Encyclopedia

BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide derived from a partial sequence of a protein found in human gastric juice. It has been studied extensively in rodent models for tissue repair, tendon and ligament healing, and gastrointestinal protection. As of 2026 there is essentially no published human clinical efficacy data, and it is not approved by the FDA for any use.

BPC-157 (often called Body Protection Compound-157) is a pentadecapeptide with the sequence GEPPPGKPADDAGLV. It is a stable fragment derived from a protective protein identified in human gastric juice. The large majority of the published research consists of preclinical rodent studies, much of it from a single research group at the University of Zagreb, examining wound, tendon, ligament, muscle, and gastrointestinal healing. Proposed mechanisms center on promotion of angiogenesis, modulation of the nitric oxide pathway, and effects on growth-factor signaling and fibroblast activity. Independent replication of the core findings by unaffiliated laboratories remains limited, and there is a recognized species gap between rodent and human tendon biology. Multiple 2025 systematic and narrative reviews concluded that BPC-157 should be regarded as investigational pending well-designed human trials. A first randomized placebo-controlled human trial in acute hamstring strain was registered in early 2026.

Mechanism of Action

Proposed mechanisms, established primarily in cell and rodent studies, include promotion of angiogenesis and endothelial survival, modulation of the nitric oxide (NO) system, upregulation of growth-factor signaling (including growth hormone receptor expression in tendon fibroblasts), and enhancement of fibroblast migration and extracellular-matrix remodeling. The precise molecular target in humans has not been established.