By the Boreal Peptides Research Team | Reviewed by Boreal Peptides Owner | Last reviewed October 21, 2026 | 30 sources | For laboratory research use only

A clear glass research vial containing freeze-dried BPC-157 peptide powder on a dark green surface.
Illustrative image

Quick answer

BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157) is a synthetic peptide made of 15 amino acids. Its sequence comes from a protein reported in human gastric juice. Almost all research on it has been done in rats and cell cultures. No drug regulator has approved it for human use, and Health Canada treats unauthorized injectable peptides, BPC-157 included, as illegal to sell. [1][2][11]

Key facts

  • BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid synthetic peptide with a molar mass of about 1,419.6 g/mol (CAS 137525-51-0). [1]
  • It was first described by Predrag Sikiric’s research group in Zagreb, Croatia, in the early 1990s. [1][4]
  • A 2025 systematic review found 36 relevant studies: 35 in animals or cells and 1 in humans. [2]
  • Only three small human studies have been published, and none had a control group. [3][25]
  • It is not approved by Health Canada, the FDA or any other regulator, and it is banned in sport under WADA class S0. [1][2][20]

BPC-157 at a glance

Attribute Value
Full name Body Protection Compound 157 (also “gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157”)
Other names in research papers Bepecin, PL 14736, PL-10, PLD-116, PCO-02 [1][2]
Compound type Synthetic linear peptide of 15 amino acids (a pentadecapeptide)
Amino acid sequence Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val [1]
One-letter code GEPPPGKPADDAGLV
Molecular formula C62H98N16O22 [1]
Molar mass 1,419.56 g/mol [1]
CAS number 137525-51-0 [1]
PubChem CID 9941957 [1]
Origin Fragment of a larger protein, “body protection compound”, reported in human gastric juice [1][3]
First described Early 1990s, Sikiric and colleagues, Zagreb, Croatia [1][4]
Half-life in animals Under 30 minutes after intravenous or intramuscular administration in rats and dogs [2]
Status in Canada Not authorized. Named in Health Canada advisories on unauthorized injectable peptides [11][29]
Status in the US Not FDA approved. Advisory committee recommended compounding eligibility in July 2026; no final rule [15][19]
Status in sport Prohibited at all times, WADA class S0, named since 2022 [1][20]

What is BPC-157?

BPC-157 (also written BPC 157 or BPC157) is a laboratory-made peptide. A peptide is a short chain of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. BPC-157 has 15 of them. Its sequence was taken from a larger protein reported in human gastric juice. That is why papers also call it a “gastric pentadecapeptide” (“pentadeca” means 15). [1]

Since the 1990s it has been tested mainly in animals, covered in the next section. Because the molecule is short, it can be made with a relatively straightforward chemical synthesis. [3] It is widely sold as a research material, even though it has never been approved as a medicine.

BPC-157 is not a hormone, a steroid or a GLP-1 drug. Those questions are answered in the FAQ at the end of this guide.

What has BPC-157 been studied for?

BPC-157 has no approved use. Researchers have studied it mainly in animal models of injury to the gut, tendons, ligaments, muscles, bone and other organs. [2] Being studied in a rat model does not show that it works, or is safe, for that condition in people.

Research area Examples of models studied Published human evidence
Stomach and intestines Ulcer, lesion and colitis models in rats [2] None
Tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone Cut Achilles and quadriceps tendons, cut knee ligament, crushed muscle in rats; bone defect in rabbits [2] One retrospective knee-pain review without a control group [6]
Liver, pancreas, heart and nerves Organ injury models in animals [2] None
Bladder None listed in the 2025 review One uncontrolled pilot study in 12 women with interstitial cystitis [7]

What does BPC-157 stand for?

BPC stands for Body Protection Compound. The Zagreb group gave that name to the larger gastric protein it first reported, and “BPC-157” refers to the 15-amino-acid fragment studied since. [3]

Older papers and trial registries also use codes such as PL 14736, PL-10, PLD-116 and PCO-02, and the drug-candidate name bepecin. [1][2] Search these names too when you look for studies on PubMed or ClinicalTrials.gov. Many early papers do not use the term “BPC-157”.

Who discovered BPC-157, and where does it come from?

