Introduction to BPC-157

BPC-157: What We Know About This Peptide (For Research Use Only)

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. BPC-157 is not approved for human use. The information below summarises publicly available research and should not be interpreted as medical advice.

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What Is BPC-157?

BPC-157, short for Body Protection Compound-157, is a synthetic peptide made of 15 amino acids. It is derived from a naturally occurring protein found in human gastric juice and has attracted interest due to its stability in gastric acid and water — a property that sets it apart from many other peptides [1].

For researchers, this stability makes BPC-157 a compelling candidate for studying tissue healing, regeneration, and protective effects on various organ systems.

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BPC-157 and Tissue Repair

Preclinical studies (mainly in rodents) have explored BPC-157’s potential for supporting the healing of:

• Tendons and ligaments

• Skeletal muscle

• Bone

• Gastrointestinal tissue [2, 3]

In one study on rat Achilles tendons, BPC-157 improved fibroblast outgrowth, increased cell survival under oxidative stress, and promoted cell migration. Researchers linked these effects to activation of the FAK-paxillin signalling pathway [4].

Another experiment found that BPC-157 upregulated growth hormone receptor (GHR)expression in tendon fibroblasts by up to seven-fold. This enhanced responsiveness to growth hormone appeared to stimulate cell proliferation via the JAK2 pathway [5].

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Neuroprotective and Vascular Effects

Some research suggests BPC-157 may influence the brain–gut axis and support recovery in models of stroke, traumatic brain injury, and vascular damage. These effects may involve modulation of signalling pathways such as Egr-1, JAK-2, VEGFR2, and NOS3 [6, 7].

This opens potential research avenues in neuroprotection and angiogenesis — although again, human data is extremely limited.

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Human Data — Limited but Notable

To date, only a handful of human observations exist. In a 2025 pilot safety study, two healthy adults received intravenous BPC-157 (up to 20 mg). No adverse effects were reported, and biomarkers for heart, liver, kidney, thyroid, and blood glucose remained within normal ranges before and after dosing [8].

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Summary Table — Current BPC-157 Research

Research Area	Findings	References
Tissue Healing	Enhances tendon, ligament, muscle, and bone repair	[4]
Growth Factor Modulation	Increases GHR expression; boosts GH effects	[5]
Neuro/Vascular Protection	Supports brain and vessel recovery in animal models	[6], [7]
Human Safety (Preliminary)	IV infusion up to 20 mg well tolerated in 2 adults	[8]
Limitations	Mostly rodent data; human research minimal	[1], [2

Why This Matters for Researchers

Because BPC-157 has shown stability, multi-tissue effects, and promising early findings, it is becoming an increasingly popular subject in peptide research circles. However, until larger human trials are conducted, it should remain strictly a research compound.

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References

1. Sikiric P, et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: novel therapy in gastrointestinal tract. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023;18(2):185. doi:10.3390/ph18020185.

2. Sikiric P, et al. An overview on BPC 157 as a potential agent in therapy of the CNS. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2016;14(8):857–865. doi:10.2174/1570159X14666160325154901.

3. Vukojevic J, et al. BPC 157 and wound healing: from experimental to clinical research. Life Sciences. 2020;258:118155. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118155.

4. Chang CH, et al. The novel peptide BPC 157 enhances the survival of fibroblasts under oxidative stress and promotes the outgrowth of tendon explants. J Orthop Res. 2011;29(6):854–859. doi:10.1002/jor.21313.

5. Chang CH, et al. BPC 157 upregulates growth hormone receptor expression in tendon fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(2):546. doi:10.3390/ijms19020546.

6. Sikiric P, et al. Brain–gut axis and BPC 157: the role of Egr-1, JAK-2, VEGFR2, NOS3. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(39):7013–7028. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i39.7013.

7. Sikiric P, et al. BPC 157 in central nervous system disorders. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2021;19(1):63–75. doi:10.2174/1570159X18666200428154954.

8. de Haan JB, et al. First-in-human safety evaluation of BPC 157 in healthy volunteers. Front Pharmacol. 2025;16:1456723. doi:10.3389/fphar.2025.1456723.