Comparison
BPC-157 vs TB-500
Two research peptides discussed for tissue repair. Both rest on animal evidence, and they differ in proposed mechanism and in dose scale.
This pairing is discussed constantly and evidenced thinly. Both compounds have preclinical work behind them and neither has a completed controlled human trial, so this comparison is between two proposed mechanisms rather than between two established treatments.
The most practically important difference is the dose scale: they are usually discussed in units that differ by a factor of ten, which makes them easy to confuse.
| Attribute | BPC-157 | TB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Synthetic 15-amino-acid fragment derived from a gastric protein | Synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4 |
| Evidence level | Preclinical — animal models only | Preclinical — animal models only |
| Proposed mechanism | Promotes new blood vessel formation at injury sites | Binds actin, promoting cell migration into damaged tissue |
| Typically discussed dose scale | Hundreds of micrograms, daily | Thousands of micrograms, weekly |
| Typical vial sizes sold | 5 mg and 10 mg | 2 mg to 10 mg |
| Regulatory status (US) | Not approved for human use | Not approved for human use |
| Prohibited in sport | Yes, by the World Anti-Doping Agency | Yes, at all times, by the World Anti-Doping Agency |
Things worth knowing
- The dose scales differ by roughly a factor of ten. A TB-500 dose drawn as though it were a BPC-157 dose, or the reverse, is a plausible and consequential mistake.
- These are commonly combined in community protocols on the reasoning that they act through different pathways. No controlled study has tested the combination in humans.
- Neither has established human safety data. Reported effects come from animal models — often from a small number of research groups — without independent replication.
- Both are sold as research chemicals, which means no manufacturing standard, and identity and purity that vary between sellers.
Full profile
BPC-157
A synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide studied in animals for effects on tendon, ligament and gut tissue repair. No completed human trials.
Full profile
TB-500
A synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4, a naturally occurring protein involved in cell migration and tissue repair. Animal evidence only.
Related
This page is educational. It describes what published research reports, not what you should do. Peptides discussed here are largely not approved for human use, and nothing on Bioalmanac is medical advice.