BPC-157 (Pentadecapeptide)
Body Protective Compound-157; Pentadecapeptide BPC 157; Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157; PL 14736; PL-10; PLD-116; PCO-02; Bepecin (proposed INN); Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val
BPC-157 is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide derived from human gastric juice protein BPC that demonstrates broad cytoprotective, pro-angiogenic, and tissue-repair activity across gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiovascular systems in preclinical models, with very limited human clinical data (PMC8504390, PMC12313605, PMC6271067).
Last updated: 2026-03-13
Safety Summary
The safety profile of BPC-157 is characterized by an absence of reported treatment-related adverse events in the limited published human clinical data. Phase I-II trial reports and a systematic review (PMC12313605) state no drug-related AEs were observed. A 2-subject IV pilot at doses up to 20 mg IV showed no adverse effects with normal lab values maintained (PMID 40131143). Preclinical toxicology demonstrates a very wide safety margin with no lethal dose reached at very high exposures, no treatment-related deaths, and no major organ pathology in single- and repeated-dose studies across species (.1016/j.lfs.2020.117685; PMID 32334036). Preclinical genotoxicity and carcinogenicity testing found no genotoxic effects and no evidence of tumorigenicity. No tolerance, tachyphylaxis, or withdrawal syndromes have been reported in preclinical or clinical literature (. Pharmacovigilance database searches (FDA FAERS, EudraVigilance) through March 2026 show no safety signals for BPC-157 (. However, all reported side effects listed above come from anecdotal community reports (forums, online communities, bodybuilding sites) and NOT from controlled clinical studies. A small minority of users report anhedonia or flattened mood, possibly due to its modulatory effects on the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems (per Gemini draft community data). The theoretical concern regarding pro-angiogenic activity and cancer risk is noted in community discussions but has not been observed in preclinical carcinogenicity studies. Pharmacodynamic interactions with adrenergic/dopaminergic agents have been documented in animal models (. The overall limitation is that human safety data are extremely sparse -- the total published human exposure consists of fewer than 60 subjects across all reports, with most exposures being very short-duration. Long-term human safety is completely unknown.
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Who Should NOT Use This
BPC-157 has strong pro-angiogenic activity (VEGFR2 activation, VEGF upregulation, new vessel formation). While preclinical carcinogenicity testing showed no tumorigenic signal (. No clinical data exist to confirm or refute this concern. Severity upgraded to 'warning' (more conservative) per Gemini draft.
Preclinical studies show alpha-adrenergic antagonists abolish BPC-157's gastroprotective effects, indicating a pharmacodynamic interaction through adrenergic pathways.
Some dopamine antagonists abolish BPC-157's gastroprotective effects in experimental models, suggesting interaction through dopaminergic signaling.
Non-selective beta blockade modifies BPC-157 effects in a route-dependent manner in animal models.
No controlled human pregnancy data exist. Pregnant populations were excluded from available trials. No teratogenic signal was found in preclinical embryo-fetal assessments, but formal human pregnancy safety data are unavailable.
No pediatric dosing or safety data exist in controlled trials.
No clinical dosing adjustments exist. Preclinical repeat-dose studies did not show organ injury; a transient creatinine decrease at high doses in dogs resolved after withdrawal.1016/j.lfs.2020.117685.
Talk to Your Doctor
Before considering BPC-157 (Pentadecapeptide), discuss it with your healthcare provider. Ask about potential interactions with your current medications, whether it is appropriate for your health conditions, and what monitoring may be needed.
Sources: [1-10]
Evidence Assessment
Evidence Tier 4 (Phase I/limited human data) is assigned based on the following: The only completed US-registered trial is a Phase I safety/PK study (NCT02637284) in 42 healthy volunteers that was cancelled/status unknown and never posted results. A Phase II trial for hamstring strain (NCT07437547) is currently recruiting but has no results yet. Additional human evidence consists of a 2-subject IV safety pilot (PMID 40131143) and a 12-patient uncontrolled retrospective case series (cited in PMC12313605). A Phase II ulcerative colitis RCT with PL14736 enema was conducted but outcomes were never published in peer-reviewed literature (. No randomized controlled trial with published efficacy data exists. The evidence base is overwhelmingly preclinical (hundreds of animal studies), with strong consistent results in rats but minimal human validation;; PMC12313605.
1PCO-02 - Safety and Pharmacokinetics TrialNCT02637284
PharmaCotherapia (sponsor) - ClinicalTrials.gov (registry only) (2015) - Phase I, interventional, single- and multiple-ascending-dose - 42 planned healthy volunteers
Trial was cancelled/status unknown. No results were ever posted on ClinicalTrials.gov or published in peer-reviewed literature. Planned oral doses of 1 mg, 3 mg, 6 mg (single dose) and 3 mg TID x 14 days (multiple dose).
Limitations: No data available. Trial appears never completed. Only company-level sponsor identified.
