostly preclinical studies found that BPC-157 reduced inflammatory cytokines and acted on pathways involved in cell growth and new blood vessel formation [16]. A 2026 review reports reduced inflammatory cytokine activity and improved small blood vessel integrity across preclinical models [24].
Population: Animal models and cell studies [16][24].
Sources: [16], [24]
Caveats: The review abstracts give no effect sizes for inflammation. The human research located is limited to small pilot studies of musculoskeletal pain, interstitial cystitis and intravenous use [24].

Risks

Reported risks6

LimitedHow often is not known

FDA compounding category 2 listing

FDA states compounded BPC-157 may pose an immune reaction risk and that it lacks enough information to know whether it would harm humans.

The numbers and sources

How common: How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect: FDA states that compounded drugs containing BPC-157 may pose a risk of immunogenicity for certain routes of administration, and may have complexities with peptide-related impurities and characterization of the active ingredient. FDA identified no, or only limited, safety information for the proposed routes, and states it lacks sufficient information to know whether the drug would cause harm in humans. BPC-157 appears on FDA's list of substances previously in category 2 whose nominations were withdrawn by the nominators [1]. FDA removed BPC-157 from category 2 on April 22, 2026, because the nominations were withdrawn, and BPC-157 does not appear in category 1 of that update [2].
Population: Compounded drug products in the US [1][2].
Sources: [1], [2]
Caveats: A regulatory assessment of compounded products, not a study of harm.

LimitedHow often is not known

FDA's 2026 safety review

FDA concluded there is insufficient clinical safety information to characterize BPC-157, finding no human studies for most routes. Its advisory committee's vote is only advice to FDA.

The numbers and sources

How common: How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect: FDA's briefing document for its Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee concluded that there is insufficient clinical safety information to characterize the safety profile of BPC-157. FDA found no studies giving it to humans by mouth, under the skin, in the nose or through the skin, and no information on how it is handled in the human body. FDA described BPC-157 as not well characterized, with data on identity, purity, peptide impurities, aggregates and microbial quality lacking or inadequate. It stated that injected and nasal forms may pose a significant risk of immune reactions. FDA concluded that the balance of criteria weighs against placing BPC-157 on the list of substances allowed for pharmacy compounding [3].
Population: FDA review of published literature, adverse event databases and the nomination [3].
Sources: [3]
Caveats: The advisory committee met on July 23, 2026, and its votes are advice to FDA, which makes the final determination [3]. Trade press reported that the committee voted 8 to 6, with 1 abstention, to recommend adding BPC-157 to the 503A bulks list [4][5][6]. No FDA-published tally was located for this page.

LimitedHow often is not known

HHS interim compounding policy

HHS states it does not intend to take enforcement action against licensed compounding with BPC-157 while rulemaking proceeds. It notes compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.

The numbers and sources

How common: How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect: In a notice of a draft, interim policy, HHS states that it does not intend to take enforcement action against a State-licensed pharmacy, Federal facility or licensed physician compounding with a peptide listed in the policy's Appendix A while the 503A bulks list is developed through rulemaking [7]. BPC-157 is on that list [8]. The notice states: "Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, which means FDA does not review their safety, effectiveness, or quality before they are marketed." HHS may revisit the policy "if, among other things, a safety signal or product quality issue arises" with a compounded product it covers, and the policy is "not binding on HHS or the public" [7].
Population: Compounded drug products in the US [7][8].
Sources: [7], [8]
Caveats: A statement of enforcement intent, not an FDA approval and not a study of harm. FDA's future rulemaking may or may not add BPC-157 to the 503A bulks list [7].

LimitedHow often is not known

Reported adverse events

Case reports: FDA held three reports for injected BPC-157, including injection site swelling, shortness of breath and skin darkening. FDA states it is unclear whether BPC-157 caused them.

The numbers and sources

How common: How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect: FDA's adverse event database held three reports through December 4, 2025, all for injected BPC-157. One described 9 days of redness and swelling at the injection site in a person also injecting thymosin. One described shortness of breath leading to an emergency room visit. One described diffuse darkening of the skin and gums that recurred on re-exposure, with a product containing both BPC-157 and TB-500 that was labeled for research purposes only. FDA's food and supplement complaint system held three more cases, complicated by multi-ingredient supplements and missing details. FDA found no case reports in the published literature [3].
Population: Voluntary reports to FDA [3].
Sources: [3]
Caveats: FDA states it is unclear whether these events were caused by BPC-157, and that reporting is voluntary and incomplete [3].

LimitedHow often is not known

Product quality and unapproved drug warnings

FDA warned a seller that injectable and nasal BPC-157 were unapproved new drugs, and states injectable products can lead to serious conditions such as sepsis.

The numbers and sources

How common: How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect: A 2026 review reports concerns about the identity, purity, concentration, sterility and manufacturing consistency of commercial BPC-157 products [10]. In a 2023 warning letter, FDA told a seller of injectable and nasal spray BPC-157 that the products were unapproved new drugs, despite labels saying they were for research only and not for human consumption. FDA stated that injectable products bypass the body's natural defenses and can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions such as sepsis [11].
Population: Products sold to US consumers [10][11].
Sources: [10], [11]
Caveats: No published laboratory analysis of BPC-157 products was sourced for this page.

