BPC-157 vs TB-500

Two synthetic peptide fragments sold for injury healing, often injected together as the "Wolverine stack"

By MoveWell Research Team Updated November 1, 2026

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Which one for what

Neither has human evidence for injury healing. BPC-157 has a few small human studies, none with a clear benefit; TB-500 has never been given to people in a study, and trials of full-length thymosin β4 don't count for it. In the one rat tendon study that tested both, TB-500 alone helped and BPC-157 alone showed no statistically significant improvement.

  • Tendon or ligament: neither proven (rat signal favors TB-500)
  • Gut or colitis: neither proven
  • Both together: no added benefit in rats
  • Athletes: neither, both banned
2D structure of BPC-157, a chain of 15 amino acids
BPC-15715 amino acids, gastric protein fragmentBPC-157 guide
2D structure of TB-500, an acetylated chain of 7 amino acids, Ac-LKKTETQ
TB-5007 amino acids + acetyl, thymosin β4 fragmentTB-500 guide
In this guide
  1. Verdict
  2. At a glance
  3. Evidence by goal
  4. Key differences
  5. Can you use both?
  6. Where to get each
  7. FAQ
  8. References

At a glance

BPC-157TB-500
What it isA synthetic 15-amino-acid fragment of a protein first isolated from human gastric juice (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV)1A synthetic 7-amino-acid fragment of thymosin β4, residues 17–23, with an acetyl cap (Ac-LKKTETQ). FDA: not the same substance as thymosin β42
StatusNot FDA-approved or on the compounding list. HHS says it won't act against licensed pharmacies compounding single-ingredient acetate with a prescription4, 5Same policy, acetate only, and only injected under the skin or into muscle4, 5
Evidence2/5Almost all animal. 5 small human studies, none with a clear benefit12/5Animal and lab only. FDA found no study giving TB-500 to people2
Main useSold for tendon, gut and injury healing, mostly injectedSold for tendon, muscle and wound healing, injected
HHS routesUnder the skin, into muscle, by mouth, on the skin4Under the skin or into muscle only4
Typical cost$149 a month, compounded injection (pre-order)10$149 a month, compounded injection (pre-order)10
Main risksUnknown in people. FDA cites immune reactions and impurities. A 28-day animal study showed clotting-test and liver changes1, 3Unknown in people. No toxicology studies at all. FDA cites immune reactions and poor characterization2, 3
Sport (WADA)S0, non-approved substances. Banned at all times9S2.3, growth factors: "Thymosin-β4 and its derivatives e.g. TB-500." Banned at all times9

Evidence scale: 5 FDA-approved, 4 strong human, 3 limited human, 2 animal or lab only, 1 anecdotal or uncontrolled human reports. "No support" means the only study found no effect.

Evidence by goal

Each goal is graded separately for each peptide. "No study found" means none turned up in the sources we reviewed. Trials of full-length thymosin β4 are not counted for TB-500.

GoalBPC-157TB-500
Tendon or ligament2/5Rat studies, mostly from one group. In the 2026 Biçer rat Achilles study, BPC-157 alone showed no statistically significant improvement1, 82/5One rat study: TB-500 alone improved tendon strength (load to failure) and two tissue scores. Not yet repeated8
Knee pain1/5Human, retrospective only: 1 uncontrolled chart review of knee injections: 14 of 16 reported relief in a phone survey (FDA counts 17 patients). Some also got thymosin β4. No comparison group11, 1No study found
Gut (colitis, stomach damage)2/5Rat data. The one human colitis trial, by enema, wasn't significant in FDA's analysis (its 95% CI crossed zero)1No study found
Skin woundsNo study foundNo supportLab only, and negative. No animal wound study of TB-500 itself. A lab test of the free base found no effect2
Injected use in people2/5No human study tested injection under the skin. Two people got it by IV in a safety pilot1No study found

"Mostly from one group" is our reading of FDA's reference list, which is dominated by Zagreb authors; FDA does not say this.

