Peptides for Muscle Recovery: Research, Evidence, and Regulatory Status

Key Takeaways

• Compounds covered: BPC-157, TB-500 (thymosin beta-4 fragment), ipamorelin, CJC-1295, sermorelin
• Goal area: Post-training muscle and connective tissue recovery, reducing downtime between training sessions
• Evidence range: Ranges from Phase II RCT for thymosin beta-4 in wound healing (not athletic recovery) to animal-only data for BPC-157; GH secretagogues have Phase II RCT data for lean mass in older adults
• Regulatory range: Sermorelin has a USP monograph and is eligible for compounding under Section 503A; CJC-1295 and ipamorelin have no FDA-endorsed 503A pathway (PCAC recommended against inclusion on the 503A Bulks List) and are dispensed, if at all, only under state-licensed patient-specific prescription practices outside FDA's formally approved pathway; BPC-157 and TB-500 were removed from the FDA interim Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026 and remain ineligible for 503A compounding
• Key biomarkers for recovery: hs-CRP, IGF-1, fasting glucose, HbA1c, comprehensive metabolic panel, testosterone
• As of April 2026: BPC-157 and TB-500 are not eligible for 503A compounding (removed from Category 2 on April 22, 2026; no USP monograph, not on the 503A Bulks List); GH-releasing peptides including ipamorelin are WADA-prohibited.
• Bottom line: No peptide for athletic recovery has been evaluated in a human randomized controlled trial; all evidence is preclinical (BPC-157, TB-500) or from non-athlete clinical populations (GH secretagogues).

Recovery capacity — the ability to repair training-induced tissue stress and return to full training load — is where many of the most interesting recovery peptide mechanisms are grounded. The biology is genuine: VEGF-mediated angiogenesis, FAK-paxillin tendon fibroblast activation, and nocturnal GH pulsatility are real processes that influence recovery rate. What is also genuine is the size of the gap between animal model evidence and human clinical trial evidence in this specific category.

Understanding Muscle Recovery: The Biology

Skeletal muscle recovers from training-induced damage through a coordinated multi-phase repair process. The initial inflammatory phase — occurring in the first 24 to 72 hours after exercise — involves infiltration of macrophages and other immune cells that clear damaged tissue and release cytokines that initiate repair signaling. The proliferative phase follows: satellite cells (muscle stem cells) are activated, proliferate, and differentiate to fuse with damaged myofibers, restoring structural integrity.

Connective tissue recovery — tendons, ligaments, and the myotendinous junction — follows a slower trajectory than muscle repair and involves extracellular matrix remodeling driven by fibroblast activity and angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation). Connective tissue has a lower vascular density than muscle, making blood supply a rate-limiting factor in repair. VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is the primary pro-angiogenic signal in this context; compounds that upregulate VEGF activity may support connective tissue repair by improving local blood supply to the injury site.

The GH/IGF-1 axis contributes to both muscle and connective tissue recovery through IGF-1-driven satellite cell activation and protein synthesis signaling. The largest GH pulse of the day occurs during slow-wave sleep, driving nocturnal IGF-1 production and overnight repair signaling. Kraemer and Ratamess, in their foundational review of hormonal responses to resistance exercise in Sports Medicine in 2005, established GH, testosterone, and IGF-1 in training response, with the nocturnal GH pulse serving as a primary overnight recovery signal.

Peptides studied for recovery interact with this biology through three distinct mechanisms: (1) direct tissue-repair promotion via fibroblast and VEGF pathways (BPC-157, TB-500); (2) GH axis amplification through pulsatile GH secretagogue stimulation (ipamorelin, CJC-1295, sermorelin); and (3) anti-inflammatory modulation that may reduce the inhibitory effect of chronic inflammation on satellite cell function.

Peptides Studied for Recovery: A Quick Comparison

The following compounds have published evidence relevant to muscle and connective tissue recovery. They are listed by evidence quality.

