Wolverine Stack

Why Stack BPC-157 and TB-500

BPC-157 and TB-500 are the two most widely used healing peptides in the biohacking community, and for good reason — they attack tissue repair from completely different angles. Running them together creates a two-pronged approach that addresses both local repair and systemic recovery simultaneously.

BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from a protective protein found in human gastric juice. Its primary mechanisms include:

• Angiogenesis — formation of new blood vessels to increase blood flow to damaged tissue
• Fibroblast activation — stimulates collagen production at the injury site
• Nitric oxide modulation — regulates the NO system to support vascular healing
• Anti-inflammatory signaling — reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines in the local injury environment
• Growth factor upregulation — increases VEGF, EGF, and other factors critical for tissue repair

TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4 fragment) is a synthetic version of the active region of Thymosin Beta-4, a naturally occurring 43-amino-acid peptide present in virtually all human cells. Its primary mechanisms include:

• Actin regulation — sequesters actin monomers to control cytoskeletal dynamics, which directly governs cell migration
• Cell migration — promotes the movement of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, and stem/progenitor cells toward injury sites
• Anti-inflammatory action — released naturally by platelets and macrophages after injury to reduce inflammation and apoptosis
• Collagen alignment — encourages correct structural organization of new collagen during the remodeling phase
• Systemic reach — works throughout the body regardless of injection site, unlike BPC-157 which has a stronger local effect

The Synergy

The reason these two peptides are stacked is straightforward: BPC-157 excels at the local, structural level of repair (building new blood vessels, generating collagen, protecting the injury site), while TB-500 excels at the systemic, cellular level (mobilizing repair cells, promoting their migration, organizing the extracellular matrix).

Think of it this way: BPC-157 builds the infrastructure at the injury site. TB-500 sends the construction crew.

This is why the combination is called the “Wolverine Stack” — the overlapping but distinct healing mechanisms create a more complete recovery response than either peptide alone.

Standard Wolverine Stack Protocol

Loading Phase (Weeks 1-4)

The loading phase uses higher TB-500 dosing to saturate systemic repair pathways while BPC-157 works locally at the injury site.

Compound	Dose	Frequency	Route
BPC-157	250-500 mcg	Once daily	Subcutaneous, near injury site
TB-500	2.0-2.5 mg	Twice weekly	Subcutaneous, abdomen

Total weekly exposure during loading:

• BPC-157: 1,750-3,500 mcg (1.75-3.5 mg)
• TB-500: 4.0-5.0 mg

Maintenance Phase (Weeks 5-8)

After 4 weeks of loading, TB-500 dosing drops to maintenance while BPC-157 continues unchanged.

Compound	Dose	Frequency	Route
BPC-157	250-500 mcg	Once daily	Subcutaneous, near injury site
TB-500	2.0-2.5 mg	Once weekly	Subcutaneous, abdomen

Total weekly exposure during maintenance:

• BPC-157: 1,750-3,500 mcg (1.75-3.5 mg)
• TB-500: 2.0-2.5 mg

Dose Selection

• 250 mcg BPC-157 — Standard starting dose. Appropriate for most users and most injuries. Scale up only if response is insufficient after 2 weeks.
• 500 mcg BPC-157 — Higher dose for severe injuries, post-surgical recovery, or users over 200 lbs. Some users split this into 250 mcg twice daily (morning and evening).
• 2.0 mg TB-500 — Standard dose. Sufficient for most recovery goals.
• 2.5 mg TB-500 — Higher end for more aggressive injuries or larger individuals.

Research-reported weight-based dosing for BPC-157 falls in the range of 1-10 mcg per kg of bodyweight. For an 80 kg (176 lb) individual, that translates to 80-800 mcg/day, placing the 250-500 mcg range squarely in the middle.

Administration Details

Injection Sites

BPC-157: Inject locally, near the injury. BPC-157 works best when injected subcutaneously as close to the injury site as anatomically practical. For a torn rotator cuff, inject into the shoulder area. For a knee injury, inject around the knee. For gut healing or systemic use, inject subcutaneously in the abdomen.

TB-500: Inject anywhere — it is systemic. TB-500 does not need to be injected near the injury. The standard site is subcutaneous into abdominal fat. The peptide works systemically regardless of injection location, so choose whatever site is most comfortable.

Timing

• Can you inject both at the same time? Yes. Most users inject both peptides in a single session. You can draw from separate vials into one syringe and administer in a single injection.
• Best time of day: No strong evidence for a specific time. Most users choose either morning (fasted) or evening (before bed) and stay consistent. Evening administration may align with the body’s natural overnight repair processes.
• On TB-500 injection days: Inject both BPC-157 and TB-500 at the same session. On non-TB-500 days, inject BPC-157 alone.

Reconstitution

Both peptides come as lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder and must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before injection.

Standard reconstitution example (5 mg vial of either peptide):

• Add 2 mL bacteriostatic water to the vial
• Concentration = 2,500 mcg per mL (or 250 mcg per 0.1 mL / 10 units on an insulin syringe)
• For a 250 mcg dose of BPC-157: draw 10 units
• For a 500 mcg dose of BPC-157: draw 20 units

For TB-500 (5 mg vial):

• Add 1 mL bacteriostatic water
• Concentration = 5 mg per mL
• For a 2.0 mg dose: draw 40 units
• For a 2.5 mg dose: draw 50 units

Storage after reconstitution: Refrigerate at 2-8 C (36-46 F), protected from light. Use within 28-30 days. Never freeze reconstituted peptides. Unreconstituted vials can be stored in the freezer for extended shelf life.

What TB-500 Brings to the Stack

TB-500 deserves detailed treatment because it is less widely understood than BPC-157.

