Head to head
BPC-157 vs TB-500
The recovery duo: both preclinical, for different reasons.
BPC-157 is a gastric-derived pentadecapeptide with a large rodent injury literature and almost no human data. TB-500 is a short fragment of thymosin β4 whose cited healing research was mostly done on the full protein. Both are research-only; neither has a completed human efficacy trial.
| Measure | BPC-157Synthetic pentadecapeptide (gastric-derived) | TB-500Synthetic actin-binding fragment of thymosin β4 |
|---|---|---|
| Best evidence | Preclinical | Established |
| Human-tested claims | 0 of 2 | 1 of 3 |
| Status | Research-only | Research-only |
| Cited sources | 2 | 3 |
Where the evidence lands
They sit at the same evidence tier for opposite reasons. BPC-157's problem is translation: dozens of rodent studies, largely from one group, and a two-person intravenous safety pilot in humans. TB-500's problem is identity: the healing data belong to a 43-residue protein, and the seven-residue fragment sold under the name has not been tested in people at all. Of the two, BPC-157 at least has human trials now registered. Neither has earned the recovery claims attached to them.
Where they differ
Each row cites a fixed record. Numbers from different trials are not directly comparable, and the rows say so where that applies.
| Aspect | BPC-157 | TB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is[1] | A synthetic 15-residue peptide derived from a protective protein in gastric juice. | A synthetic, acetylated 7-residue fragment of thymosin β4 (Ac-LKKTETQ). |
| Preclinical signal[2] | Faster tendon, muscle and gut-lining healing in rodent injury models. | Cell migration and angiogenesis, shown for the full-length protein, not the fragment. |
| Human evidence[3] | A two-person intravenous safety pilot; first Phase 2 RCT only recently registered. | None for the fragment. Clinical work on thymosin β4 used the whole protein. |
| Known safety[4] | No long-term human safety data; grey-market supply means identity and purity are not assured. | No human safety data; angiogenesis-promoting activity is a theoretical concern. |
What each is studied for
The efficacy claims from each monograph, with their tiers. Follow the entry for sources and safety.
BPC-157
- PreclinicalAccelerated tendon, muscle, and gut-lining healing in rodent injury models.
- EmergingNo completed placebo-controlled human efficacy trial; the first Phase 2 RCT is only recently registered.
TB-500
- PreclinicalFull-length thymosin β4 promotes cell migration and angiogenesis in vitro and in animal wound models.
- EstablishedTB-500 is a synthetic Ac-LKKTETQ fragment of thymosin β4, not the native protein.
- EmergingNo human clinical trial has tested the TB-500 fragment itself for recovery or injury.
Frequently asked
Which has better evidence?
Neither has human efficacy evidence. BPC-157 has far more animal data; TB-500 borrows its data from a different molecule. If you want a tie-breaker, BPC-157 is the one with registered human trials.
References
The monographs
- BPC-157Preclinical
Synthetic pentadecapeptide (gastric-derived)
The repair peptide the research world can't stop talking about.
No human data yet · 2 references · Research-only
- TB-500Established
Synthetic actin-binding fragment of thymosin β4
The migration-and-angiogenesis peptide behind the recovery hype.
1 of 3 claims human-tested · 3 references · Research-only
Written by Twenty Residues editorial. Medical review: pending; a named reviewer is being assigned.
Last updated October 1, 2026.
Tiers are explained in the Standard. Spot an error? Report a correction.