Overview
A synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a sequence identified in human gastric juice. It is one of the most widely studied peptides in preclinical tissue-repair research, though human clinical data remains very limited.
Mechanism of Action
BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid sequence corresponding to a fragment of body protection compound found in gastric juice. It is notably stable in gastric acid, which is why oral administration appears in animal study designs.
Preclinical work reports upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signalling, which investigators link to angiogenesis and the formation of new capillary networks in injured tissue.
Rodent studies describe modulation of the nitric oxide system and interaction with growth-hormone receptor expression in tendon fibroblasts.
Effects on gut integrity in animal models are attributed to cytoprotection of the intestinal mucosa rather than to a single receptor interaction.
Areas Being Studied
- Tendon and ligament repair (animal models)
- Gastrointestinal mucosal integrity
- Muscle and nerve injury recovery
- Wound healing
Listing a research area does not imply efficacy, approval, or suitability for any use.
Research Summary
- The large majority of published BPC-157 data comes from rodent models, where accelerated healing of transected tendon, muscle and ligament tissue has been repeatedly reported by several research groups.
- Gastrointestinal research describes protective effects against experimentally induced mucosal injury, including NSAID-induced lesions in animals.
- A limited number of early human studies have been registered under the designation PL 14736 for inflammatory bowel indications; published human efficacy data remains sparse.
- No large randomised human trial has been published. Conclusions drawn from animal work should not be assumed to transfer to humans.
Potential Adverse Effects Reported in Research
- Animal studies have generally reported a wide margin between studied doses and observed toxicity, with few adverse findings noted.
- Human safety data is insufficient to characterise an adverse-effect profile.
- Injection-site irritation is the most commonly described observation in the available human case literature.
- Because angiogenesis is a proposed mechanism, researchers have raised theoretical questions about use in the presence of neoplastic tissue; this has not been resolved in published work.
Reconstitution Basics
Typically supplied as a 5 mg or 10 mg lyophilised vial. Short circulating half-life is the reason split-dose schedules appear frequently in study designs.
Bacteriostatic water
Sterile water containing roughly 0.9% benzyl alcohol as a preservative, which inhibits bacterial growth in multi-access vials.
Sterile technique
Laboratory documentation describes disinfecting the stopper, using a fresh sterile needle for each access, and avoiding contact with non-sterile surfaces.
After reconstitution
Solutions are refrigerated, protected from light, and not subjected to repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
This section is educational background on laboratory handling. It is not an instruction or protocol.
Open the reconstitution calculator →Dosing & Reconstitution Guide
Reference protocols for a 10 mg BPC-157 vial describe one daily subcutaneous or intramuscular administration in the ~300–500 mcg range over a 4–8 week course. Two reconstitution strategies are commonly documented: 3.0 mL of bacteriostatic water for ~3,333 mcg/mL (standard/gradual), or 2.0 mL for ~5,000 mcg/mL (advanced, used where twice-daily amounts are referenced). Human efficacy is unproven and no regulatory body has approved BPC-157 for human use.
Protocol overview
- Route: one subcutaneous (or intramuscular) injection per day in standard schedules; higher-dose references split the total across two daily injections rather than increasing a single dose.
- Start: reference schedules begin near 300 mcg/day to gauge tolerability before moving to the upper end of the range.
- Cycle length: typically 4–8 weeks, with some sources describing up to ~12 weeks.
- Reconstitution: 3.0 mL bacteriostatic water per 10 mg vial gives ~3,333 mcg/mL; 2.0 mL gives ~5,000 mcg/mL. Add the water slowly against the vial wall, swirl — never shake — and label with the date and resulting concentration.
- Supplies for a 4–8 week course: ~1–3 vials of 10 mg BPC-157, one U-100 insulin syringe per injection (~56 for 8 weeks once daily, ~112 twice daily), a 10–30 mL bottle of bacteriostatic water, and two alcohol swabs per injection.
- No regulatory body has approved BPC-157 for human use in any jurisdiction; these figures describe reported research handling only.