Mechanism of Action

Thymosin Beta-4 (the parent molecule of TB-500) is one of the most abundant intracellular peptides in the human body. It is found in virtually all cell types except red blood cells. After tissue injury, it is released by platelets, macrophages, and other cell types as a first-response repair signal.

TB-500 is a synthetic fragment corresponding to the active region (amino acids 17-23) of Thymosin Beta-4. Its core function is actin sequestration — it binds to monomeric actin (G-actin) and prevents premature polymerization into filaments (F-actin). This may sound obscure, but actin dynamics directly control:

1. Cell migration — cells need to rearrange their cytoskeleton to move. TB-500 gives them the molecular flexibility to do so.
2. Cell differentiation — stem and progenitor cells can more effectively differentiate into the tissue types needed for repair.
3. Wound contraction — the organized movement of cells around a wound edge, accelerating closure.

Key Research

• Wound healing (1999): Topical or intraperitoneal administration of Thymosin Beta-4 increased reepithelialization by 42% at day 4 and 61% at day 7 versus controls. Treated wounds contracted 11% more and showed increased collagen deposition and angiogenesis. (Journal of Clinical Investigation)
• Cardiac repair: Thymosin Beta-4 promotes cardiac angiogenesis, reduces inflammatory damage, enhances cardiomyocyte survival via Akt pathway activation, and improves collateral circulation. Multiple animal studies demonstrate reduced infarct size and improved cardiac function.
• Anti-inflammatory cascade: After injury, TB-4 is released to protect cells from further damage, reduce apoptosis, limit inflammation, and inhibit microbial growth — acting as a natural damage-control peptide.
• Stem cell mobilization: Thymosin Beta-4 promotes the mobilization, migration, and differentiation of stem/progenitor cells that form new blood vessels and regenerate tissue.

How It Complements BPC-157

Function	BPC-157	TB-500
Primary action	Local tissue repair	Systemic cell mobilization
Angiogenesis	Strong (VEGF upregulation)	Moderate (endothelial migration)
Collagen	Stimulates production	Organizes alignment
Inflammation	Reduces local cytokines	Reduces systemic inflammation
Cell migration	Moderate	Strong (actin regulation)
Injection specificity	Location-dependent	Location-independent
Half-life behavior	Short, requires daily dosing	Short circulation, but triggers long-lasting signaling cascades

Results Timeline

Individual results vary based on injury type, severity, age, and overall health. The following timeline reflects commonly reported outcomes from the biohacking and athletic communities.

Weeks 1-2: Foundation Phase

• Reduced pain and inflammation at the injury site
• Improved sleep quality (commonly reported, possibly related to reduced pain)
• Mild injection-site reactions may occur initially and typically resolve

Weeks 2-4: Acceleration Phase

• Noticeable improvement in range of motion and mobility
• Significant reduction in chronic pain
• Soft tissue injuries (muscle strains, minor tendon issues) may feel substantially better
• Increased flexibility around previously stiff joints

Weeks 4-8: Remodeling Phase

• Continued structural repair of tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue
• Many users report returning to full training capacity
• Chronic injuries that had plateaued begin responding
• Hair, skin, and nail quality improvements (a common incidental finding with TB-500)

Injury-Specific Expectations

Injury Type	Typical Response Time
Muscle strains	2-4 weeks
Tendonitis	3-6 weeks
Ligament sprains	4-8 weeks
Post-surgical recovery	4-8 weeks
Chronic joint issues	6-12 weeks (may need second cycle)
Gut healing	2-6 weeks (BPC-157 dominant)

Safety Considerations

Regulatory Status

Neither BPC-157 nor TB-500 is FDA-approved for human therapeutic use. All human use is off-label and experimental. Both are banned by WADA and most professional sports organizations.

Known Side Effects

Side effects reported in the community are generally mild:

• Injection-site reactions — redness, swelling, or minor bruising. Usually resolves with proper injection technique and site rotation.
• Nausea — occasionally reported, especially at higher doses. Typically mild and transient.
• Headache — uncommon, more often seen during the first few days.
• Fatigue/drowsiness — some users report sleepiness after BPC-157 injection, particularly when dosing in the evening.
• Lightheadedness — rare, usually associated with first injections.

The Angiogenesis Concern

The most frequently cited theoretical risk with both BPC-157 and TB-500 is their pro-angiogenic effect — the same property that makes them effective healers also means they promote new blood vessel formation. In individuals with undiagnosed malignancies, this could theoretically support tumor growth and metastasis.

Practical implication: If you have a personal or family history of cancer, or have not had a recent health screening, discuss this with a physician before starting the protocol. This is not a reason to avoid the stack entirely, but it is a reason to be informed.

Sourcing and Purity

Because these peptides are not FDA-regulated, quality control varies dramatically between vendors. The primary risks are:

• Contamination — bacterial endotoxins, heavy metals, or residual solvents from manufacturing
• Under/over-dosing — actual peptide content may not match the label
• Degradation — improper storage or shipping can denature the peptide before it reaches you

Only purchase from vendors that provide third-party Certificate of Analysis (CoA) with HPLC purity testing (99%+ purity) and mass spectrometry confirmation.

Contraindications

• Active cancer or history of cancer (angiogenesis concern)
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding (no safety data)
• Active infection at the intended injection site
• Blood clotting disorders or concurrent anticoagulant therapy (theoretical interaction)
• Tested athletes subject to WADA or equivalent anti-doping protocols

Cycling and Washout

Limit continuous use to 8-12 weeks. Follow with a minimum 4-week washout. This precautionary cycling exists because long-term continuous human use data does not exist. Some clinics recommend no more than 90 consecutive days followed by a 30-day washout.