TB-500
Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment
Tissue Repair Peptide
Evidence Level: Moderate Evidence
Some human data, strong animal studies, plausible mechanism
Regulatory Status: Not FDA approved. Banned by WADA. Sold as "research chemical" in gray market.
TB-500 is a synthetic peptide derived from thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4), a naturally occurring protein found in nearly all human cells. It plays a critical role in tissue repair, cell migration, and new blood vessel formation. Like BPC-157, it's popular in biohacking circles for injury recovery—but the human evidence is even more limited.
How It Works
Key mechanisms:
Cell migration: TB-500 promotes the movement of cells to injury sites—essential for wound healing and tissue repair.
Angiogenesis: Stimulates new blood vessel formation, improving nutrient and oxygen delivery to damaged tissue.
Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IL-1β, potentially speeding recovery.
Anti-fibrotic: May reduce scar tissue formation, promoting more functional healing.
Actin regulation: Helps reorganize the cellular skeleton, enabling damaged cells to repair and migrate.
The systemic nature of TB-500 (it affects the whole body rather than just the injection site) distinguishes it from more localized peptides like BPC-157.
Potential Benefits
- Animal studies show accelerated wound healing and tissue repair
- May reduce inflammation and promote angiogenesis
- Systemic effects—doesn't require injection at injury site
- Research suggests cardiac tissue regeneration potential in animal models
- Generally well-tolerated in Phase I human safety trials (up to 1260mg IV)
- May help with flexibility and reduce muscle adhesions
Risks & Considerations
- No FDA approval—buying from unregulated gray market sources
- Extremely limited human clinical trial data for musculoskeletal use
- Quality and purity vary wildly between vendors
- Banned by WADA—will cause positive doping test
- Theoretical cancer concern (promotes cell migration and angiogenesis)
- Long-term effects completely unknown
- May interact with blood thinners or affect clotting
- Systemic effects mean you can't control where it acts
Dosing Information
There is no official dosing since TB-500 is not approved for human use. The following reflects common practices in the biohacking and veterinary communities.
- •Loading phase: 2-2.5mg twice weekly for 4-6 weeks
- •Maintenance phase: 2-2.5mg once weekly or every 2 weeks
- •Subcutaneous injection (anywhere—it's systemic)
- •Some users combine with BPC-157 ("healing stack")
- •Typical cycle: 4-12 weeks depending on injury
- •Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water, store refrigerated
Practical Tips
- 1Unlike BPC-157, injection location doesn't matter—TB-500 is systemic
- 2Often stacked with BPC-157 for complementary mechanisms
- 3Source quality is critical—demand third-party COAs
- 4Start with loading phase for acute injuries, maintenance for ongoing support
- 5Not a replacement for proper rehabilitation and physical therapy
- 6If you compete in tested sports, this will trigger a positive test
Key Research
Phase I Safety Study
TB-500 administered intravenously up to 1260mg for up to 14 days was well tolerated with low incidence of adverse events and no serious adverse events.
Cardiac regeneration (animal model)
Nature, 2011
Thymosin β4 stimulated formation of new heart muscle cells from precursor cells in adult mice hearts and promoted blood vessel recruitment.
Wound healing review
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Thymosin β4 promotes wound healing by increasing cell proliferation and migration, enhancing fibroblast activity, and supporting blood vessel formation.
Related Goals
Related Treatments
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any treatment. Evidence levels and regulatory status can change—this content was last updated December 2024.