BPC-157 — short for Body Protection Compound 157 — is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a partial sequence of a larger protein originally isolated from human gastric juice. The peptide has been studied for over two decades, primarily in rodent preclinical models, in the context of tissue repair, mucosal integrity, tendon and ligament healing, and vascular biology.
This monograph summarises the published identity, reported mechanisms and research context of BPC-157 as reported in the peer-reviewed literature. It is written for laboratory researchers working with peptide reference standards in vitro.
Oxford Research Peptides supplies BPC-157 strictly as a reference standard for in-vitro laboratory research. Nothing on this page constitutes medical advice or endorses any therapeutic use. BPC-157 is not an approved medicine in the United Kingdom.
BPC-157 is a 15-residue linear peptide with no disulfide bonds and no post-translational modifications. It is reported to be unusually stable in the acidic environment of gastric juice — a defining physicochemical feature that distinguishes it from many other research peptides in the same size class.
At a glance
- Class
- Synthetic pentadecapeptide
- Parent
- Gastric juice protein BPC (fragment)
- Residue count
- 15 amino-acid residues
- Format
- Lyophilised powder
- Purity target
- ≥ 99% (HPLC)
- Storage
- −20 °C, desiccated
- Body Protection Compound 157 — full descriptive name.
- Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 — name emphasising the 15-residue length.
- PL 14736 — historical development code (Pliva).
- BPC-157 — canonical short form used in most primary literature.
- Family: Cytoprotective peptides (research classification).
- Structural type: Linear synthetic pentadecapeptide; no cyclisation, no fatty-acid modification.
- Reported activity: Modulation of angiogenic and cytoprotective signalling in preclinical models.
- Research area: Tissue repair, gastrointestinal mucosal integrity, tendon and ligament biology.
- MOLECULAR FORMULA
- C62H98N16O22
- MOLECULAR WEIGHT
- 1419.55 g/mol
- CAS NUMBER
- 137525-51-0
- RESIDUE COUNT
- 15 amino-acid residues
- SEQUENCE
- Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val
- MODIFICATION
- None (linear, unmodified)
Unlike a receptor-agonist peptide such as Retatrutide, BPC-157 does not have a single, well-defined canonical receptor in the peer-reviewed literature. Instead, reported mechanistic work describes convergent modulation of several conserved pathways associated with tissue repair.
- Nitric-oxide (NO) system: Multiple rodent studies describe BPC-157 as interacting with the NO system in a context-dependent manner, countering both L-NAME- and L-arginine- induced disturbances of NO signalling.
- VEGFR2 / angiogenesis: Preclinical work reports up-regulation and activation of the VEGFR2 receptor and downstream angiogenic signalling in endothelial and wound-healing models.
- FAK-paxillin / fibroblast migration: In cultured tendon fibroblasts, BPC-157 has been reported to accelerate outgrowth and migration through FAK-paxillin signalling.
- Cytoprotection framework: Sikirić and colleagues situate BPC-157 within Robert's cytoprotection paradigm, describing it as an "organoprotector" active across multiple tissue systems rather than a single-target agonist.
Reported preclinical findings
- Enhanced tendon-to-bone healing in rat Achilles detachment models.
- Improved wound closure and angiogenic markers in alkali-burn wound models.
- Protective effects in a rat inferior caval-vein ligature model.
- Angiogenesis assays — endothelial tube-formation, VEGFR2 signalling readouts.
- Fibroblast migration assays — wound-scratch and Boyden-chamber studies with tendon or dermal fibroblasts.
- Mucosal-integrity models — in-vitro gastric epithelial monolayers under stress conditions.
- Reference standard — reversed-phase HPLC and mass-spectrometry identity / purity method development.
BPC-157 reference standards are supplied lyophilised. Standard laboratory practice for stable linear peptides applies: aseptic handling, quantitative reconstitution, and single-use aliquots to minimise freeze-thaw cycles.
Analytical characterisation
- Reversed-phase HPLC at 214 nm for purity reporting (target ≥ 99% area).
- Orthogonal identity confirmation by mass spectrometry (expected [M+H]⁺ ≈ 1420.7).
- Karl Fischer or gravimetric water content where a certificate of analysis requires it.
- Lyophilised solid: −20 °C, desiccated, protected from light.
- Reconstituted stock: 2–8 °C for short-term use; aliquot at −20 °C for longer storage.
- Freeze-thaw: Minimise cycles; single-use aliquots recommended.
- Container: Low-binding vials to reduce peptide loss on surfaces.
Reconstitute per the laboratory SOP. A general procedure is documented in the Laboratory Reconstitution Guide. The summary below applies to BPC-157 as a stable linear pentadecapeptide:
- Equilibrate the sealed vial to room temperature.