BPC-157 was described by Predrag Sikiric and colleagues in Zagreb, Croatia, with a key overview paper published in 1993 in the Journal of Physiology, Paris. [1][4]

The group first reported a larger protein, BPC. A 1994 US patent (No. 5,288,708) claimed it had been isolated from human and animal gastric juice. [3] Later work found that a 15-amino-acid fragment from the start of that protein reproduced many of the effects reported for the full protein. That fragment is BPC-157. [3]

Some online articles trace BPC-157 back to Ivan Pavlov’s experiments with gastric juice. The published record credits the compound itself to the Zagreb group. [1][4]

One detail matters when you weigh the evidence: research on BPC-157 is concentrated in one group. Authors of a 2025 reply in the journal Pharmaceuticals noted that more than 80% of records on BPC 157 are linked to Sikiric’s research group. [5] Independent replication is one of the main gaps reviewers point to.

Rooftops of Zagreb, Croatia, the city where researchers first described BPC-157 in the early 1990s.
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)

What is the structure of BPC-157?

BPC-157 is a single linear chain of 15 amino acids: Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val. Its molecular formula is C62H98N16O22, and its molar mass is about 1,419.6 g/mol. [1]

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Residue G E P P P G K P A D D A G L V
Macro photo of white freeze-dried peptide powder at the bottom of a glass vial, the form in which BPC-157 is usually supplied.
Illustrative image

Four of the 15 residues are proline (positions 3, 4, 5 and 8). Proline puts an unusual kink in a peptide chain, which may slow its breakdown. [3] This is one explanation given for BPC-157’s reported stability: one study found it stayed intact in human gastric juice for more than 24 hours. [1]

BPC-157 can exist in more than one chemical form. The free base is the peptide on its own. A salt form, such as BPC-157 acetate, pairs the peptide with a small partner molecule, which can affect how the powder behaves. When an FDA advisory committee reviewed BPC-157 in July 2026, it evaluated these two forms. [16] Other salt forms sold online, such as arginate, are covered in a separate guide.

How does BPC-157 work?

No one knows for certain. In animal and cell studies, BPC-157 has been linked to new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis), the nitric oxide system and lower levels of inflammatory signals. None of these mechanisms has been confirmed in people. [2]

Proposed pathway Simple meaning What was observed Where
VEGF and angiogenesis Growth of new blood vessels More VEGF and more local blood vessels at injury sites Rat muscle and tendon models [2]
Nitric oxide system A messenger molecule that widens blood vessels More nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide production Rat and cell models [2]
FAK-paxillin signalling Proteins that help cells attach and move Higher FAK and paxillin expression; more cell migration Cultured rat tendon cells [2]
Growth hormone receptor The docking site cells use to respond to growth hormone Higher growth hormone receptor expression Cultured rat tendon cells [2]
Inflammatory signals Chemical messengers that drive inflammation Lower COX-2, IL-6 and TNF-alpha Rat models [2]
Dopamine and serotonin Brain messenger chemicals Changes in serotonin production in parts of the brain Rat models [2]

The review authors note that these pathways overlap and do not act in a simple line. [2] A mechanism seen in a rat tendon cell does not show that the same thing happens in a human body.

What does the research on BPC-157 show?

The evidence is almost entirely preclinical, meaning it comes from animals and cells rather than people. A systematic review searches all published studies in a fixed, repeatable way. One such review, published in the HSS Journal in 2025, found 544 records, or 393 after removing duplicates. It included 36 studies: 35 in animals or cells and 1 in humans. [2]

Animal and cell studies

In rats, BPC-157 was linked to better structural and functional healing after cut Achilles and quadriceps tendons, a cut knee ligament (MCL) and crushed muscle. In rabbits, it was compared with bone marrow and bone grafts in a bone defect model. [2] These are controlled laboratory injuries, which differ from the partial tears and long-standing problems seen in people.

Human studies

Only three human studies have been published, all small and all without a control group. [3][25] All three share the same first author, Edwin Lee. [6][7][8]

Two terms help when reading the table. A control group is a comparison group that does not get the compound. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial assigns people by chance to the real compound or a dummy treatment. It is the strongest test of whether something works. A retrospective review looks back at past patient records instead.

Study Year Design Participants Main limitation
Lee and Padgett, knee pain [6] 2021 Retrospective review, no control group 17 patients reviewed, 16 reached (12 received BPC-157 alone) Pain was self-reported, recalled 6 to 12 months later [3]
Lee, Walker and Ayadi, interstitial cystitis [7] 2024 Pilot study, no control group 12 women Small and uncontrolled
Lee and Burgess, intravenous safety [8] 2025 Safety pilot 2 healthy adults Two people cannot establish safety [5]
PCO-02 Phase I trial, NCT02637284 [9] Registered 2015 Randomized, placebo-controlled safety and pharmacokinetics study in healthy volunteers 42 planned Status unknown since 2016; results not submitted [1][2]
Acute hamstring strain trial, NCT07437547 [10] Started February 2026 Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (sponsor: Hudson Biotech) About 120 planned Recruiting; no results yet [3][10]
Printed scientific papers and a highlighter on a desk, representing the published research on BPC-157.
Illustrative image

Bottom line: none of the published human studies is randomized or placebo-controlled. After more than three decades of research, the public evidence is still dominated by animal and cell papers and small pilot studies. [13] The first randomized, placebo-controlled trial with published results, if the hamstring study reports, would be a major change. [10]

What is the half-life of BPC-157?

