BPC-157 — Canada Research Brief

Origin and structure

BPC-157, short for Body Protection Compound-157, is a synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide derived from a fragment of a larger protein isolated from human gastric juice by Sikiric and colleagues at the University of Zagreb. Unlike most peptides of its size, BPC-157 is reported to be stable in human gastric fluid — a property that drove its initial interest as a potential oral research candidate.

Sequence: Gly-Glu-Pro-Pro-Pro-Gly-Lys-Pro-Ala-Asp-Asp-Ala-Gly-Leu-Val. Molecular weight: 1,419.56 g/mol. CAS: 137525-51-0.

Preclinical mechanism

Preclinical rodent studies — the vast majority of BPC-157's literature — associate it with three pathways:

1. VEGFR2 activation and angiogenesis. Several Sikiric-group papers link BPC-157 to upregulation of VEGFR2 expression and new blood-vessel formation in wound sites.
2. Nitric oxide signalling. BPC-157 appears to interact with NO synthase pathways, which is the most-cited mechanism for its reported cytoprotective effects on the gastric mucosa.
3. Dopaminergic and serotonergic modulation. A smaller body of work suggests effects on monoamine systems in rodent CNS models.

Human clinical evidence for BPC-157 is essentially absent. There are no completed phase-2 or phase-3 trials in humans registered with ClinicalTrials.gov for orthopaedic, neurological, or gastrointestinal endpoints as of publication.

Canadian research-use framing

BPC-157 is not a Health Canada approved drug, not a prescription item, and not a Natural Health Product. Any Canadian vendor selling BPC-157 as a treatment, therapy, or prescribable substance is operating outside the Food and Drugs Act. OVIOPEPTIDES sells BPC-157 strictly for non-clinical laboratory use. Read our peptides in Canada guide for the full regulatory framing.

Comparisons

• BPC-157 vs TB-500 — pathway, evidence quality, and structural differences.

Storage and reconstitution

BPC-157 ships as a lyophilised powder. Store the lyophilised vial at -20°C for long-term storage (24+ months) or 4°C for short-term (3-6 months). Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water following the steps in our reconstitution guide. Reconstituted material is stable refrigerated for approximately 2-4 weeks depending on concentration and handling.