Comparison
BPC-157 vs Selank
Side-by-side of BPC-157 and Selank. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
BPC-157
BPC-157 peptide profile: pentadecapeptide body protection compound 157. Preclinical data on tendon, gut healing, recovery. No human RCTs as of 2026.
Selank
Selank peptide benefits: tuftsin analog heptapeptide, intranasal anxiolytic and nootropic. Russian clinical data, dosing, half-life, safety.
Effects at a glance
BPC-157
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon-to-bone and ligament healing after surgical or chemical injury
- •Rodent studies report mucosal protection and faster recovery from NSAID-induced and colitis-induced gut damage
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 250 to 500 mcg twice daily subcutaneously near the injury site
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026, so efficacy and long-term safety remain unestablished
- •Banned by WADA since 2022 under the S0 non-approved substances category for competitive athletes
- •Theoretical angiogenic concern means avoidance is prudent in active malignancy until human data exists
Selank
- •Synthetic heptapeptide analog of tuftsin developed in Russia in the 1990s
- •Approved in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder and asthenic conditions
- •Russian RCTs report anxiolytic effects comparable to medazepam without sedation or dependence
- •Modulates GABAergic and serotonergic signaling and BDNF expression in preclinical models
- •Most commonly administered intranasally; subcutaneous use is anecdotal
- •No Western-validated trials; not FDA approved; research-use-only outside Russia
Side-by-side
| Attribute | BPC-157 | Selank |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Body Protection Compound-157, Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 | TP-7, Tuftsin analog |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 0.5 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.25 | 0.4 |
| Dosing frequency | daily (anecdotal protocols) | 2-3x daily (intranasal) |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral | intranasal, subcutaneous |
| Onset (hr) | - | 0.25 |
| Peak (hr) | - | 1 |
| Molecular weight | - | 751.85 |
| Molecular formula | C62H98N16O22 | C33H57N11O9 |
| Mechanism | Proposed upregulation of VEGFR2 and nitric oxide pathways, modulation of growth-hormone receptor expression, and stabilization of gut-brain axis signaling. Mechanism remains largely preclinical. | Modulates GABAergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic signaling. Increases BDNF expression in hippocampal neurons in preclinical models. Modulates enkephalin levels and immune cytokine signaling via tuftsin-like activity. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA (2022) | Approved as a prescription anxiolytic in Russia; not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market in most other jurisdictions |
| WADA status | banned | unknown |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status outside Russia |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data | Not recommended; insufficient data |
| CAS | 137525-51-0 | 129954-34-3 |
| PubChem CID | 9941957 | 11765600 |
| Wikidata | Q4835418 | Q4416793 |
Safety profile
BPC-157
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- nausea
- headache (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established safety profile in humans
Selank
Common side effects
- mild nasal irritation (intranasal)
- transient drowsiness (uncommon)
- mild headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- lactation
- severe psychiatric disorder (insufficient data)
Interactions
- benzodiazepines: additive anxiolytic effect; potential for over-sedation when stacked(moderate)
- SSRIs: no documented adverse interaction; co-administration described in Russian protocols(minor)
Which Should You Take?
BPC-157 and Selank score evenly on the criteria we weight (goal breadth, legal accessibility, evidence depth). The conditionals below should drive the decision more than any aggregate score.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is gut barrier and microbiome health, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is focus or working memory, pick Selank.
- → If your priority is anxiety reduction, pick Selank.
Edge case: If you cannot self-administer injections, BPC-157 is the only oral option in this pair.
Default choice: either is defensible. BPC-157 edges out on goal breadth + legal accessibility; Selank is the right call if your priority sits in the goals listed above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between BPC-157 and Selank?
BPC-157 and Selank differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, BPC-157 or Selank?
BPC-157 half-life is 4 hours; Selank half-life is 0.5 hours.
Can you stack BPC-157 with Selank?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper