Tissue repair & healing peptides, cross-examined.
8 tissue repair and healing peptides tracked on Peptigrity, with independent HPLC purity data, shop coverage and mechanism research for each. The category covers two angiogenesis-linked tissue-repair peptides (BPC-157 and TB-500) and one myostatin inhibitor (Follistatin). Each operates through a distinct mechanism, and the evidence base differs sharply between compounds - most claims rest on preclinical data, with no Western randomized controlled trials for any of the three.
Figures updated
How to choose between tissue repair peptides
Each of these three compounds operates through a distinct mechanism. Choose based on the specific tissue context - angiogenesis-driven soft-tissue repair, muscle and connective-tissue regeneration, or myostatin pathway research - and against a clear understanding that none have human randomized controlled trial data.
BPC-157
Compound: BPC-157
Class: Synthetic 15-amino-acid pentadecapeptide
Mechanism: Angiogenesis, NO system modulation, GH receptor upregulation
Status: Research-only · WADA prohibited
Preclinical (extensive)TB-500
Compound: TB-500
Class: Synthetic fragment of Thymosin β-4
Mechanism: Actin sequestration, angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory
Status: Research-only · WADA prohibited
PreclinicalFollistatin
Compound: Follistatin
Class: Activin-binding glycoprotein (288 amino acids)
Mechanism: Myostatin inhibition, activin neutralization
Status: Research-only
Preclinical · Limited human dataCompounds in this category
Tissue Repair & Healing prices →| Compound | Avg purity | Lab tests | Shops listing it |
|---|---|---|---|
Synthetic 15-amino acid peptide derived from a gastric protein, researched for tissue repair, gut healing, tendon recovery, and anti-inflammatory effects. | 99.2% | 912 | 511 |
Synthetic fragment of Thymosin Beta-4 researched for tissue repair, inflammation reduction, wound healing, and cardiac tissue recovery. | 99.4% | 433 | 475 |
Activin-binding glycoprotein that inhibits myostatin, researched for promoting muscle growth, reducing fibrosis, and supporting tissue remodeling. | 99.0% | 7 | 97 |
Follistatin-344Not a peptide The 344-amino-acid precursor isoform of follistatin — a high-affinity myostatin and activin neutralizer researched to release the body's brake on muscle growth, and the isoform most used in injectable and gene-therapy research. | 98.7% | 2 | 41 |
ACE-031Not a peptide A soluble activin receptor type IIB–Fc fusion protein (a myostatin and activin "ligand trap") developed by Acceleron Pharma to build muscle in muscular dystrophy — whose clinical development was discontinued after vascular safety events. | 99.6% | 1 | 46 |
The full 43-amino-acid endogenous peptide and the body's principal actin-sequestering molecule — the parent compound behind most tissue-repair, wound-healing, and cardiac research, and the full-length counterpart to the shorter TB-500 fragment. | 99.8% | 1 | 27 |
| No lab tests yet · 2 compounds | |||
A splice variant of IGF-1 (IGF-1Ec) whose unique C-terminal E-peptide is produced locally in mechanically stressed or damaged muscle, where it activates satellite (muscle stem) cells as an early trigger of repair. | — | Submit one → | 45 |
The arginine-salt form of BPC-157 — the same 15-amino-acid gastric pentadecapeptide (GEPPPGKPADDAGLV), marketed as a more stable salt variant and researched for tissue repair, tendon and gut healing, and angiogenesis. | — | Submit one → | 15 |
Lab tests link to each compound's lab-test page. Purity dots: ≥98% green · 95–98% purple · 90–95% amber · under 90% red (the /lab-tests bands). “Shops listing it” counts shops that list the compound, tested or not.
Mechanism overview
BPC-157 promotes new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) at injury sites, modulates the nitric oxide system to support endothelial function, and upregulates growth hormone receptor expression in tendon fibroblasts. The combination is hypothesized to accelerate healing across tendon, ligament, muscle, gastrointestinal mucosa, and central nervous system tissue. The compound's stability profile is unusual for a peptide of its size - it remains active in gastric acid, which permits oral as well as injection routes in research protocols.
TB-500 acts through a different angiogenesis mechanism. As a fragment of Thymosin β-4, it sequesters G-actin (preventing premature actin polymerization), upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor, and suppresses inflammatory cytokines. The functional outcome - tissue repair - overlaps with BPC-157, which is why the two are commonly researched as a stack. The mechanisms are non-overlapping enough that combination protocols have a coherent rationale even without Western trial data.
