BPC-157 vs TB-500: what the research looks at
Share
BPC-157 and TB-500 are two of the most widely studied research peptides, and they often come up together. They're studied in overlapping areas, but they are very different molecules. This guide sets out what each one is, what the published research has looked at, and how they compare.
At a glance
| BPC-157 | TB-500 (thymosin β4) | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide | 43-amino-acid peptide (full thymosin β4) |
| Origin | Sequence derived from a protein in gastric juice | Naturally occurring protein found in most tissues |
| Molecular weight | 1419.75 g/mol | 4963.49 g/mol |
| Main research themes | Tissue repair models, gut research, angiogenesis | Cell migration, actin binding, wound-healing models |
| Stage of research | Mostly preclinical (cell and animal studies) | Mostly preclinical, some early clinical work on related forms |
What is BPC-157?
BPC-157 (also written BPC157 or BP-157) is a short synthetic peptide of 15 amino acids. Its sequence is based on part of a protein first identified in gastric juice, which is where the name "body protection compound" comes from. It is notably stable for a peptide, which is one reason it has been used so widely in laboratory work.
Published research on BPC-157 has mainly involved cell and animal models. Common themes include:
- Tissue repair models: tendon, ligament and muscle tissue in animal studies.
- Gastrointestinal research: models of the gut lining and intestinal tissue.
- Angiogenesis: studies of new blood-vessel formation.
- Cell signalling: growth-factor and nitric oxide pathways.
What is TB-500?
TB-500 (also written TB500) is the name commonly used for synthetic thymosin β4, a 43-amino-acid protein present in most mammalian cells. Its best-known role is binding actin, a protein that forms part of the cell's internal skeleton, which is why it features so often in research on how cells move.
The name TB-500 is sometimes used for shorter fragments of thymosin β4, so it is worth checking a certificate of analysis. A full-length sequence has a molecular weight of about 4963 g/mol; ours is shown on the TB-500 product page.
Research themes for thymosin β4 include:
- Cell migration: actin binding and cell-movement studies.
- Wound-healing models: dermal and corneal tissue.
- Angiogenesis: endothelial cell and vessel studies.
- Tissue regeneration models: including cardiac and skeletal muscle in animal studies.
How they differ
Although both appear in tissue-repair research, they are studied for different reasons. BPC-157 is a small, stable fragment often used to look at signalling and blood-vessel pathways. Thymosin β4 is a much larger, naturally occurring protein studied mainly for its role in actin dynamics and cell movement. Because they appear to act through different mechanisms, some researchers study them side by side or together, which is why blends exist.
Why researchers use a blend
A combined vial, such as our BPC-157 / TB-500 blend, suits labs running both compounds in the same experiments. It saves handling two vials and keeps the ratio fixed (ours is equal parts by weight). The trade-off is flexibility: with separate vials you can vary each compound independently.
What to check before buying either
- Purity by HPLC: look for a result with its specification beside it.
- Identity by mass spectrometry: confirms the molecule is what the label says.
- Batch-specific certificate: the certificate number should match the batch you receive.
Our guide on how to read a peptide certificate of analysis explains each line.
A note on the evidence
Most published work on both peptides comes from cell cultures and animal models. Results from those studies do not necessarily apply to people, and neither compound is approved as a medicine in the UK. Both are sold here strictly for laboratory research.
Where to buy BPC-157 and TB-500 in the UK
We stock BPC-157 (5mg and 10mg), TB-500 (5mg and 10mg) and the BPC-157 / TB-500 blend (10mg and 20mg), each with its certificate of analysis on the product page. Orders ship by tracked Royal Mail, or customers near Cambridge and Essex can collect for free.
All products sold by Absolute Peptides are for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. This guide summarises published research and is not medical advice.