2BPC 157 for Acute Hamstring Muscle Strain RepairNCT07437547
Not specified in registry - ClinicalTrials.gov (registry only) (2025) - Phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled - 120 planned participants
Currently recruiting as of March 2026. Co-primary endpoints: time to return to unrestricted sport and change in MRI-assessed injury volume at Day 14. Subcutaneous administration once daily for 14 days. No results available yet.
Limitations: Ongoing; no data available. Specific dose per injection not publicly posted.
3Safety of Intravenous Infusion of BPC157 in Humans: A Pilot StudyPMID 40131143
Not specified in available data - Not specified (PubMed indexed) (2025) - Open-label pilot safety study - 2 healthy adults
No adverse effects reported. Clinical laboratory values (cardiac, hepatic, renal, thyroid, glucose panels) remained within normal limits. Day 1: 10 mg IV in 250 mL saline over 1 hour; Day 2: 20 mg IV. No PK parameters reported.
Limitations: Extremely small sample (n=2), uncontrolled, open-label, no efficacy endpoints, no PK data reported.
4Emerging Use of BPC-157 in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review
Multiple (systematic review authors) - PMC-indexed journal (2025) - Systematic review (includes retrospective case series data) - Review; includes 12-patient retrospective intraarticular case series
Systematic review of preclinical and clinical BPC-157 literature for orthopedic applications. Found primarily animal studies showing enhanced tendon/ligament healing. The 12-patient retrospective case series reported 7/12 patients achieved pain relief lasting >6 months after intraarticular BPC-157 injection. No treatment-related AEs in any human reports. Concluded clinical evidence is very limited.
Limitations: Human data limited to uncontrolled case series. No RCTs. Heavy reliance on preclinical data. Potential conflict of interest from researchers/groups heavily invested in BPC-157 research.
5Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Enhances the Growth Hormone Receptor Expression in Tendon Fibroblasts
Chang et al. - Molecules (MDPI) (2014) - In vitro / preclinical - Cell culture (tendon fibroblasts)
BPC-157 upregulated GHR mRNA and protein expression in tendon fibroblasts in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Enhanced GH-induced JAK2-STAT signaling and cell proliferation. Suggested mechanism for tendon healing promotion.
Limitations: In vitro only. No in vivo confirmation of GHR mechanism. Single research group.
6Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and the Central Nervous System
Sikiric et al. - Neural Regeneration Research (2021) - Narrative review - Review of multiple preclinical studies
Comprehensive review of BPC-157 CNS effects: neuroprotection in stroke/TBI/spinal cord injury models, peripheral nerve regeneration, modulation of dopaminergic/serotonergic/GABAergic systems, gene expression changes in hippocampus. All evidence preclinical.
Limitations: Review authored primarily by the Sikiric group (Zagreb). All cited evidence is preclinical. No human CNS trials.
7Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 as Useful Cytoprotective Peptide Therapy in the Heart Disturbances, Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, Pulmonary Hypertension, Arrhythmias, and Thrombosis Presentation
Sikiric et al. - Biomedicines (MDPI) (2022) - Review of preclinical studies - Review (multiple animal studies)
Documented cardioprotective effects of BPC-157 across multiple experimental models: reduced myocardial infarct size, decreased cardiac biomarkers, prevention of arrhythmias, reduced thrombosis, protection against doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.
Limitations: All preclinical/animal data. No human cardiovascular trials. Primarily from Zagreb research group.
8Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157, Robert's Stomach Cytoprotection/Adaptive Cytoprotection/Organoprotection, and Selye's Stress Coping Response: Progress, Achievements, and the Future
Sikiric et al. - Gut and Liver (2020) - Comprehensive review - Review (extensive preclinical literature)
Reviewed BPC-157's gastric cytoprotective mechanism including the concept of organoprotection extending beyond the GI tract. Detailed the NO system interaction, VEGF/ERK pathways, and cytoprotective effects across organ systems.
Limitations: Review by the original research group. Preclinical focus. Limited independent replication data discussed.
9Preclinical safety evaluation of body protective compound-157, a potential drug for treating various wounds
Not specified in available data - Life Sciences (2020) - Preclinical toxicology evaluation - Multiple species toxicology studies
No lethal dose reached at very high exposures. No treatment-related deaths or major organ pathology in single- and repeated-dose studies. No genotoxicity in standard test batteries. No carcinogenicity signal. Transient reversible creatinine decrease at high doses in dogs that resolved after withdrawal.
Limitations: Preclinical only. No long-term human safety data.
10Pharmacokinetics of BPC-157 in rats and dogs (Frontiers in Pharmacology)
Not specified in available data - Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022) - Preclinical pharmacokinetic study - Rats and beagle dogs
IV half-life: rats ~15.2 min, dogs ~5.27 min. IM bioavailability: rats 14-19%, dogs 45-51%. IM Tmax ~3 min in rats. Linear PK. Vss 36.4 mL/kg, clearance 50.1 mL/min/kg (rats). Rapid metabolism by peptidases. Excretion via urine and bile.
Limitations: Animal PK only. No human PK data. Species differences may limit translatability.