In animals, under 30 minutes. Half-life is the time it takes for half of a compound to be cleared from the body. Studies in rats and dogs found a half-life below 30 minutes after intravenous and intramuscular administration. [2] Wikipedia gives a range of 7.9 to 30 minutes in rats. [1]

  • Metabolism: likely in the liver, with the highest tissue levels in the kidneys, then the liver. [2]
  • Excretion: through the kidneys into urine. [2]
  • Detection: its metabolites stay in urine for about 4 days with one method and up to 5 days with another. Metabolites are the smaller pieces left after the body breaks a compound down. That is why anti-doping labs can test for it. [2]

A full human pharmacokinetic profile (how the body absorbs, breaks down and removes a compound) has not been published. The 2015 Phase I study designed to measure it never submitted results. [1][2][9]

Is BPC-157 safe?

Its safety in humans is unknown. Animal studies lasting up to 6 weeks found no acute (short-term) toxicity. But the 2025 systematic review found no clinical safety data in humans, and no study has examined long-term effects. [2]

What is known Source
No organ toxicity in rats and dogs over a wide range of test conditions; negative bacterial mutation and chromosome damage tests; no birth defects in pregnant rats at the levels studied Preclinical studies [2]
FDA staff received three adverse event reports after BPC-157 injection, including nine days of injection-site redness and swelling (in a patient also using another peptide) and an emergency-room visit for shortness of breath. FDA said causation was unclear FDA briefing, July 2026 [15]
Because BPC-157 promotes blood vessel growth, reviewers have raised concern that it could encourage the growth of existing or undetected cancers Jozwiak et al. review, 2025 [23]
Unauthorized peptides may contain too much, too little or none of the stated ingredient Health Canada, as quoted in a McMaster analysis by Stuart Phillips [13]
Health Canada received four complaints of adverse reactions linked to injectable peptides in the six months before April 2026; no causal link was established CP24, April 2026 [22]

A full breakdown of reported side effects and safety data is in our BPC-157 safety evidence guide.

Is BPC-157 legal in Canada?

BPC-157 is not authorized for sale as a drug in Canada. Health Canada regulates injectable peptides as prescription drugs, has named BPC-157 in public advisories on unauthorized injectable peptides, and has seized such products. [11][29] Labels like “for research use only, not for human consumption” do not make these products legal for human use. [13][24]

Under the Food and Drugs Act, an injectable peptide cannot be sold as a natural health product or a cosmetic. It is treated as a prescription drug. [24] Drugs that Health Canada has authorized carry an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label. [12]

  • April 2026: Health Canada issued the advisory “Think twice before injecting peptides bought online”, which lists BPC-157 among seized products. The department is working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop unauthorized shipments. [11]
  • June 11, 2026: the Superior Court of Québec granted Health Canada a permanent injunction stopping Canlab Research from selling unauthorized injectable peptides. [12]
  • 2026, CBC investigation: Health Canada told CBC that BPC-157 has not been authorized and that its safety, efficacy and quality have not been assessed. CBC also reported that Health Canada treats compounded non-injectable forms differently from injectable products. [14]
  • Athletes: Sport Integrity Canada reminded the sport community in April 2026 that using, possessing or trafficking BPC-157 can be an anti-doping rule violation. [17]

For the wider picture across all peptides, read our guide “Are peptides legal in Canada?”. This section is general information, not legal advice.

Is BPC-157 FDA approved?

No. The FDA has not approved any BPC-157 product. On July 23, 2026, an FDA advisory committee recommended adding BPC-157 to the list of substances US pharmacies may compound. Compounding means mixing custom medicines for individual prescriptions. That is a non-binding recommendation, not an approval. [15][16]

Date Event
2022 WADA adds BPC-157 to its Prohibited List under class S0 [1][2]
2023 FDA places BPC-157 in Category 2 of bulk drug substances, citing significant safety concerns [2]
April 2026 In an April 15 letter, FDA moves BPC-157 off the Category 2 list (effective April 22) because the original nominations were withdrawn. It is not added to any bulks list, so compounding is still not allowed, and FDA sends it to its advisory committee for review [18][26]
July 23, 2026 The Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee votes 8 to 6, with one abstention, to recommend adding BPC-157 to the 503A Bulks List for ulcerative colitis. FDA staff had recommended against it [15][16]
October 2, 2026 A Federal Register search showed no proposed rule adding BPC-157 to the list [19]. Re-check on the publish date

These are US decisions. They do not change BPC-157’s status in Canada.