LimitedHow often is not known

Prohibited in sport

WADA lists BPC-157 as a non-approved substance, prohibited at all times, since its 2022 list.

The numbers and sources

How common: How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect: WADA names BPC-157 under S0, non-approved substances, prohibited at all times [12]. It was first named in the 2022 list, following a re-evaluation of its status [13].
Population: Athletes subject to the World Anti-Doping Code [12].
Sources: [12], [13]
Caveats: A sport rule, not a health finding.

Checked, no increase found1

Limited

Human safety studies

Limited evidence: three uncontrolled human studies with 30 people in total reported no treatment-related adverse events, at very low certainty.

The numbers and sources

How common: How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect: A 2026 systematic review found three human studies with 30 participants in total: a retrospective study of knee injections (16), a retrospective pilot of bladder instillation (12) and a prospective intravenous safety pilot (2). None reported treatment-related adverse events. All were judged of poor methodological quality, and certainty of evidence was rated very low [9]. A 2026 review found that validated pharmacokinetic and long-term safety data are lacking [10].
Population: 30 people across three uncontrolled studies [9].
Sources: [9], [10]
Caveats: Small, uncontrolled studies cannot detect uncommon harms or give rates.

Sources

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks. 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Updated April 22, 2026. 2026. https://web.archive.org/web/20260422215502/https://www.fda.gov/media/94155/download
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Briefing Document: BPC-157-Related Bulk Drug Substances (BPC-157 (free base) and BPC-157 acetate). Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, July 23-24, 2026. 2026. https://www.fda.gov/media/193343/download
Eglovitch JS. FDA advisory committee backs two controversial peptides. Regulatory Focus. 2026. https://www.raps.org/resource/fda-advisory-committee-backs-two-controversial-peptides.html
Jacobus N. FDA Panel Votes to Loosen Restrictions for Four Peptides. Pharmaceutical Executive. 2026. https://www.pharmexec.com/view/fda-votes-loosen-restrictions-four-peptides
Steinzor P. FDA Panel Backs 6 Peptides for Compounding. AJMC. 2026. https://ajmc.com/view/fda-panel-backs-6-peptides-for-compounding
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Enforcement Discretion Policy Regarding 503A Compounding Using Certain Peptide Bulk Drug Substances. Federal Register 91:68526. 2026. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/30/2026-22192/enforcement-discretion-policy-regarding-503a-compounding-using-certain-peptide-bulk-drug-substances
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HHS Enforcement Discretion Policy Regarding 503A Compounding Using Certain Peptide Bulk Drug Substances, with Appendices A and B. 2026. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-503a-peptide-enforcement-discretion-policy-appendix-b.pdf
Poolton JT, Minett J, Kazmi A. Human evidence for BPC-157 in orthopaedic and regenerative medicine: a systematic review of efficacy and safety. Acta Orthopaedica Belgica. 2026. https://doi.org/10.52628/92.3.15837
Tham A, Hodgkins CW, Kennedy JG. Investigational Peptides in Orthopaedic Practice: Evidence, Safety, and Patient Counseling for BPC-157, Thymosin Beta-4, and TB-500. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2026. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-26-00049
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Warning Letter: Warrior Labz SARMS, MARCS-CMS 655280. 2023. https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/warrior-labz-sarms-655280-06122023
World Anti-Doping Agency. The Prohibited List. 2026. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list
World Anti-Doping Agency. WADA publishes 2022 Prohibited List. 2021. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wada-publishes-2022-prohibited-list
Lee E, Padgett B. Intra-Articular Injection of BPC 157 for Multiple Types of Knee Pain. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34324435/
Gwyer D, Wragg NM, Wilson SL. Gastric pentadecapeptide body protection compound BPC 157 and its role in accelerating musculoskeletal soft tissue healing. Cell and Tissue Research. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-019-03016-8
Vasireddi N, Hahamyan H, Salata MJ, et al. Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review. HSS Journal. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1177/15563316251355551
Cerovecki T, Bojanic I, Brcic L, et al. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (PL 14736) improves ligament healing in the rat. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2010. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.21107
Chang CH, Tsai WC, Lin MS, Hsu YH, Pang JH. The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration. Journal of Applied Physiology. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00945.2010
Biçer O, Adanir O, Güleryüz Y, et al. Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats: A histopathological and biomechanical study. Joint Diseases and Related Surgery. 2026. https://doi.org/10.52312/jdrs.2026.2951
Staresinic M, Petrovic I, Novinscak T, et al. Effective therapy of transected quadriceps muscle in rat: Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.20089
Novinscak T, Brcic L, Staresinic M, et al. Gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 as an effective therapy for muscle crush injury in the rat. Surgery Today. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-007-3706-2
Sikiric P, Seiwerth S, Rucman R, et al. Focus on ulcerative colitis: stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157. Current Medicinal Chemistry. 2012. https://doi.org/10.2174/092986712803414015
Bajramagic S, Sever M, Rasic F, et al. Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and Intestinal Anastomoses Therapy in Rats: A Review. Pharmaceuticals. 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17081081
Yuan C, Demers A, Silva-Ortiz V, et al. From Regeneration to Analgesia: The Role of BPC-157 in Tissue Repair and Pain Management. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27062876

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