The one head-to-head study

Biçer and colleagues repaired the Achilles tendon in 32 rats and gave four groups of eight no treatment, BPC-157, TB-500, or both, by injection into the belly daily for 4 weeks.8

MeasureBPC-157 aloneTB-500 aloneBoth
Tendon strength (load to failure)Not significantHigher than control (p<0.05)Not significant
Bonar tissue scoreNot significantBetter (p=0.016)Not significant
Movin tissue scoreNot significantBetter (p=0.017)Better (p=0.040)

Collagen I did not differ between groups; collagen III did. The authors call the study exploratory. In their results they report that the combination "did not confer additional benefits compared to either agent alone."8

Why the thymosin β4 trials don't count for TB-500

The human trials often cited for TB-500 gave full-length thymosin β4, a 43-amino-acid protein, as eye drops, a skin gel or an IV. TB-500 is a different 7-amino-acid molecule, injected.2 Those trials also mostly failed: a 700-person dry eye trial "did not meet its primary outcome measures," a small eye-ulcer trial missed significance on its primary test, and a leg-ulcer trial was "not deemed to be statistically significant."13, 20, 12, 14 See the TB-500 guide for the full list.

Key differences

  • Different parents. BPC-157 is a piece of a gastric juice protein.1 TB-500 is a piece of thymosin β4, an actin-binding protein, and is not thymosin β4 itself.2
  • Some human data vs none. FDA found 5 small human studies of BPC-157, none tested injection under the skin, and the one randomized trial didn't separate from placebo.1 For TB-500, FDA found no study in which it was given to humans.2
  • Different routes under HHS. BPC-157 acetate is covered by injection, by mouth and on the skin. TB-500 acetate is covered only as an injection under the skin or into muscle.4
  • Adverse event reports. FDA found 3 FAERS reports for BPC-157, all with injected products, and said it was unclear whether BPC-157 caused them.1 It found none for TB-500, plus 2 food-complaint reports for blended TB-500 and BPC-157.2
  • Same regulatory path. Both were in FDA's Category 2, removed in April 2026, voted 8–6–1 in favor by FDA's advisory committee in July against FDA staff advice, and covered by the Oct 28 HHS policy. The committee reviewed BPC-157 for ulcerative colitis and TB-500 for wound healing.15, 16, 4
  • Different anti-doping classes. BPC-157 is S0, TB-500 is S2.3. Both are prohibited at all times.9

Can you use both?

Rats onlyOne study of the pair: no added benefit

Taken together they're sold as the Wolverine stack. The only test of the pair, the 2026 rat Achilles study, found the combination added nothing over either alone, and TB-500 alone did best.8 There is no human study of the pair.

The HHS policy covers single-ingredient products only, so a pre-mixed BPC-157 + TB-500 vial is excluded.4, 7 FDA's systems hold 2 complaints about blended TB-500 and BPC-157, and one BPC-157 adverse event report involved a BPC-157 + TB-500 "research purposes only" product.2, 1

See the Wolverine stack page, or browse all stacks.

Where to get each

MoveWell sells no peptides. Prices as checked November 1, 2026

PeptideOptionFormPriceNotes
BPC-157SuperpowerBPC-157 injection, compounded$149 a month10Pre-order. Clinician review and prescription; shipping targeted for late November. Oral form on a waitlist
TB-500SuperpowerTB-500 injection, compounded (salt form not stated)$149 a month10Pre-order. Clinician review and prescription; shipping targeted for late November
BothHims & HersNot announcedNot listedPlanning peptides including BPC-157 and TB-500; no launch confirmed17, 18

Left off: pre-mixed Wolverine, GLOW and KLOW blends, which the HHS policy excludes, and "research use only" vials. In August 2026 FDA warned five peptide sellers that the label doesn't excuse products clearly meant for people.19 More detail in the BPC-157 and TB-500 guides.

