What BPC-157 is
BPC-157 stands for Body Protection Compound 157. It is a synthetic peptide made of 15 amino acids, based on a fragment of a protein found in human gastric juice. Most of what is known about it comes from one research group in Zagreb, Croatia, which has published on it since the early 1990s.
It is usually sold as a white lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder in a sealed vial, most often as the acetate salt. You may also see "PDA" or pentadeca arginate marketed as a more stable version. It shares the same amino acid sequence, so any claims about it lean on the same BPC-157 literature.
Regulatory status in 2026
This changed a lot this year, and a lot of what circulates online is out of date or overstated. The short version: BPC-157 is not an approved drug anywhere in the US, and it is not on the list of substances pharmacies may compound from. Products labeled "for research use only" are not legal to sell for human use.
FDA places BPC-157 in Category 2 of its interim compounding list, citing potential safety risks including immune reactions, impurities, and lack of human safety data.
BPC-157 moves off Category 2 after its nominations are withdrawn. This does not make it legal to compound. FDA schedules an advisory committee review.
FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee votes 8 to 6 to recommend adding BPC-157 to the compounding list for ulcerative colitis. FDA staff had recommended against it.
An advisory vote is a recommendation only. FDA has not added BPC-157 to the compounding list, and it remains prohibited in sport at all times under WADA class S0.
Regulatory status can change. Check the sources linked at the bottom of this page before relying on anything here.
Claims vs. what the research shows
Most of the excitement around BPC-157 comes from animal studies. Promising rodent results often fail to hold up in people, which is why the gap between claims and evidence matters.
Heals tendons, ligaments, and muscle faster.
Repeated positive results in rats. No completed, published randomized controlled trial in humans.
Animal or limited evidenceRepairs the gut and treats IBD.
Strongest area of animal research, and the reason ulcerative colitis was the indication reviewed in 2026. Human efficacy remains unproven.
Animal or limited evidenceProven safe because there are no reported side effects.
Absence of reports is not evidence of safety. Human safety data is limited to a few very small, uncontrolled reports.
Insufficient dataStorage and stability
Peptides break down with heat, light, moisture, and repeated freezing and thawing. Degraded product is one common reason two vials of the "same" peptide behave differently. These are general peptide handling practices. Your supplier's certificate of analysis or label takes priority.
Sealed powder (lyophilized)
- Refrigerate at 36 to 46°F (2 to 8°C) for routine storage.
- Freezer is generally used for long-term storage.
- Keep in its original sealed vial, away from light.
- Let a cold vial reach room temperature before opening to limit condensation.
After reconstitution
- Keep refrigerated. Do not freeze.
- Protect from light. Clear glass lets it through.
- Opened multi-dose bacteriostatic water is typically discarded 28 days after first puncture.
- Log the mix date so you know the vial's age at a glance.
Light exposure is easy to overlook in a fridge door that opens dozens of times a day. VIALTIGHT is building stackable cases that block light from every side. See vialtight.com for updates.
Reconstitution math
Concentration is just the amount of peptide divided by the volume of water added. On a U-100 insulin syringe, 100 units equals 1 mL, so each unit is 0.01 mL. Enter what is on your vial label and what you added to see the concentration.
This shows concentration only. It is not a dosing recommendation. VialTracker runs this math for every vial you log and keeps it with the vial's history.
Safety flags
Product quality is unverified. Gray-market vials have been found underdosed, mislabeled, or contaminated. A certificate of analysis from the seller is not the same as independent testing.
Long-term effects are unknown. There is no long-term human safety data. FDA cited immune reactions and impurities as specific concerns.
Growth-related questions are open. Animal studies show BPC-157 promotes new blood vessel growth. Whether that matters for people with cancer or a cancer history has not been studied.
Tested athletes. BPC-157 is prohibited in and out of competition under WADA class S0.
FAQ
Is BPC-157 legal?
It is not FDA-approved and not on the compounding list, so it cannot be legally marketed for human use. "Research use only" labeling does not change that. Possession rules vary, so check your own situation.
Did the FDA approve BPC-157 in 2026?
No. An advisory committee voted to recommend adding it to the compounding list for ulcerative colitis. That is a recommendation, not approval, and FDA has not acted on it.
Is oral BPC-157 a supplement?
No. Because BPC-157 was investigated as a drug first, it cannot legally be sold as a dietary supplement.
How long does a reconstituted vial last?
There is no published, validated beyond-use date for BPC-157. Follow your supplier's label, refrigerate, protect from light, and record the mix date so the vial's age is never a guess.
Does VialTracker tell me what to take?
No. VialTracker organizes the information you enter and runs the math. It does not recommend doses, products, or protocols.