• Compound: Thymosin beta-4 / TB-500
  Mechanism for recovery: Actin-binding protein promoting endothelial cell migration, angiogenesis, and tissue repair; modulates inflammatory response post-injury
  Evidence: Phase 2 human trials for wound healing (Treadwell et al., 2012 — stasis and pressure ulcers, not athletic recovery); animal studies for ligament and muscle repair
  FDA status: Not FDA-approved for any indication; no USP monograph; not on the FDA 503A Bulks List; not eligible for compounding under Section 503A. Previously listed as an interim Category 2 bulk drug substance; FDA removed TB-500/thymosin beta-4 from the Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026 — removal does not equal promotion to Category 1, and the compound remains ineligible for 503A compounding
  SP availability: Not legally available under the current FDA framework; Superpower does not offer this compound
  WADA status: Thymosin beta-4 is prohibited under the 2026 WADA Prohibited List
  Route: Injectable (animal studies)
• Compound: CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin
  Mechanism for recovery: GH secretagogue combination; amplifies nocturnal GH pulse, driving IGF-1 production and overnight muscle repair signaling
  Evidence: Phase II RCT for GH/IGF-1 elevation (Teichman et al., N=44); Phase II RCT for lean mass in older adults (Nass et al., N=65); no athlete recovery RCTs
  FDA status: Not FDA-approved for any indication; no USP monograph; not on the FDA 503A Bulks List. The FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee has recommended against adding CJC-1295 and ipamorelin to the 503A Bulks List. Some state-licensed compounding pharmacies dispense these compounds under patient-specific prescriptions, but this practice is outside FDA's formally approved 503A pathway and subject to enforcement discretion
  SP availability: Not currently available through Superpower
  WADA status: Prohibited under the 2026 WADA Prohibited List
  Route: Subcutaneous injection
• Compound: BPC-157
  Mechanism for recovery: Cytoprotection, VEGF-mediated angiogenesis, FAK-paxillin fibroblast activation in tendon; multi-tissue repair in muscle and connective tissue
  Evidence: Animal studies only — no human RCTs as of April 2026
  FDA status: Not FDA-approved for any indication; no USP monograph; not on the FDA 503A Bulks List; not eligible for compounding under Section 503A. Previously listed as an interim Category 2 bulk drug substance; FDA removed BPC-157 from the Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026 — removal does not equal promotion to Category 1, and BPC-157 remains ineligible for 503A compounding
  SP availability: Not legally available under the current FDA framework; Superpower does not offer this compound
  WADA status: Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List as of 2026; status may change as research evolves
  Route: Injectable (animal studies); no established human route
• Compound: Sermorelin
  Mechanism for recovery: GHRH analog; stimulates pituitary GH release, preserving nocturnal GH pulse and overnight IGF-1-driven repair signaling
  Evidence: Phase III RCT in GH-deficient children; Phase II adult GH stimulation data; no athlete recovery RCTs
  FDA status: Previously FDA-approved as Geref (for pediatric growth hormone deficiency evaluation); withdrawn from the US market in 2008 for commercial reasons. No sermorelin product is currently FDA-approved and marketed. Sermorelin has a USP monograph, which qualifies it for compounding under Section 503A
  SP availability: Not currently available through Superpower
  WADA status: Prohibited under the 2026 WADA Prohibited List (GHRH category)
  Route: Subcutaneous injection

Compounds listed as research-only or without a 503A-eligibility pathway are not legally available to prescribe in the US for recovery or athletic performance purposes. Their presence in this article is for educational context only and does not constitute an offer, recommendation, or endorsement of use.

Peptides for Recovery: Individual Profiles

Each compound below has a distinct mechanism and evidence base. The evidence for each must be evaluated separately.

BPC-157: the tissue repair compound

BPC-157 has not been approved by the FDA for any medical use. Research has been limited to animal studies; no human RCTs have been published as of April 2026. It is not available through Superpower or any licensed prescriber for recovery use. Inclusion here is for educational context only.

The preclinical evidence for BPC-157 in recovery contexts is substantive by animal model standards. Novinscak and colleagues, in a 2008 study in Surgery Today, reported BPC-157 effects in a crush muscle injury rat model, with improvements in functional recovery and normalization of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity. Chang and colleagues, in a 2011 study in the Journal of Applied Physiology, reported in cell-culture and rat models that BPC-157 promoted tendon fibroblast outgrowth and cell survival via FAK-paxillin pathway activation. Brcic and colleagues, in 2009 in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, reported VEGF-mediated angiogenesis in rat models. A 2017 paper by Hsieh and colleagues in the Journal of Molecular Medicine provided mechanistic specificity: BPC-157's VEGFR2 angiogenic mechanism and upregulation. [Animal study]

Seiwerth and colleagues' 2018 review in Current Pharmaceutical Design summarized BPC-157 effects across multiple tissues as sharing a common angiogenic mechanism in animal models. Japjec and colleagues reported in 2021 in Biomedicines that BPC-157 was studied in a rat myotendinous junction model. The myotendinous junction is a common athletic injury site in humans; whether the rat-model finding extrapolates to humans has not been tested. The 2022 Biomedicines review by Staresinic and colleagues comprehensively summarized BPC-157 preclinical muscle data across the full range of animal models. A 2010 paper in Medical Science Monitor reported BPC-157 BPC-157 in corticosteroid-impaired rat muscle healing in rats — relevant context for recovery after corticosteroid injections.

