What Is BPC-157?
BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid peptide. Sequence: Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val. Derived from the BPC protein in human gastric juice. The research form is entirely synthetic — not extracted from biological material [1].
Molecular weight: 1,419.5 Da. Also known as Body Protection Compound 157, pentadecapeptide BPC 157, and PL 14736. The parent protein was isolated in the 1990s. Research began at the University of Zagreb; today the compound has more than thirty preclinical publications cataloged in PubMed.
BPC-157 is not FDA-approved. It is not approved by any major regulatory body for human therapeutic use. WADA lists it as a prohibited substance under Section S0 — Non-Approved Substances. What it has is a preclinical research record that this archive documents, compound finding by compound finding, with every claim sourced.
What Does BPC-157 Do in the Body?
Three well-characterized signaling cascades have been documented in the literature.
First: VEGFR2-Akt-eNOS upregulation, driving angiogenesis — the formation of new blood vessels at injury sites. Second: Src-Caveolin-1-eNOS activation, releasing eNOS from its inhibitory Caveolin-1 complex to generate nitric oxide. In isolated rat aortic rings and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, BPC-157 produced concentration-dependent vasodilation via exactly this pathway, blocked by L-NAME and hemoglobin — confirming NO as the mediator [1]. Third: Growth hormone receptor (GHR) upregulation on tendon fibroblasts. BPC-157 increased GHR expression up to sevenfold in rat tendon fibroblast cultures at 0.1–0.5 μg/mL, potentiating growth hormone-driven cell proliferation and activating JAK2 phosphorylation [2].
Additional documented pathways: FAK-paxillin activation promoting cell migration [3], JAK-2 / Egr-1 / NAB2 transcriptional cascades, and selective modulation of dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling.
For BPC-157 mechanism of action detail, see the research page.
BPC-157 Molecular Structure and Origin
Amino acid sequence (N to C terminus): Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val. The five-residue Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys core is structurally distinctive — the three consecutive prolines contribute to the peptide's unusual stability in gastric acid, which is one reason it can be administered orally in rodent models without rapid degradation [5].
The parent BPC protein is endogenous — found in normal human gastric juice. The 15-AA fragment does not appear to be stored or secreted as a hormone; the research peptide is a synthetic analog of this fragment. No natural biological reservoir of the intact pentadecapeptide has been documented.
Is BPC-157 derived from human gastric juice? Technically: the sequence is derived from a protein found in human gastric juice. The research compound is 100% synthetic. No biological source material.
BPC-157 Regulatory and Sports Prohibition Status
Regulatory status: Unapproved investigational compound in the United States. Classified as an unapproved new drug under US law. Cannot be legally prescribed or marketed as a therapeutic. In April 2026, the FDA removed BPC-157 from the Category 2 compounding-restriction list — but this does not constitute approval. The compound remains investigational pending PCAC review scheduled for July 2026.
Why is the FDA restricting BPC-157? Because it has not completed an IND/NDA clinical trial pathway. It has not demonstrated safety and efficacy in humans via controlled trials.
Is BPC-157 banned by USADA or WADA for athletes? Yes. WADA prohibits BPC-157 under Section S0 — Non-Approved Substances. USADA enforces WADA rules for US Olympic and Paralympic athletes. NFL and UFC also apply this prohibition. No Therapeutic Use Exemption is available. Sanctioned athletes have received bans of 1–4 years for BPC-157 use.
For the full BPC-157 side effects and safety literature, see the dedicated page.
The Research Record at a Glance
Tissue types studied: Achilles tendon, medial collateral ligament, anterior cruciate ligament, rotator cuff, bone defects, muscle crush injury, gastric mucosa, intestinal fistulas, liver, peripheral nerve, spinal cord, brain, and remote organs in ischemia-reperfusion models.
Dose range across rodent models: 10 pg/kg to 200 μg/kg, with 10 μg/kg intraperitoneal and 10 ng/kg intraperitoneal as the most commonly used efficacy doses. Oral administration via drinking water at 0.16 μg/mL has been studied for gut and musculoskeletal endpoints.
Human data: Three small uncontrolled case reports. One early-phase inflammatory bowel disease study (compound studied as PL 14736) reported safety and tolerability but formal RCT results were not published. No Phase III trials have been completed [8].
All quantitative findings, citation-by-citation, are in the research record. BPC-157 dosage in research models are on the dosage page. BPC-157 side effects are cataloged separately. Frequently asked questions covers the full question inventory from the literature.
This is the record. Draw your own conclusions. Nothing on this site constitutes medical advice, a clinical recommendation, or a dose guideline for human use.