Follistatin operates outside the angiogenesis-and-repair frame. Myostatin (growth differentiation factor 8) is a negative regulator of muscle growth - it limits how much muscle a person can build. Follistatin binds and neutralizes myostatin, removing that ceiling. The result in animal models is dramatic muscle mass increase. Therapeutic interest extends to muscular dystrophy and sarcopenia contexts, though the research peptide form sits separately from the gene therapy clinical trials being run for those indications.
For a deeper treatment of how peptides are manufactured and quality-tested, see how peptides are made.
⚠ Quality verification: tissue repair peptides have compound-specific risks
Each of the three compounds has a distinct quality-verification profile:
BPC-157 - Methionine residue oxidation: BPC-157 contains a methionine residue that's susceptible to oxidation during storage and handling. HPLC traces showing degradation products near the main peak indicate poor manufacturing or storage. Verify the lab tested fresh material and that the certificate dates are recent.
TB-500 - Sequence ambiguity: "TB-500" is a research term, not a precisely defined molecule. Some vendors sell the full Thymosin β-4 sequence (43 amino acids); others sell a shorter fragment. Mass spectrometry confirms which form a vendor is actually shipping. Both forms exist in research literature, but they are not interchangeable.
Follistatin - Glycosylation and folding: Follistatin is a 288-amino-acid glycoprotein, dramatically larger and more complex than the short peptides in the rest of this category. Manufacturing it correctly requires recombinant expression with proper post-translational modification. Synthetic short-peptide vendors generally cannot produce active follistatin. Verify the source clearly states recombinant production.
Frequently asked questions
None of the three compounds in this category are FDA-approved for human use. BPC-157 is a research compound with no regulatory approval. TB-500 is a research fragment; the parent peptide Thymosin β-4 has been studied in early clinical trials but is not approved. Follistatin protein supplementation is not FDA-approved, though follistatin gene therapy is being investigated in clinical trials for specific muscular dystrophies. BPC-157 and TB-500 are both prohibited under WADA class S0 and S2 respectively for athletes in tested sports.
For most tissue-repair research applications, BPC-157 has substantially more published preclinical data - over 100 papers, predominantly from Sikirić's group at Zagreb. TB-500 has a thinner literature, with stronger research on cardiac and dermal contexts than musculoskeletal. The two are often researched together as a stack rather than as alternatives, since their mechanisms (angiogenesis via different pathways) are complementary rather than redundant.
The World Anti-Doping Agency added BPC-157 to its Prohibited List in January 2022 under class S0 (non-approved substances). The S0 category covers compounds with no current clinical approval that could plausibly provide athletic performance enhancement - including faster injury recovery, which is BPC-157's primary research-supported effect. Athletes in WADA-tested sports should treat BPC-157 use as a doping violation regardless of source or intent. TB-500 is similarly prohibited under class S2.
Mechanistically and structurally entirely different. BPC-157 (15 amino acids) and TB-500 (a Thymosin β-4 fragment) are short peptides that work through angiogenesis and tissue-repair pathways. Follistatin is a 288-amino-acid glycoprotein that works by binding and neutralizing myostatin, removing a constraint on muscle growth. Follistatin is properly thought of as a muscle-growth research compound rather than a tissue-repair compound - it sits in this category historically, not because of mechanistic similarity to BPC-157 or TB-500.
BPC-157 is unusual in that it appears stable in gastric acid and has been studied via oral administration in some preclinical protocols, though subcutaneous and intramuscular injection are more common in research literature. TB-500 has not been characterized for oral bioavailability and is administered by injection in research contexts. Follistatin, as a large glycoprotein, would not survive oral administration intact and must be administered parenterally.
Use the BPC-157 calculator for per-injection volume math from a 5mg or 10mg vial. For the reconstitution step itself, use the BAC water calculator. Typical research-reported BPC-157 protocols use 250-500 mcg subcutaneously once or twice daily, extrapolated from preclinical rat studies - but no human RCT has established formal dosing.
This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Peptides discussed may be investigational compounds not approved by the FDA (or equivalent regulators in your jurisdiction) for human use. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any peptide or research compound. Peptigrity is an independent review platform and does not sell, endorse, or recommend specific products or vendors.