The Daniëls and colleagues 2025 systematic review in HSS Journal, the most current balanced clinical evaluation of BPC-157 in orthopaedic sports medicine, balanced clinical assessment of BPC-157. BPC-157 has no USP monograph, is not on the FDA 503A Bulks List, and is not eligible for 503A compounding; FDA removed BPC-157 from the interim Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026, and that removal did not place the compound on Category 1. Krivic and colleagues, in a 2006 Journal of Orthopaedic Research study, reported BPC-157 promoted Achilles tendon-to-bone healing in rats and counteracted corticosteroid-induced healing impairment — preclinical evidence in an injury site analogous to a common athletic injury in humans.

TB-500 and thymosin beta-4

TB-500 is a synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4), an endogenous protein involved in actin sequestration and cell motility. Goldstein and Kleinman, reviewing Tβ4's biological properties in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy in 2012, described thymosin beta-4's regenerative applications of thymosin beta-4, including anti-inflammatory activity and stem cell activation. Philp and colleagues, in a 2010 review in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, reviewed animal studies showing thymosin beta-4 in tissue regeneration.

Xu and colleagues, in a 2013 study in Regulatory Peptides, showed local thymosin beta-4 administration thymosin beta-4 in rat MCL healing — the most directly relevant animal model for athletic ligament recovery. Brady and colleagues showed in a 2014 Journal of Orthopaedic Research study that thymosin beta-4 in mouse fracture healing.

The highest-quality human data for thymosin beta-4 comes from Treadwell and colleagues' 2012 review in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, describing Phase 2 outcomes in stasis and pressure ulcers. This is the only peer-reviewed human clinical trial data for Tβ4 — and it is in dermal wound healing, not athletic muscle or connective tissue recovery. The wound-healing mechanism and the athletic recovery mechanism involve overlapping but not identical biological processes; direct extrapolation requires caution. [Phase 2 clinical data for wound healing only]

Thymosin beta-4/TB-500 has no USP monograph, is not on the FDA 503A Bulks List, and is not eligible for compounding under Section 503A; FDA removed TB-500/thymosin beta-4 from the interim Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026, and that removal did not place the compound on Category 1. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, thymosin beta-4 is a prohibited substance. Not legally available under the current FDA framework; Superpower does not offer this compound.

GH secretagogues for recovery: ipamorelin and CJC-1295

GH secretagogues support the nocturnal GH pulse that drives IGF-1 production and overnight tissue repair. Ipamorelin, the selective GHRP first characterized by Raun and colleagues in 1998, stimulates pulsatile GH release with minimal ACTH and cortisol stimulation — a selectivity profile that distinguishes it from older GHRPs with significant cortisol elevation. Sigalos and Pastuszak, reviewing GH secretagogue pharmacology in Sexual Medicine Reviews in 2018, noted that GH secretagogues GH secretagogue pharmacology review — the nocturnal GH pulse being directly linked to sleep architecture.

Prakash and Walker, reviewing sermorelin's pharmacology in BioDrugs in 1999, described how GHRH analog administration preserves the physiological nocturnal GH pulsatility pattern, maintaining the overnight recovery signal that adequate sleep quality normally produces. Barclay and colleagues, reviewing IGF-1 signaling in Frontiers in Nutrition in 2019, established that IGF-1 activates the PI3K/Akt/mTOR cascade, the downstream pathway through which GH-driven IGF-1 elevation promotes muscle protein synthesis and repair. [Phase II RCT for GH/IGF-1 effects — not recovery-specific]

Neither ipamorelin nor CJC-1295 has been evaluated in a human randomized controlled trial specifically for post-training recovery outcomes. Their recovery relevance is mechanistically inferred from the GH/IGF-1 axis's established role in overnight repair signaling. Neither compound is FDA-approved for any indication, neither has a USP monograph, neither is on the FDA 503A Bulks List, and the FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) has recommended against adding CJC-1295 or ipamorelin to the 503A Bulks List. Some state-licensed compounding pharmacies dispense these compounds under patient-specific prescriptions, but this practice is outside FDA's formally approved 503A pathway and subject to enforcement discretion. Both are WADA-prohibited. Not currently available through Superpower.

