BPC-157 and TB-500 compared: chemistry, targets and regulatory records
BPC-157 is a 15-residue synthetic peptide described as a partial sequence of a gastric protein. TB-500 is the name used for synthetic thymosin beta 4, a 43-residue actin-binding peptide. They differ in origin, size and literature, and one rat study has compared each with the combination.
Research-use information. This page summarises published literature and regulator records. It is not guidance for use, not medical advice, and not a statement that any material is suitable for use in people or animals.
How do BPC-157 and TB-500 differ on the facts?
| Fact | BPC-157 | TB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Synthetic pentadecapeptide | Thymosin beta 4 (43 residues) |
| Length | 15 residues | 43 residues |
| Molecular formula | C62H98N16O22 | C212H350N56O78S |
| Average molecular weight | 1419.5 g/mol | 4963 g/mol |
| Receptor or pathway background | None named in the cited studies | Thymosin peptides |
| FDA (Drugs@FDA) | No application listed | No application listed |
| EMA (centrally authorised) | No centrally authorised medicine listed | No centrally authorised medicine listed |
| MHRA (Products) | No product document found | No product document found |
| WADA 2026 list | Named, S0 | Named, S2.3 |
| Studies in our library | 8 | 6 |
| PubMed records for the search terms | 226 | 1195 |
| Registered studies (ClinicalTrials.gov) | 4 | 18 |
Data dates: chemistry checked against PubChem 2026-10-05; regulatory records 2026-10-05; WADA list 2026-10-05; PubMed counts 2026-10-05.
What do the cited papers say differs between BPC-157 and TB-500?
- BPC-157 is described as a partial sequence of body protection compound isolated from human gastric juice; thymosin beta 4 is an endogenous peptide regarded as the main G-actin sequestering peptide.[4],[5]
- The mechanism papers differ: BPC-157 work examines tendon fibroblast outgrowth, growth hormone receptor expression and VEGFR2 in endothelial assays; thymosin beta 4 work examines actin binding, an actin-binding region that promotes angiogenesis, and wound re-epithelialisation in rats.[4],[3],[2],[5],[6]
- A 2026 rat Achilles tendon study compared BPC-157, synthetic thymosin beta 4 and their combination with biomechanical and histological analyses.[1]
Nothing on this page ranks one compound above the other or states what either does for a person.
Which studies are cited on this page?
[1] Biçer O, Adanir O, Güleryüz Y, Balci EC, Dinçel YM, Yenigün MY, et al.. Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats: A histopathological and biomechanical study. Jt Dis Relat Surg. 2026;37:822-837.
Compared BPC-157, synthetic thymosin beta 4 (TB-500) and their combination in a rat Achilles tendon model with biomechanical and histological analyses.
[2] Hsieh MJ, Liu HT, Wang CN, Huang HY, Lin Y, Ko YS, et al.. Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation. J Mol Med (Berl). 2017;95:323-333.
Examined vessel formation in the chick chorioallantoic membrane and endothelial tube formation assays, and VEGFR2 expression and activation.
[3] Chang CH, Tsai WC, Hsu YH, Pang JH. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 enhances the growth hormone receptor expression in tendon fibroblasts. Molecules. 2014;19:19066-77.
Examined growth hormone receptor expression in tendon fibroblasts isolated from rat Achilles tendon.
[4] Chang CH, Tsai WC, Lin MS, Hsu YH, Pang JH. The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2011;110:774-80.
Examined tendon fibroblast outgrowth, survival and migration in cultured rat tendon cells exposed to BPC 157.
[5] Philp D, Huff T, Gho YS, Hannappel E, Kleinman HK. The actin binding site on thymosin beta4 promotes angiogenesis. FASEB J. 2003;17:2103-5.
Mapped the actin-binding region of thymosin beta 4 and tested its angiogenic activity in endothelial-cell and tissue assays.
[6] Malinda KM, Sidhu GS, Mani H, Banaudha K, Maheshwari RK, Goldstein AL, et al.. Thymosin beta4 accelerates wound healing. J Invest Dermatol. 1999;113:364-8.
Measured wound re-epithelialisation and contraction in a rat full-thickness wound model.