This article is for laboratory and research information only. All products referenced are supplied strictly for research use and are not for human or veterinary use.
BPC-157 is one of the most widely discussed research peptides of the last decade. This guide covers what it is, where it comes from, what the published research has looked at, and what to check when sourcing it in the UK.
What is BPC-157?
BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic pentadecapeptide, meaning a chain of 15 amino acids. Its sequence is Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val, and it has a molecular weight of roughly 1419.5 g/mol.
The sequence is a partial fragment of a larger protein originally identified in human gastric juice. BPC-157 itself is made synthetically, by solid-phase peptide synthesis, and is supplied as a freeze-dried (lyophilised) powder or as a ready-mixed solution.
What has BPC-157 been studied for?
Most published BPC-157 research comes from preclinical work, meaning cell culture and animal models rather than human clinical trials. The main research areas include:
- Tissue repair models: tendon, ligament, muscle and wound-healing studies in animal models.
- Angiogenesis: the formation of new blood vessels, including VEGF-related signalling.
- Gastrointestinal research: given its origin, a large share of studies look at gut tissue models.
- Cell signalling: pathways such as nitric oxide signalling and growth factor receptor expression.
Researchers should note that the large majority of this literature comes from a relatively small number of research groups, and robust human clinical data is very limited.
Is BPC-157 legal in the UK?
BPC-157 is not a licensed medicine in the UK and is not approved by the MHRA for human or veterinary use. It is sold in the UK as a research chemical for laboratory use only. It is also on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list, so it is banned in tested sport.
Vials vs pre-filled pens
BPC-157 is commonly supplied in two formats:
- Lyophilised vials (5mg and 10mg): freeze-dried powder that is reconstituted in the lab with a solvent such as bacteriostatic water. This is the most stable format for long-term storage.
- Pre-filled pens (BPC-157 10mg Pen): supplied ready-mixed, with no reconstitution step. These have a shorter storage window once in solution.
For a full comparison, see our guide to lyophilised vials vs pre-filled pens.
What to check when buying BPC-157 in the UK
- A batch-specific Certificate of Analysis (CoA), not a generic one reused across batches.
- HPLC purity of 98–99% or higher, with the chromatogram shown.
- Mass spectrometry confirmation that the molecular weight matches BPC-157.
- Third-party testing rather than in-house results only.
- Cold storage before dispatch and clear storage guidance.
Our guide on how to read a peptide Certificate of Analysis explains each of these in detail.
Storage
Lyophilised BPC-157 is best stored frozen at around -20°C for long-term storage, or refrigerated at 2–8°C for short-term use. Once reconstituted, keep it refrigerated and use it within its stability window. Our storage & reconstitution guide covers this in full.
BPC-157 FAQ
What does BPC stand for?
Body Protection Compound.
How many amino acids are in BPC-157?
Fifteen, making it a pentadecapeptide.
Is BPC-157 often studied alongside other peptides?
Yes. It is frequently compared with TB-500. See BPC-157 vs TB-500.