Health Canada headquarters in Ottawa, the regulator responsible for authorizing drugs, including injectable peptides, in Canada.
Photo: Demetri1968, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized)

Is BPC-157 banned in sport?

Yes. BPC-157 is prohibited at all times, in and out of competition, under WADA class S0 (non-approved substances). It was added in 2022 and is named on the 2026 list. [1][17][20] WADA approved the 2027 list on September 10, 2026, to take effect January 1, 2027, with further examples or clarifications added to class S0. [27] The 2027 list is published on WADA’s website.

How is BPC-157 different from TB-500?

TB-500 is a separate synthetic peptide. The two are often combined, a pairing popularly called the “Wolverine stack”. [28] FDA reviewers in 2026 found no human studies of TB-500 at all. [14] Our BPC-157 vs TB-500 guide compares them side by side.

What should a BPC-157 certificate of analysis show?

A useful certificate links a named independent laboratory and a test method to the exact batch you receive. The batch number is what connects a report to the vial in hand. [30]

  1. Is the laboratory independent? It should be named, not just shown as a badge.
  2. Does the batch on the report match the batch you received? The lot number should appear on the report and on the packing slip.
  3. What did the method measure? HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) reports the purity of the tested material. Identity is usually confirmed with a separate test, mass spectrometry.
  4. What did it not measure? An HPLC result does not test sterility, endotoxin (toxins from bacteria) or heavy metals. [21]

Published batch data: Boreal BPC-157

Purity: 99.781% by HPLC

Laboratory: Janoshik (independent)

Batch: GYC4CQSX | Report: #51140, issued February 21, 2026

Not covered by this assay: sterility, endotoxin, heavy metals

The original report is held by Boreal and sent on request with the batch number. [21]

See the BPC-157 batch record | See every lab result we hold

Read our guide “How to read a COA” for a full walkthrough of each line on a certificate.

People also ask

Does BPC-157 work?

There is no reliable evidence that it works in people. Its reported effects come from animal and cell studies, and no randomized, placebo-controlled human trial has published results. [2][13]

Read more: What does the research on BPC-157 show?

Is BPC-157 a steroid?

No. BPC-157 is a peptide, a chain of amino acids. Steroids are a different class of molecule. In the US, BPC-157 is also not a scheduled controlled substance, unlike anabolic steroids. [2]

Is BPC-157 a GLP-1 drug?

No. BPC-157 is not a GLP-1 receptor agonist and is unrelated to approved GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide. It can appear in the same online catalogues as GLP-1 research compounds, but it is a different molecule.

Is BPC-157 natural?

Not in the form sold today. The sequence comes from a protein reported in the stomach, but research-grade BPC-157 is made by chemical synthesis. The long-term effects of giving a peptide normally confined to the stomach are unknown. [3]

Does BPC-157 show up on a drug test?

It can on anti-doping tests. Laboratory methods detect BPC-157 metabolites in urine for about 4 to 5 days, and they are sensitive enough to meet WADA’s testing requirements for peptides. [2] Standard workplace drug panels test for other drug classes and do not usually include peptides.

Read more: Is BPC-157 banned in sport?

Sources and methodology

This guide was compiled from peer-reviewed reviews, clinical trial registries, regulator publications and Boreal’s own published batch data. Claims are linked to numbered sources below. It contains no dosing information and makes no claim that BPC-157 treats, prevents or improves any condition.

How this guide was made: researched and drafted with AI assistance, then checked line by line against every cited source and reviewed by the owner of Boreal Peptides before publication.

Last reviewed: October 21, 2026. Next review: January 2027, or sooner if Health Canada, the FDA or WADA publishes a change. Read our editorial policy.

