Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review.

This literature and patent review examines BPC 157 (Body Protection Compound 157), a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from human gastric juice. The authors surveyed preclinical evidence across multiple disease models, including tissue injury, inflammatory bowel disease, and central nervous system disorders, cataloguing the compound's reported pleiotropic (wide-ranging) biological activities and proposed mechanisms of action. The review also assesses available toxicity and safety data, noting that relatively few side effects have been reported in preclinical settings. Regulatory context is highlighted: BPC 157 has not been approved by the FDA or equivalent global authorities, as no sufficient clinical trials in humans have been completed. The compound was temporarily listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2022 but is no longer on the banned list. The authors additionally map recent patent applications and granted patents to reflect growing commercial and research interest. A key limitation acknowledged throughout is that virtually all supporting evidence comes from animal and in vitro studies, meaning the translation of these findings to human health outcomes remains unestablished.

Why this grade: This is a narrative literature and patent review summarizing predominantly preclinical (animal and in vitro) data with no original human clinical trial data, so it cannot independently establish human efficacy or safety.