BPC-157 vs TB-500
Every row cites its source. Where a cell reflects our own reading of the evidence rather than an external source, the row says so.
| Dimension | Bpc157 | Tb500 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Synthetic 15-amino-acid fragment of the gastric juice protein BPC (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV) | Synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4; FDA lists it as Thymosin beta-4, fragment (LKKTETQ), also known as TB-500 | source |
| Species of evidence | Rodent and rabbit models across many organ systems; 2 in vitro lines; 1 uncontrolled human case series; 0 published human RCTs | Preclinical wound models; FDA states it has not identified any human exposure data for the fragment | source |
| Head-to-head data | One 2026 rat Achilles study (n=32): numerically better histology than control, not statistically significant on total scores | Same study: significant on maximum load to failure and histology scores (p<0.05); combining both peptides added nothing | source |
| Human trials | 3 small uncontrolled pilots (<30 subjects); phase 2 hamstring RCT recruiting since 2026 | None identified for the TB-500 fragment; full-length thymosin beta-4 is a distinct, larger molecule and its research does not transfer | source |
| FDA approval | None; Drugs@FDA returns no product | None; Drugs@FDA returns no product | source |
| FDA compounding position | On the safety-risks list (immunogenicity, impurities); July 2026 PCAC: FDA proposed NOT to include free base or acetate on the 503A list | On the same safety-risks list (immunogenicity, aggregation); July 2026 PCAC: FDA proposed NOT to include free base or acetate | source |
| WADA 2026 status | Named under S0 Non-Approved Substances; prohibited at all times | Named under S2 (Thymosin-beta4 and its derivatives e.g. TB-500); prohibited at all times | source |
| Best-documented property | Reported gastric-juice stability and activity by oral routes in rodent GI and ligament models | Actin-binding biology of the parent protein; the marketed fragment itself is thinly characterized | source |
Both compounds are unapproved research peptides that appear together in gray-market marketing. The differences below are documented; most marketed differences are not. We run a sister reference site on TB-500 at tb500co.com; the comparison here cites primary sources only.