FAQ

Which is better for healing an injury?

Neither has been shown to work in people. In the one rat study that tested both, TB-500 alone improved tendon healing and BPC-157 alone showed no statistically significant improvement. That is one small animal study.

Isn't TB-500 backed by human trials?

No. The trials people cite used full-length thymosin β4, a different molecule, and most missed their primary endpoints. FDA found no study in which TB-500 itself was given to people.

Should I take them together?

The only test, in rats, found no added benefit. A pre-mixed vial is outside the HHS policy. That decision is for you and a clinician.

Are they legal now?

Under an interim HHS policy from October 28, 2026, HHS says it won't act against licensed pharmacies that compound either one, as a single-ingredient acetate, with a prescription. That is not FDA approval, and state rules still apply. Blends and research vials are outside it.5, 6

Can I take either by mouth?

The HHS policy covers oral BPC-157 acetate if the pharmacy has documented human bioavailability, but there's no human evidence it works by mouth. TB-500 is covered only by injection.4

Can athletes use them?

No. BPC-157 is banned under WADA S0 and TB-500 under S2.3, both at all times.

References

20 sources, with links
  1. FDA. Briefing document: BPC-157-related bulk drug substances. Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, Jul 23–24, 2026. fda.gov
  2. FDA. Review memo: TB-500-related bulk drug substances (May 15, 2026). Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, Jul 23–24, 2026. fda.gov
  3. FDA. July 23, 2026 FDA presentations (PCAC). fda.gov
  4. HHS. 503A peptide enforcement discretion policy, Appendix B. hhs.gov
  5. Federal Register public inspection. FR Doc. 2026-22192, HHS notice of availability, docket HHS-OASH-2026-0496. Link
  6. BakerHostetler. HHS issues enforcement discretion policy regarding 503A compounding using certain peptide bulk drug substances (Oct 28, 2026). Link
  7. Frier Levitt. HHS peptide enforcement discretion (Oct 28, 2026). States the policy "would not extend to a compounded product combining BPC-157 and TB-500." Link
  8. Biçer O et al. Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats. Joint Dis Relat Surg 2026;37(3):822–837. DOI 10.52312/jdrs.2026.2951
  9. World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026 Prohibited List, S0 and S2.3 (copy hosted by SEGAS). PDF
  10. Superpower. Peptides pricing page (checked Nov 1, 2026). Link
  11. Lee E, Padgett B. Intra-articular injection of BPC-157 for multiple types of knee pain. Altern Ther Health Med 2021. PDF
  12. Sosne G et al. 0.1% RGN-259 (thymosin β4) ophthalmic solution in neurotrophic keratopathy: a phase III trial. Int J Mol Sci 2023;24(1):554. Link
  13. American Pharmaceutical Review. ARISE-3 dry eye trial does not meet primary outcome measures (2021). Link
  14. FierceBiotech. RegeneRx reports Phase II venous stasis trial results (Mar 26, 2009). Link
  15. Hyman Phelps, FDA Law Blog. Peptide-l wave: PCAC approves four bulk drug substances for the 503A list (Jul 2026). Link
  16. McDermott Will & Schulte. Bulk-list bound: PCAC backs majority of peptides in two-day public meeting. Link
  17. Becker's. Hims & Hers to sell compounded peptides pending FDA approval (Aug 12, 2026). Link
  18. Glossy. Hims & Hers plots rapid expansion into peptide therapies (Aug 19, 2026). Link
  19. ArentFox Schiff. RUO-ined: five peptide vendors learn research use only is not a legal strategy (Aug 2026). Link
  20. ARISE-3 (RGN-259 for dry eye), NCT03937882, n=700 (registry mirror). Link

This page is for education and is not medical advice. Neither BPC-157 nor TB-500 is FDA-approved. Talk to a clinician before using any peptide, especially by injection.