Comparison
BPC-157 vs TB-500
Side-by-side of BPC-157 and TB-500. 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.
TB-500
TB-500 peptide, a 17-aa thymosin beta-4 fragment. Preclinical tendon and wound healing via actin sequestration. Typical dosage 2 to 5 mg weekly. No human RCTs.
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
TB-500
- •17-amino-acid fragment of endogenous Thymosin Beta-4, an actin-sequestering peptide
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon, ligament, and dermal wound healing
- •Equine veterinary use for soft-tissue injury is the most documented real-world application
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 2 to 5 mg twice weekly subcutaneously for 4 to 6 weeks
- •WADA banned under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors) since 2018
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026; long-term safety unestablished
Side-by-side
| Attribute | BPC-157 | TB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Body Protection Compound-157, Pentadecapeptide BPC-157 | Thymosin Beta-4 fragment, TB4-Frag, Thymosin Beta 4 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 4 | 2 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 0.25 | 2.5 |
| Dosing frequency | daily (anecdotal protocols) | 2x weekly (anecdotal protocols) |
| Routes | subcutaneous, intramuscular, oral | subcutaneous, intramuscular |
| Molecular weight | - | 4963.4 |
| Molecular formula | C62H98N16O22 | C212H350N56O78S |
| 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. | Sequesters G-actin monomers, modulates cell migration and angiogenesis, and upregulates VEGF and myosin transcription. Promotes endothelial differentiation and stem-cell migration to injury sites in preclinical models. |
| Legal status | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA (2022) | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data | Insufficient data |
| CAS | 137525-51-0 | 885340-08-9 |
| PubChem CID | 9941957 | 62707662 |
| Wikidata | Q4835418 | Q7799921 |
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
TB-500
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- fatigue (anecdotal)
- lethargy in early dosing (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established human safety profile
Interactions
- BPC-157: Frequently co-administered in anecdotal healing protocols; no controlled interaction data(minor)
Which Should You Take?
BPC-157 and TB-500 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 gut barrier and microbiome health, pick BPC-157.
- → If your priority is tendon repair, pick TB-500.
- → If your priority is wound healing, pick TB-500.
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; TB-500 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 TB-500?
BPC-157 and TB-500 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 TB-500?
BPC-157 half-life is 4 hours; TB-500 half-life is 2 hours.
Can you stack BPC-157 with TB-500?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
Go deeper