Regulatory Status at a Glance

As of April 2026, the compounds discussed in this article carry different regulatory statuses. No compound discussed here is FDA-approved for post-training muscle recovery.

• BPC-157: Not FDA-approved for any indication; no USP monograph; not on the FDA 503A Bulks List; not eligible for 503A compounding. Previously listed as an interim Category 2 bulk drug substance; FDA removed BPC-157 from the Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026 — removal does not equal promotion to Category 1. Not currently WADA-prohibited
• Thymosin beta-4 / TB-500: Not FDA-approved for any indication; no USP monograph; not on the FDA 503A Bulks List; not eligible for 503A compounding. Previously listed as an interim Category 2 bulk drug substance; FDA removed TB-500/thymosin beta-4 from the Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026 — removal does not equal promotion to Category 1. Thymosin beta-4 is WADA-prohibited
• CJC-1295: Not FDA-approved; no USP monograph; not on the FDA 503A Bulks List; PCAC recommended against inclusion. Some state-licensed compounding pharmacies dispense CJC-1295 under patient-specific prescriptions outside FDA's formally approved 503A pathway. WADA-prohibited
• Ipamorelin: Not FDA-approved; no USP monograph; not on the FDA 503A Bulks List; PCAC recommended against inclusion. Some state-licensed compounding pharmacies dispense ipamorelin under patient-specific prescriptions outside FDA's formally approved 503A pathway. WADA-prohibited
• Sermorelin: Previously FDA-approved as Geref (for pediatric growth hormone deficiency evaluation); withdrawn from the US market in 2008 for commercial reasons. No sermorelin product is currently FDA-approved and marketed. Sermorelin has a USP monograph, which qualifies it for compounding under Section 503A. WADA-prohibited (GHRH category)

Compounds that lack a 503A-eligibility pathway cannot be legally obtained through US compounding pharmacies under the current regulatory framework. Products sold online operate outside FDA manufacturing oversight.

Considerations When Comparing Recovery Peptides

The tissue-repair compounds (BPC-157, TB-500) and the GH secretagogues operate on different biological axes: connective tissue angiogenesis and fibroblast activation versus overnight systemic repair signaling via IGF-1. These axes are biologically distinct and are not supported by the same quality of evidence. BPC-157 and TB-500 are not legally available through FDA-endorsed pathways for recovery use; the tissue-repair biology discussion in this article is educational context only, not a recommendation or protocol framework.

Direct comparison between compounds is not appropriate: they have different mechanisms, different evidence bases, and have been studied in different populations using different outcomes. Inferring that the compound with more animal studies is "more effective" than one with Phase II RCTs in a different clinical context is methodologically unreliable.

Nature of the recovery limitation: Connective tissue injuries — tendon, ligament, myotendinous junction — are biologically distinct from muscle soreness and protein degradation from high-volume resistance training. The tissue-repair compounds have preclinical relevance to the former; GH secretagogues are more relevant to the latter's overnight protein synthesis component. A clinical evaluation begins with characterizing which biology is limiting.

Baseline inflammatory state: Chronic low-grade inflammation, visible as elevated hs-CRP, impairs satellite cell function and slows recovery independently of any compound intervention. Addressing systemic inflammation — through dietary, lifestyle, or medical means — is a foundational recovery variable; any evaluation of a recovery compound in a clinical setting would typically begin from a controlled inflammatory baseline.

Regulatory access: BPC-157 and TB-500 are not eligible for 503A compounding (no USP monograph, not on the 503A Bulks List; removed from Category 2 effective April 22, 2026, which did not confer Category 1 status). Sermorelin has a USP monograph and can be compounded under Section 503A. CJC-1295 and ipamorelin have no FDA-endorsed 503A pathway, though some state-licensed pharmacies dispense them under patient-specific prescriptions. These access limitations are not circumvented by any alternative sourcing — online products operate outside oversight.

WADA status for competitive athletes: GH secretagogues and thymosin beta-4 are WADA-prohibited. BPC-157 is not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List, but WADA actively monitors emerging research compounds and lists can change. Competitive athletes must confirm prohibited substance status with their sport governing body before use.

This is not an exhaustive list of clinical considerations. A licensed provider will evaluate full health history, current medications, and baseline lab results before recommending any compound.

