Browse three tissue repair and healing peptides tracked on Peptigrity, with verified third-party 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.
Last updated: April 2026
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 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.
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.
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.
→ See current peptide regulatory status: /blog/are-peptides-legal-regulatory-status-by-country
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.
→ See current peptide regulatory status: /blog/are-peptides-legal-regulatory-status-by-country
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.
→ BPC-157 vs TB-500 detailed comparison: /blog/comparing-bpc-157-and-tb-500
→ BPC-157 + TB-500 stack protocol research: /blog/bpc157-tb500-wolverine-stack-dosing-protocol-guide
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.
→ BPC-157 vs TB-500 detailed comparison: /blog/comparing-bpc-157-and-tb-500
→ BPC-157 + TB-500 stack protocol research: /blog/bpc157-tb500-wolverine-stack-dosing-protocol-guide
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.
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.
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.
→ How to inject peptides: /blog/how-to-inject-peptides
→ Subcutaneous vs intramuscular injection: /blog/subcutaneous-vs-intramuscular-injection
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.
→ How to inject peptides: /blog/how-to-inject-peptides
→ Subcutaneous vs intramuscular injection: /blog/subcutaneous-vs-intramuscular-injection
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.
→ BPC-157 calculator: /tools/bpc-157-calculator
→ BAC water calculator: /tools/bac-water-calculator
→ General peptide dosage guide: /blog/peptide-dosage-guide
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.
→ BPC-157 calculator: /tools/bpc-157-calculator
→ BAC water calculator: /tools/bac-water-calculator
→ General peptide dosage guide: /blog/peptide-dosage-guide