Comparison
BPC-157 vs TB-500
The two most-discussed recovery peptides
The key difference
BPC-157 is based on a sequence from a gastric protein. TB-500 is related to thymosin beta-4, a protein that helps regulate the cell’s internal scaffolding (actin).
| BPC-157 | TB-500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Synthetic gastric peptide | Synthetic thymosin beta-4 peptide |
| Evidence | Mostly animal research | Mostly animal research |
| Status | Not FDA-approved for any use. | Not FDA-approved. |
| Also known as | Body Protection Compound-157 | Thymosin beta-4 fragment |
| Researched for | Recovery & repair | Recovery & repair |
| Evidence strength | Mostly animal research | Mostly animal research |
What else differs
- Both are backed mainly by animal and cell studies, not controlled human trials.
- Neither is FDA-approved. The FDA has raised safety concerns about BPC-157 in compounding.
- TB-500 is prohibited in competitive sport by WADA.
- They are often discussed together online, but there is little research on combining them.
Bottom line
High interest, thin human evidence for both. Treat strong claims about either with caution.
Read the research
BPC-157 on PubMed →
TB-500 on PubMed →
Educational content, not medical advice. This page does not recommend or dose any substance. Compounds that are not FDA-approved have not been established as safe or effective in people.