Safety Considerations

For GH secretagogues, the class-level safety profile includes fluid retention, insulin sensitivity reduction, carpal tunnel syndrome, and joint pain — dose-dependent effects related to GH elevation magnitude. The insulin sensitivity concern makes glucose and HbA1c monitoring essential before and during any GH secretagogue protocol. These risks are attenuated with ipamorelin's selective profile compared to older GHRPs, but not eliminated.

For BPC-157 and TB-500: there is no published human safety data. The sourcing risk with these compounds is significant given that neither has an FDA-endorsed 503A compounding pathway — all commercially available products are from unregulated gray-market sources. Independent testing of similar unregulated injectable products has documented contamination, incorrect labeling, and dosing inconsistencies. There is no consumer-verifiable quality standard for these products.

Contraindications broadly relevant to recovery peptide use:

• Competitive athletes subject to WADA anti-doping rules — GH secretagogues and thymosin beta-4 are WADA-prohibited; BPC-157 is currently not listed on the WADA Prohibited List but should be monitored
• Active or history of hormone-sensitive malignancy — GH/IGF-1 elevation carries theoretical proliferative concern; tissue-repair compounds have not been evaluated for oncological safety in humans
• Uncontrolled diabetes or significant insulin resistance — GH secretagogues reduce insulin sensitivity
• Pregnancy — no reproductive safety data for any compound in this category
• Use of unregulated online sources — unverifiable manufacturing quality; contamination and dosing risks documented in gray-market injectable products generally

For compound-specific side effect profiles, see the individual compound pages linked in this article.

What to Test Before Starting Peptides for Muscle Recovery

Regardless of which compound you and your provider discuss, baseline biomarker testing establishes a measurable starting point. Without it, there is no objective way to assess whether a compound is producing the expected physiological changes — or whether those changes are beneficial.

• hs-CRP: Systemic inflammation is the primary biological modifier of recovery capacity. A baseline hs-CRP level characterizes whether chronic low-grade inflammation is already impairing satellite cell activation and recovery signaling — which no recovery peptide will address if the inflammatory substrate is not controlled. Monitoring hs-CRP during any anti-inflammatory compound use provides objective feedback.
• IGF-1: The primary downstream marker of GH-axis recovery signaling. A baseline IGF-1 level establishes whether the nocturnal repair signal is functionally adequate. Low IGF-1 for age and sex provides the clearest clinical rationale for a GH secretagogue approach to recovery support.
• Fasting glucose and HbA1c: Essential before any GH secretagogue because insulin sensitivity reduction is a documented class effect. A baseline fasting glucose and HbA1c provide the reference point for detecting any metabolic changes during therapy.
• Total testosterone: The HPG axis contributes independently to anabolic recovery capacity. A baseline total testosterone level characterizes HPG-axis status as a complement to GH-axis measurement; low testosterone and low IGF-1 represent distinct biological states with distinct clinical evaluations.
• Triglycerides and lipid panel: GH secretagogue effects on lipid metabolism are a secondary monitoring parameter. A triglyceride baseline provides context for any changes during GH-axis intervention.
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (ALT, AST, eGFR): Liver and kidney function are standard safety baselines for any injectable compound. These markers establish the starting renal and hepatic state before any systemic pharmacological intervention.

hs-CRP, IGF-1, fasting glucose, and a comprehensive metabolic panel form the minimum baseline for recovery-focused peptide discussion. The inflammation and muscle recovery biomarker guide covers these markers in clinical context, and the overtraining and fatigue guide addresses the markers most relevant to chronic training stress and recovery insufficiency.

How to Access These Peptides Safely

Among GH secretagogues, sermorelin has a USP monograph and can be compounded by licensed 503A pharmacies under a patient-specific prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. CJC-1295 and ipamorelin have no FDA-endorsed 503A pathway (PCAC recommended against inclusion on the 503A Bulks List); some state-licensed compounding pharmacies dispense them under patient-specific prescription arguments, but this practice is outside FDA's formally approved 503A framework and is subject to enforcement discretion. No GH secretagogue has a recovery-specific FDA-approved indication; any legitimate clinical use is evaluated by a licensed provider, typically in the context of GH-axis insufficiency and with IGF-1 and metabolic baseline testing.

BPC-157 and TB-500 are not eligible for compounding under Section 503A — neither has a USP monograph or is on the FDA 503A Bulks List, and FDA removed both from the interim Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026 (removal did not place either on Category 1). Products sold online as these compounds are from unregulated gray-market sources — without pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing standards, contamination and dosing errors cannot be controlled. The absence of human clinical trial data means that even if a product contains what it claims, the dose, route, and protocol have not been established through clinical investigation.