Research use only

Boreal Peptides supplies compounds for laboratory research use only. Nothing on this page is medical advice or a therapeutic claim. Products are not approved for human or veterinary use. Read our research use disclaimer before ordering.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia. BPC-157. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BPC-157
  2. Vasireddi N, et al. Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review. HSS Journal, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12313605/
  3. Brubaker P. BPC-157: No Proof Required! McGill Office for Science and Society, March 13, 2026. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition-contributors/body-protection-compound-no-proof-required
  4. Sikiric P, et al. A new gastric juice peptide, BPC. Journal of Physiology, Paris, 1993. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8298609/
  5. Jozwiak M, et al. Reply to Sikiric et al. BPC 157 Therapy: Targeting Angiogenesis and Nitric Oxide’s Cytotoxic and Damaging Actions. Pharmaceuticals, 18(10):1451, September 28, 2025. DOI 10.3390/ph18101451. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101451
  6. 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/
  7. Lee E, Walker C, Ayadi B. Effect of BPC-157 on Symptoms in Patients with Interstitial Cystitis: A Pilot Study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39325560/
  8. Lee E, Burgess K. Safety of Intravenous Infusion of BPC157 in Humans: A Pilot Study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40131143/
  9. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02637284: Phase I pilot study of PCO-02 (BPC-157) in healthy volunteers. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02637284
  10. ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT07437547: BPC-157 hamstring injury trial. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07437547
  11. Health Canada. Think twice before injecting peptides bought online: unauthorized products can seriously harm you. April 2026. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/think-twice-injecting-peptides-bought-online-unauthorized-products-can-seriously-harm
  12. Health Canada. Health Canada obtains permanent injunction preventing Canlab Research’s illegal sale of injectable peptides in Canada. July 29, 2026. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/07/health-canada-obtains-permanent-injunction-preventing-canlab-researchs-illegal-sale-of-injectable-peptides-in-canada.html
  13. Phillips S. The peptide problem: Hype is outrunning the evidence. McMaster University, May 7, 2026. https://news.mcmaster.ca/analysis-the-peptide-problem-hype-is-outrunning-the-evidence/
  14. Benefits and Pensions Monitor. US advisors voted 8-6 to ease access to peptides Health Canada still bans (summarizing CBC News and AP reporting). 2026. https://www.benefitsandpensionsmonitor.com/news/industry-news/us-advisers-voted-8-6-to-ease-access-to-peptides-health-canada-still-bans/393921
  15. RAPS Regulatory Focus. FDA advisory committee backs two controversial peptides. July 23, 2026. https://www.raps.org/resource/fda-advisory-committee-backs-two-controversial-peptides.html
  16. American Med Spa Association. FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Adding BPC-157 to Compounding List. July 23, 2026. https://americanmedspa.org/news/fda-advisory-committee-recommends-adding-bpc-157-to-compounding-list
  17. Sport Integrity Canada. Reminder on BPC-157 and non-approved peptides. April 27, 2026. https://sportintegrity.ca/node/1384
  18. American Med Spa Association. FDA Moves to Reevaluate Several Peptides. April 2026. https://www.americanmedspa.org/?p=19802
  19. Pillo. Is BPC-157 Legal? October 2, 2026. https://pillo.care/blog/is-bpc-157-legal
  20. World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited List 2026, class S0. https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list
  21. Boreal Peptides. Lab results. https://borealpeptides.com/lab-results/
  22. CP24. What are injectable peptides? April 17, 2026. https://www.cp24.com/news/canada/2026/04/17/we-are-going-to-see-serious-adverse-events-what-are-injectable-peptides/
  23. Jozwiak M, et al. Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide: Literature and Patent Review. Pharmaceuticals, 2025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11859134/
  24. Gowling WLG. Peptides in Canada: regulatory reality is catching up with the hype. 2026. https://gowlingwlg.com/insights-resources/articles/2026/peptides-in-canada
  25. McGuire FP, Martinez R, Lenz A, Skinner L, Cushman DM. Regeneration or Risk? A Narrative Review of BPC-157 for Musculoskeletal Healing. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40789979/
  26. Rite Aid. FDA Peptide Category 2 Nominations: April 2026 Update. April 23, 2026, updated September 29, 2026. https://riteaid.com/news/peptides/peptide-category-2-nominations-april-2026
  27. World Rugby. WADA publishes 2027 Prohibited List. October 2026. https://www.world.rugby/keep-rugby-clean/news/1048285/wada-publishes-2027-prohibited-list
  28. Reuters, via Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Use of untested Wolverine peptide backed by US Health Secretary Kennedy on the rise, study finds. September 16, 2026. https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/?p=377769
  29. Health Canada. Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs seized and sold by Canada Peptide may pose serious health risks. Public advisory. https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/unauthorized-injectable-peptide-drugs-seized-and-sold-canada-peptide-may-pose-serious
  30. Boreal Peptides. Homepage, “Why this shop exists” section. https://borealpeptides.com/
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About Boreal Peptides

The Boreal Peptides Research Team researches and writes our compound guides. Every guide is checked against the sources it cites and reviewed by the owner of Boreal Peptides before publication.

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