TB-500

From Retapedia, the free peptide encyclopedia
Medical disclaimer. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician before considering any compound discussed below. See Retapedia : Medical disclaimer.

Summary

What it does
TB-500 is used to speed healing of wounds, muscle, and tendon, to calm inflammation, to ease joint movement, and to leave less scar tissue.
How it works
A laboratory-made piece of thymosin beta-4, a protein the body already makes, given by injection. It moves repair cells into damaged tissue and grows new blood vessels there. No health authority approves it.
WADA status
Prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Drug-tested athletes cannot use it.

TB-500 (also known as TB-500 or Thymosin Beta-4 or Tβ4) is a performance-enhancing peptide studied for its effects on healing, recovery, tissue repair. Synthetic thymosin beta-4 peptide for tissue repair, wound healing, and muscle recovery. Strong animal evidence, limited human data. Not FDA-approved.

TB-500 is a synthetic 43-amino acid peptide modeled after thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4), a naturally occurring protein found throughout the human body that plays critical roles in tissue regeneration, wound healing, and inflammation modulation. Its primary mechanism involves binding to actin, a protein essential for cell structure and movement, thereby promoting cell migration, angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation), and tissue remodeling. TB-500 has demonstrated significant potential in preclinical studies for accelerating soft tissue repair, enhancing wound closure, improving cardiovascular function post-injury, supporting muscle and tendon recovery, and promoting neuroregeneration.

Natty status
TB-500 is classified as not natty. It is prohibited by WADA and most natural bodybuilding federations. Use places the athlete in the enhanced category. See § Natty status.
Contents [hide]
  1. 1 Overview
  2. 2 Mechanism of action
  3. 3 Reported effects
  4. 4 Dosage and administration
  5. 5 Natty status
  6. 6 Research
  7. 7 Related compounds
  8. 8 References
  9. 9 External links

Overview

The peptide works by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines while promoting anti-inflammatory mediators, creating an optimal regenerative environment.

Research has shown benefits in cardiac protection following myocardial infarction, enhanced muscle fiber repair after strain or trauma, accelerated dermal and epithelial wound healing with reduced scarring, improved joint flexibility and tendon resilience, and potential neuroprotective effects in models of spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury.

However, like BPC-157, TB-500 lacks substantial human clinical trial data and is not FDA-approved for therapeutic use.

It is classified as a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and remains designated for research use only.

Quality control concerns exist as it is an unregulated compound in most jurisdictions.

While animal studies suggest it is generally well-tolerated, comprehensive human safety data is limited.

Mechanism of action

Speeds wound healing, muscle and tendon recovery. Reduces inflammation, improves joint mobility, minimizes scar tissue formation.

Reported effects

Effects reported in the literature and from preclinical models include:

  • TB-500 (thymosin beta-4 fragment) is among the unapproved peptides showing favorable tissue repair outcomes in animal models. [2] Preclinical
  • TB-500 is grouped with the tissue-repair peptides addressing the impaired tissue-repair hallmark of aging, with promising preclinical but limited clinical evidence. [1] Preclinical
  • TB-500 is reviewed as a regenerative peptide with a proposed role in tissue repair and chronic pain management. [3] Preclinical
  • TB-500 remains unapproved by the FDA, and human clinical evidence for it is limited. [3][1] Anecdotal
  • Rigorous human safety data for TB-500 are scarce and long-term safety has not been established, with potential for serious harm to patients. [2][1] Anecdotal
  • TB-500 is marketed direct to patients through a gray market operating largely outside regulatory oversight, and its reported efficacy may be mediated by a placebo effect amplified by social media. [2] Anecdotal

Evidence grades: FDA approvedApproved (non-US)Phase IIIPhase IIPhase IPreclinicalAnecdotal

Dosage and administration

⚠
Dosage information is included for encyclopedic purposes only. Retapedia does not provide medical advice. See Retapedia : Medical disclaimer.

Subcutaneous

  • Loading Phase: 2-2.5mg twice weekly for 4-6 weeks
  • Maintenance: 2mg once weekly or 5mg every 2 weeks
  • Acute Injury: 2.5mg twice weekly for 2-4 weeks, then reduce

Can be combined with BPC

  • 157 for enhanced tissue repair

Typical cycle

  • 4-8 weeks loading, followed by maintenance or off-period

General

  • Inject subcutaneously in abdomen, thigh, or near injury site
  • Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water, store refrigerated 2-8°C
  • Use within 30 days after reconstitution

Natty status

See also: Peptide § Natty status

TB-500 is classified as not natty. It appears on the WADA prohibited list and is banned by major natural bodybuilding federations.[4] Use of this compound places the athlete in the enhanced category rather than the natural category in competitive contexts.

Research

1 active clinical trial on record — highest phase: Phase 2. 1 registered in total , of which 0 completed
View on ClinicalTrials.gov · fetched Sep 4, 2026

The peptide has been the subject of 5 studies and reference works collected on this site. Additional bibliography is in § External links below.

Other peptides in this catalogue with overlapping mechanisms or status:

BPC-157 Not natty
Speeds healing of tendons, ligaments, muscles, and gut lining. Promotes new blood vessel growth and reduces inflammation. Evidence is almost entirely from animal studies.
Copper peptide GHK-Cu Not natty
Copper-binding tripeptide that supports skin regeneration, collagen synthesis, wound healing, and hair growth, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Used topically in cosmetics; deeper effects remain investigational.
IGF-1 LR3 Not natty
Long-acting IGF-1 analog studied preclinically for muscle growth and tissue repair. No peer-reviewed human evidence of benefit. Risks include hypoglycemia, joint pain, unproven cancer concerns.
Selank Not natty
Synthetic tuftsin analogue used as an anxiolytic nootropic. Reported to act on GABA and monoamine signalling without sedation or dependence. Registered as a medicine in Russia only.

References

  1. a b c Therapeutic peptides in gerontology: mechanisms and applications for healthy aging. Recent review
  2. a b c Safety and Efficacy of Approved and Unapproved Peptide Therapies for Musculoskeletal Injuries and Athletic Performance. Recent review
  3. a b Peptides in Regenerative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Applications in Tissue Repair and Chronic Pain Management. Recent review
  4. a b World Anti-Doping Agency. (2026). Prohibited List 2026.

External links

Categories: Peptides | Performance-enhancing substances | Healing | Recovery | Tissue repair | Anti-inflammatory

This page was last updated on September 4, 2026, at 13:24 (UTC).

Research last reviewed on September 4, 2026.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.