The Most Popular Peptides: BPC-157, Sermorelin, Tesamorelin, Ipamorelin

BPC-157, sermorelin, ipamorelin, and tesamorelin are peptides with distinct mechanisms, uses, and safety profiles. Most clinical evidence is strongest for tesamorelin (FDA-approved) and sermorelin (diagnosis/treatment of GH deficiency), while BPC-157 and ipamorelin remain investigational or off-label.

BPC-157:

BPC-157 is a synthetic peptide derived from human gastric juice, extensively studied in preclinical models. It demonstrates pleiotropic effects including tissue healing (muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve), cytoprotection, angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory activity, and modulation of neurotransmitter systems. It may enhance growth hormone receptor expression and promote healing via NO-system and growth factor pathways.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Safety data from animal studies and limited human trials suggest a favorable profile, with no significant toxicity or serious adverse effects reported, even at high doses.[1][7] However, BPC-157 is not FDA-approved for any indication, and robust human efficacy data are lacking. Its use is not supported by regulatory agencies due to insufficient clinical evidence.[1]

Sermorelin:

Sermorelin is a synthetic analogue of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), used primarily for diagnosing and treating idiopathic growth hormone deficiency in children. It stimulates endogenous GH secretion from the anterior pituitary. Clinical studies show it is effective for diagnostic testing and can promote catch-up growth in children with GH deficiency, with sustained increases in height velocity during treatment.[8] Adverse effects are generally mild and transient, including facial flushing and injection site pain. Sermorelin is well tolerated, but its efficacy for adult anti-aging or performance enhancement is not established in the literature.

Ipamorelin:

Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) that stimulates GH release via GHRP-like receptors, with high specificity and minimal impact on ACTH or cortisol.[9] In animal and early human studies, ipamorelin increases GH and promotes longitudinal bone growth, with a short half-life and dose-proportional pharmacokinetics.[10][11] Safety data indicate a favorable profile, with no significant effects on other pituitary hormones and no major adverse events reported in short-term studies.[9][10] Ipamorelin is not FDA-approved and lacks large-scale clinical efficacy or safety data for any indication.

Tesamorelin:

Tesamorelin is a synthetic GHRH analogue, FDA-approved for reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It increases endogenous GH and IGF-1, leading to significant reductions in visceral adipose tissue and improvements in body composition in HIV patients.[12][13][14][15] Adverse effects include fluid retention (edema, arthralgia, carpal tunnel), glucose intolerance or diabetes, and hypersensitivity reactions (rash, pruritus, urticaria). Tesamorelin requires monitoring for glucose intolerance and is contraindicated in pregnancy and active malignancy.[14][15] Long-term safety is generally favorable, but ongoing monitoring is recommended.

In summary, tesamorelin and sermorelin have defined clinical uses and safety profiles, while BPC-157 and ipamorelin remain investigational with promising but unproven benefits and limited human safety data.

References

1. Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide-Literature and Patent Review. Józwiak M, Bauer M, Kamysz W, Kleczkowska P. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). 2025;18(2):185. doi:10.3390/ph18020185.

2. The Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Pleiotropic Beneficial Activity and Its Possible Relations With Neurotransmitter Activity. Sikiric P, Boban Blagaic A, Strbe S, et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). 2024;17(4):461. doi:10.3390/ph17040461.

3. Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 May Recover Brain-Gut Axis and Gut-Brain Axis Function. Sikiric P, Gojkovic S, Krezic I, et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). 2023;16(5):676. doi:10.3390/ph16050676.

4. Gastric Pentadecapeptide Body Protection Compound BPC 157 and Its Role in Accelerating Musculoskeletal Soft Tissue Healing. Gwyer D, Wragg NM, Wilson SL. Cell and Tissue Research. 2019;377(2):153-159. doi:10.1007/s00441-019-03016-8.

5. BPC 157 and Standard Angiogenic Growth Factors. Gastrointestinal Tract Healing, Lessons From Tendon, Ligament, Muscle and Bone Healing. Seiwerth S, Rucman R, Turkovic B, et al. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2018;24(18):1972-1989. doi:10.2174/1381612824666180712110447.

6. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Enhances the Growth Hormone Receptor Expression in Tendon Fibroblasts. Chang CH, Tsai WC, Hsu YH, Pang JH. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2014;19(11):19066-77. doi:10.3390/molecules191119066.

7. Preclinical Safety Evaluation of Body Protective Compound-157, a Potential Drug for Treating Various Wounds. Xu C, Sun L, Ren F, et al. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology : RTP. 2020;114:104665. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104665.

8. Sermorelin: A Review of Its Use in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Children With Idiopathic Growth Hormone Deficiency. Prakash A, Goa KL. BioDrugs : Clinical Immunotherapeutics, Biopharmaceuticals and Gene Therapy. 1999;12(2):139-57. doi:10.2165/00063030-199912020-00007.

9. Ipamorelin, the First Selective Growth Hormone Secretagogue. Raun K, Hansen BS, Johansen NL, et al. European Journal of Endocrinology. 1998;139(5):552-61. doi:10.1530/eje.0.1390552.

10. Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Ipamorelin, a Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide, in Human Volunteers. Gobburu JV, Agersø H, Jusko WJ, Ynddal L. Pharmaceutical Research. 1999;16(9):1412-6. doi:10.1023/a:1018955126402.

11. Ipamorelin, a New Growth-Hormone-Releasing Peptide, Induces Longitudinal Bone Growth in Rats. Johansen PB, Nowak J, Skjaerbaek C, et al. Growth Hormone & IGF Research : Official Journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society. 1999;9(2):106-13. doi:10.1054/ghir.1999.9998.

12. Tesamorelin: A Review of Its Use in the Management of HIV-associated Lipodystrophy. Dhillon S. Drugs. 2011;71(8):1071-91. doi:10.2165/11202240-000000000-00000.

13. Efficacy and Safety of Tesamorelin in People With HIV on Integrase Inhibitors. Russo SC, Ockene MW, Arpante AK, et al. AIDS (London, England). 2024;38(12):1758-1764. doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000003965.

14. EGRIFTA SV. Food and Drug Administration. Updated date: 2024-12-12.

15. EGRIFTA WR. Food and Drug Administration. Updated date: 2025-03-31.