Peptide data sheet
TB-500
Recovery · Thymosin Beta-4
Verdict
riskyThe risky label reflects three things at once: the human efficacy evidence is thin, TB-500 is on the WADA prohibited list, and gray-market research vials carry real contamination and mislabeling risk. The early-stage research interest is genuine; the human picture is not settled.
By MrPepTalks Editorial
Reviewed for scientific accuracy · research information, not medical advice
Last updated Reviewed
Quick answer
TB-500 is a synthetic peptide related to thymosin beta-4, a naturally occurring protein involved in cell movement and repair. It is commonly researched for tissue repair, recovery, and inflammation, but almost all of that work is in animal and laboratory models. It is not FDA-approved, is sold for research use only, and is on the WADA prohibited list.
- Class
- Thymosin beta-4 fragment / actin-binding peptide
- Half-life
- not well characterized in humans (reported)
- FDA status
- Not FDA-approved. TB-500 is sold for laboratory research use only and has not been proven safe or effective in humans.
- WADA banned?
- Yes
Which form actually works?
Injectable (research vials)
Risky
The form nearly all discussion centers on. People report using it this way, and it is also the form that carries the WADA and gray-market supply concerns most directly. Human efficacy data for this route is thin.
Oral / topical
Unproven
Occasionally asked about, but a large peptide is poorly suited to surviving digestion or crossing skin intact, and there is little research support for these routes. Treat claims here with extra skepticism.
Third-Party Testing & Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A certificate of analysis (COA) is a lab document that reports what a specific batch of material actually contains. Reputable research suppliers publish one for every batch, tied to a lot number you can match against the vial you received.
- HPLC — purity
- High-performance liquid chromatography reports purity as a percentage: how much of the sample is the intended compound rather than impurities.
- Mass spectrometry (MS) — identity
- Mass spectrometry confirms identity by measuring the sample's molecular mass, so it matches the peptide the label names.
It also matters who ran the test. In-house results come from the seller's own lab; an independent third-party lab has no stake in the result, so its COA generally carries more weight. Look for a named testing laboratory, a batch or lot number, and a test date that lines up with the vial in hand.
New to reading one? This guide walks through a COA line by line: how to read a peptide COA.
Sources
- Goldstein AL, Hannappel E, Kleinman HK. Thymosin beta4: actin-sequestering protein moonlights to repair injured tissues. Trends Mol Med, 2005.
- Crockford D, Turjman N, Allan C, Angel J. Thymosin beta4: structure, function, and biological properties supporting current and future clinical applications. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2010.
- World Anti-Doping Agency. The Prohibited List (thymosin beta-4 / TB-500 under S2 peptide hormones and growth factors).
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