- Introduce sterile or bacteriostatic water slowly against the vial wall.
- Swirl gently to dissolve — do not vortex.
- Allow complete dissolution before aliquoting.
- Label each aliquot with peptide, concentration, date, batch and analyst.
Evidence summary
Research limitations
- No single canonical receptor for BPC-157 has been established in the peer-reviewed literature.
- The published corpus is dominated by a small number of research groups; independent cross-laboratory replication is limited.
- Available in-vivo evidence is overwhelmingly rodent; no completed phase 3 trials or robust human efficacy data are reported.
- BPC-157 has no marketing authorisation in the United Kingdom or by other major regulators.
- Pharmacokinetic characterisation of BPC-157 in humans is minimal in the peer-reviewed literature.
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound 157) is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide corresponding to a fragment of a protein originally isolated from human gastric juice. It is studied in preclinical models of tissue repair, angiogenesis and cytoprotection and is supplied by Oxford Research Peptides strictly as a reference standard for in-vitro laboratory research.
No single canonical receptor for BPC-157 has been established in the peer-reviewed literature. Reported mechanisms include modulation of nitric-oxide signalling and up-regulation of the VEGFR2 pathway supporting angiogenesis, but the exact molecular target or targets remain an open scientific question.
No. BPC-157 has no marketing authorisation in the United Kingdom or by other major regulators. Published research is dominated by rodent preclinical studies from a small number of laboratories, and no phase 3 clinical trials are available in the peer-reviewed literature.
Lyophilised BPC-157 is stored at −20 °C, desiccated and protected from light. Reconstituted stocks are aliquoted into low-binding vials for single-use, held short-term at 2–8 °C and longer-term at −20 °C, with freeze-thaw cycles minimised.
Cited sources for this monograph. Click any inline reference to jump to the entry below.
References8
- 1.
Sikirić P, Seiwerth S, Rucman R, et al.. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: novel therapy in gastrointestinal tract.. Current Neuropharmacology. 2018;16(8):1252-1264.
- 2.
Chang CH, Tsai WC, Lin MS, Hsu YH, Pang JHS. The promoting effect of pentadecapeptide BPC 157 on tendon healing involves tendon outgrowth, cell survival, and cell migration.. Journal of Applied Physiology. 2011;110(3):774-780.
- 3.
Hsieh MJ, Liu HT, Wang CN, et al.. Therapeutic potential of pro-angiogenic BPC 157 is associated with VEGFR2 activation and up-regulation.. Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2017;95(3):323-333.
- 4.
Seiwerth S, Brčić L, Vuletić LB, et al.. BPC 157 and standard angiogenic growth factors: gastrointestinal tract healing, lessons from tendon, ligament, muscle and bone healing.. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2018;24(18):1972-1989.
- 5.
Sikirić P, Hahm KB, Blagaic AB, et al.. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, Robert's stomach cytoprotection/adaptive cytoprotection/organoprotection, and Selye's stress coping response: progress, achievements, and the future.. Gut and Liver. 2020;14(2):153-167.
- 6.
Huang T, Zhang K, Sun L, et al.. Body protective compound-157 enhances alkali-burn wound healing in vivo and promotes proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis in vitro.. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 2015;9:2485-2499.
- 7.
Vukojević J, Siroglavić M, Kašnik K, et al.. Rat inferior caval vein (ICV) ligature and particular new insights with the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157.. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2018;9:1029.
- 8.
Krivic A, Anic T, Seiwerth S, Huljev D, Sikirić P. Achilles detachment in rat and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: promoted tendon-to-bone healing and opposed corticosteroid aggravation.. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2008;24(5):982-989.
- BPC-157 Mechanism of Action
Scientifically honest overview of BPC-157's reported mechanistic activity — nitric-oxide modulation, VEGFR2 up-regulation, FAK-paxillin signalling and the cytoprotection framework — with explicit note of what remains unresolved.
- BPC-157 FAQ
Comprehensive research-focused FAQ on BPC-157 — identity, mechanism, laboratory handling, stability, evidence base, regulatory status and common misconceptions.
Publication information
- Published
- 2026-08-05
- Updated
- 2026-08-05
- Reviewed
- 2026-08-05
- Version
- 1.0
Revision history
- v1.02026-08-05· Editorial Team
Initial publication of the BPC-157 cornerstone cluster (Authority Sprint 1B, Wave 1).
Editorial standards
Content is reviewed against our editorial process for scientific accuracy, sourcing, and clarity. Read our editorial standards.
Conflict of interest
Next scheduled review: 2027-08-05. Our research methodology describes how the review is conducted.