Many online BPC-157 and TB-500 products are labeled "Research Use Only — Not for Human Consumption" (RUO). RUO labeling is used by sellers to navigate FDA's intended-use doctrine and explicitly disclaims human use. RUO products are not manufactured to pharmaceutical purity or sterility standards, have not been evaluated for human safety, and the legal and medical risk of using them therapeutically is fully assumed by the purchaser.

For competitive athletes: confirming prohibited substance status before any compound use is the athlete's responsibility. Thymosin beta-4 is WADA-prohibited; GH secretagogues are WADA-prohibited. BPC-157 is not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List but should be monitored.

Understanding Your Baseline

Recovery is a physiological process with measurable biological markers — hs-CRP reflecting inflammatory burden, IGF-1 reflecting GH-axis signaling capacity, and testosterone reflecting HPG-axis anabolic context. These values before any compound intervention establish whether the biology a compound is targeting is actually a limiting factor in a specific person's recovery. A person with normal IGF-1, normal hs-CRP, and normal testosterone who is recovering slowly from training has a different limiting factor than one with all three markers outside optimal ranges. A recovery peptide cannot address a recovery limitation it is not mechanistically relevant to.

That principle — test first, then decide — is central to Superpower's approach to preventive health. Whether the conversation with your provider leads to a GH secretagogue protocol, an anti-inflammatory strategy, a nutritional optimization, or a different evaluation altogether, the starting point is the same: knowing where your biomarkers stand.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA for any medical use. Research on this compound has been limited primarily to animal studies; no human randomized controlled trials have been published. Safety, efficacy, appropriate dosing, and long-term effects in humans have not been established. BPC-157 has no USP monograph, is not on the FDA 503A Bulks List, and is not eligible for compounding under Section 503A. FDA previously classified BPC-157 as an interim Category 2 bulk drug substance and removed BPC-157 from the Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026; removal did not place the compound on Category 1, and BPC-157 remains ineligible for 503A compounding. BPC-157 is not prescribed, compounded, or dispensed through Superpower. Products sold online as BPC-157 are not subject to FDA pharmaceutical manufacturing standards.

Thymosin beta-4 / TB-500 is not FDA-approved for any indication. TB-500/thymosin beta-4 has no USP monograph, is not on the FDA 503A Bulks List, and is not eligible for compounding under Section 503A. FDA removed TB-500/thymosin beta-4 from the interim Category 2 list effective April 22, 2026; removal did not place the compound on Category 1. The only human clinical trial data for thymosin beta-4 is from dermal wound healing (Phase 2 trials in stasis and pressure ulcers), not athletic recovery. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, thymosin beta-4 is a prohibited substance. TB-500 is not prescribed, compounded, or dispensed through Superpower.

CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are not FDA-approved for any indication. Neither has a USP monograph, and neither is on the FDA 503A Bulks List. The FDA Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (PCAC) has recommended against adding CJC-1295 and ipamorelin to the 503A Bulks List. Some state-licensed compounding pharmacies dispense these compounds under patient-specific prescriptions, but this practice is outside FDA's formally approved 503A pathway and subject to enforcement discretion. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, GH-releasing peptides including ipamorelin and GHRH analogs are prohibited substances in and out of competition. Documented adverse effects of GH secretagogue class: fluid retention, insulin sensitivity reduction, carpal tunnel syndrome, joint pain. These are dose-dependent. Glucose and HbA1c monitoring is required during any GH secretagogue use. Superpower does not currently offer or facilitate access to CJC-1295 or ipamorelin.

Sermorelin was previously FDA-approved (as Geref, for pediatric growth hormone deficiency evaluation) and was withdrawn from the US market in 2008 for commercial reasons. No sermorelin product is currently FDA-approved and marketed; compounded sermorelin relies on its USP monograph for 503A eligibility. As of the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, sermorelin is prohibited (GHRH category). Superpower does not currently offer or facilitate access to sermorelin.

No compound discussed in this article has been evaluated in a human randomized controlled trial for post-training muscle recovery outcomes. All recovery-specific claims for BPC-157 and TB-500 are based on animal model data only. Animal data does not establish human efficacy or safety.

Full FDA-approved prescribing information at dailymed.nlm.nih.gov.

Disclaimer: This article discusses multiple peptide compounds with different regulatory statuses. Some compounds are available through compounding pharmacies; some are not approved for human use. No compound discussed is FDA-approved for muscle recovery or athletic performance. Superpower Health does not offer these compounds for recovery use. This educational content is editorially independent.