Recovery: from hype to approved
The peptide community's best-selling story is 'recovery'. Here it is compared with what actually passed trials — the difference is instructive.
Editorial introduction
BPC-157 and TB-500 carry the promise of healing tendons, muscle and bone — on the basis of rats and self-reports. That does not mean they lie; it means they are not proven. Hold that distinction every time you read 'recovery peptide'.
On the same shelf stand substances with real trials: SS-31 (elamipretide) went through phases I–III for mitochondrial myopathies and heart failure — mechanism real, outcome undecided. Thymosin alpha-1 is approved in 30+ countries for hepatitis. AOD-9604 passed phases I and IIa without harm signals — and without an effect beating placebo.
The lesson of this series: 'safe' and 'works' are two separate questions. Answering the first does not imply an answer to the second.
Reading list
- 01BPC-157fragment
Synthetic fragment of the gastric juice protective peptide (BPC), isolated from human gastric juice protein.
Clinical trialsLimited evidence - 02TB-500fragment
Synthetic fragment (region 17–23, LKKTETQ) of the natural peptide Thymosin Beta-4.
Research chemicalLimited evidence - 03SS-31 (Elamipretide)peptide
Tetrapeptide that accumulates in the inner mitochondrial membrane; developed as elamipretide.
Approved drugStrong evidence - 04Thymosin Alpha-1peptide
Natural thymic peptide, N-terminally acetylated; approved in many countries (Zadaxin) for certain hepatitis indications and immunomodulation.
Approved drugModerate evidence - 05AOD-9604fragment
C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (region 177–191) that does not act via the IGF-1 pathway.
DiscontinuedLimited evidence