BPC-157
BPC-157 is the best-known "healing" peptide. It can now be compounded on prescription under an interim federal policy, but it is not FDA-approved and has almost no human trial data.
- Legal lane: compounded on prescription under the October 2026 interim policy. Not FDA-approved.
- Evidence grade: C
- Forms covered by the policy: BPC-157 acetate as an injection under the skin or into muscle, oral, or topical
- Established human dose: none
What it is
BPC-157 is a synthetic chain of 15 amino acids, based on a fragment of a protein found in stomach fluid. The name stands for "body protection compound". It is promoted for tendon, muscle and gut healing.
What the evidence shows
Almost all of the research is in rodents, much of it from one laboratory at the University of Zagreb. Those studies report faster healing of tendons, ligaments and gut tissue.
In people, the published record is three small studies with fewer than 20 participants in total:
- A look back at 12 patients given injections into the knee for pain.
- A small pilot study in interstitial cystitis, a bladder condition.
- A 2025 safety pilot in which two healthy adults received 10 mg and then 20 mg by intravenous infusion, with no side effects reported.
There are no published randomized controlled trials for any use. A Phase 1 trial of an oral form was registered, but no results were published. When FDA scientists reviewed BPC-157 in July 2026, they recommended against allowing it to be compounded; the advisory committee voted 8 to 6 in favor.
Legal status
- September 2023: the FDA restricted compounding of BPC-157, citing possible immune reactions, impurities and a lack of safety data.
- April 2026: it was removed from the restricted category.
- October 30, 2026: HHS published an interim policy under which state-licensed pharmacies may compound it on an individual prescription.
The policy is not approval and can be revised. Vials sold online as "research use only" are not covered by it. BPC-157 is also prohibited in sport under World Anti-Doping Agency rules.
Reported dosing
No dose has been established in human trials. Nobody has run the studies that would show how much works, how often, or for how long.
The figure most often cited by clinics and online is 250 to 500 micrograms a day by injection under the skin. That range is extrapolated from animal studies and from prescriber habit. It did not come from a human dose-finding study.
The only doses given in a published human safety study were far higher, 10 mg and 20 mg, as single intravenous infusions in a monitored research setting. That study had two participants and was not designed to show a benefit.
If a clinician prescribes BPC-157, the dose on the prescription is the one to follow. Ask them what it is based on.
Safety
- The small human studies did not report serious side effects, but they are far too small to establish safety.
- Long-term effects in people are unknown.
- Quality is a separate risk. Products bought outside a pharmacy have no verified contents or sterility.
What it costs
Telehealth listings we have seen put a prescribed, compounded supply at roughly $80 to $150 a month. Prices are moving as more providers enter after the October policy.
Sources
- Lee and Burgess, 2025: intravenous safety pilot (PubMed)
- Narrative review of BPC-157 for musculoskeletal healing (PMC)
- Phase 1 trial registration, NCT02637284
- GoodRx: FDA developments on peptides
- Regulatory timeline and committee vote
- BSCG: 2023 safety concerns and anti-doping status
- Telehealth price listings
This compound is often sold inside a blend, such as Wolverine or KLOW. A vial holding more than one peptide falls outside the 2026 compounding policy; see blends and stacks.
See how the two repair peptides differ: BPC-157 vs TB-500.