BPC-157 vs GHK-Cu

Category

Molecular weight

1419.53 g/mol

340.38 g/mol

Half-life

~4 hours (stable in gastric juice — unique among peptides)

~1 hour (injectable); variable topical absorption

Admin routes

Research areas

Typical dosing

250–500 mcg · 1-2x daily · 4-12 weeks

200–500 mcg · 1x daily (injectable); 1-2x daily (topical) · 4-8 weeks (injectable); ongoing (topical)

FDA status

Not FDA-approved and NOT compoundable as of July 2026. Removed from the Category 2 do-not-compound list in April 2026 (nomination withdrawn, effective 2026-04-23) — a procedural step, not approval; BPC-157 is NOT Category 1 and is in no FDA interim category. On 2026-07-23 an FDA advisory committee (PCAC) recommended it for the 503A bulks list, against FDA's own reviewers; FDA has not adopted that recommendation, BPC-157 is not on the 503A bulks list, and compounding it is not permitted. Also WADA-prohibited (S0).

Not FDA-approved as a drug. Available OTC in cosmetic formulations. Non-injectable GHK-Cu is on FDA's interim Category 1 list as of the 2026-05-14 document — Category 1 is titled "Under Evaluation" and carries enforcement discretion, not authorization. Injectable GHK-Cu is in no category and has no lawful compounding route. FDA intends to consult PCAC on GHK-Cu before the end of February 2027.

WADA status

Prohibited (S0 category — non-approved substances, effective January 2022)

Not prohibited (as of 2026)

PubMed studies

213

163