Dosing protocol — standard titration
| Phase | Reported dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–4 | 300 mcg once dailyAt ~3,333 mcg/mL (10 mg + 3.0 mL BAC water) this is ~9 units / 0.09 mL on a U-100 syringe. | At ~3,333 mcg/mL (10 mg + 3.0 mL BAC water) this is ~9 units / 0.09 mL on a U-100 syringe. |
| Weeks 5–8 | 500 mcg once daily~15 units / 0.15 mL at the same concentration. | ~15 units / 0.15 mL at the same concentration. |
| After 8 weeks | Course breakCited courses run 4–8 weeks; some references extend to ~12 weeks before a break. | Cited courses run 4–8 weeks; some references extend to ~12 weeks before a break. |
Dosing protocol — gradual titration
| Phase | Reported dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–4 (advanced mix) | 500 mcg twice dailyAt ~5,000 mcg/mL (10 mg + 2.0 mL BAC water) this is ~10 units / 0.10 mL per injection. | At ~5,000 mcg/mL (10 mg + 2.0 mL BAC water) this is ~10 units / 0.10 mL per injection. |
| Weeks 5–8 (advanced mix) | 750 mcg twice daily~15 units / 0.15 mL per injection; splitting keeps each volume small. | ~15 units / 0.15 mL per injection; splitting keeps each volume small. |
| Weeks 9+ | Off-cycleNo long-duration human safety data exists for continuous administration. | No long-duration human safety data exists for continuous administration. |
Schedules summarise what appears in published studies, trial protocols or manufacturer documentation. They are reference material, not a recommendation.
Where to Buy Compounds & Supplies
External link. PepDex does not sell products and does not endorse any supplier.
Supplies needed
Lyophilised peptide vial
Sealed vial with an intact stopper and a legible mass label (mg or mcg).
Bacteriostatic water
Sterile water with ~0.9% benzyl alcohol, used where a vial will be accessed more than once. Sterile water for injection is used for single-access work.
Reconstitution syringe
A 1–3 mL syringe with a larger-gauge needle for drawing and transferring solvent.
Insulin syringe (U-100)
Fine-gauge syringe graduated in units; 100 units = 1 mL. Used for accurate small-volume measurement.
Alcohol prep pads
70% isopropyl swabs for disinfecting both vial stoppers before every access.
Sharps container
Rigid, puncture-resistant container for single-use needle disposal.
Refrigeration and light protection
2–8 °C storage plus an opaque box or the original carton for reconstituted vials.
Labels
Date of reconstitution, resulting concentration and compound name on every vial.
Reconstitution steps
- 01
Bring the vial to room temperature
Lyophilised powder is allowed to equilibrate out of the refrigerator before the stopper is pierced, which reduces condensation inside the vial.
- 02
Disinfect both stoppers
The peptide vial and the bacteriostatic water vial are each swabbed with 70% isopropyl alcohol and allowed to air dry.
- 03
Draw the calculated solvent volume
Solvent volume is chosen to produce a convenient concentration — the reconstitution calculator converts vial mass and solvent volume into concentration and syringe units.
- 04
Add the solvent slowly down the vial wall
The stream is directed against the glass rather than onto the powder cake. Peptides are shear-sensitive and direct jetting is avoided.
- 05
Dissolve without shaking
The vial is left to stand, then gently swirled or rolled. Shaking introduces foam and mechanical stress that can denature peptide chains.
- 06
Inspect the solution
Documentation describes checking for a clear, particle-free solution. Cloudiness, visible particulate or discolouration is treated as a failed preparation.
- 07
Label and refrigerate
The vial is labelled with compound, concentration and date, then stored at 2–8 °C protected from light.
Storage instructions
- Lyophilised: hold the dry vial frozen at −20 °C (−4 °F) until mixing, shielded from moisture and light.
- Reconstituted: refrigerate at 2–8 °C (35.6–46.4 °F) immediately after mixing and use within ~30 days.
- Handling: let frozen vials reach room temperature before opening so condensation does not form; keep the solution away from heat and direct light.
- Freeze–thaw: avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles, which degrade the peptide.
Half-Life
~4 hours
Reported plasma stability is short; some researchers describe effects that outlast measurable plasma presence, which is an open question in the literature.
Storage
- Before reconstitution
- Sealed lyophilised vials are reported stable at room temperature short-term and for longer periods refrigerated or frozen.
- After reconstitution
- Refrigerated at 2–8 °C once reconstituted.
- Light protection
- Amber vials or carton storage are used to limit light exposure.
- Shelf-life considerations
- Reconstituted material is generally described as usable for a matter of weeks under refrigeration.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157: Novel Therapy in Gastrointestinal Tract
Current Pharmaceutical Design
- BPC 157 and Standard Angiogenic Growth Factors. Gastrointestinal Tract Healing
Current Pharmaceutical Design
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Educational reference only. Figures are compiled from published research literature. PepDex does not provide medical advice, dosing recommendations, or instructions for use.