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TB-500 Benefits: Claims vs What Studies Show

Benefits people claim for TB-500, set against what published studies measured, and where no study exists.

Medical review pendingSynthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4Updated
Strongest evidence
Human RCT
Human / animal studies
7 / 7
in our evidence file (PubMed search, 11 Oct 2026)
FDA status
Not approved
Off Category 2, 15 Apr 2026

Claimed benefits and what studies show

Each row is an area where people claim a benefit, with the strongest study we summarise behind it. Animal and cell results are labelled and are not human results. User reports are not counted as evidence here.

TB-500 claimed benefits and the studies behind them
ClaimBest evidenceStudies (human / animal)What was measuredPage
HealingHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 41 / 5Wound healing; Phase 2 wound trials; Maximum load to failure (TB-500)Evidence for healing
Eyes and visionHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 42 / 1Ocular discomfort and corneal staining; Primary endpoints; Secondary endpointsEvidence for eyes and vision
SkinHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 42 / 0Scalp seborrheic dermatitis; Wound healing; Phase 2 wound trialsEvidence for skin
InflammationHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 41 / 1Scalp seborrheic dermatitis; Corneal alkali burnEvidence for inflammation
Heart healthHuman RCT evidence, 4 of 41 / 0Infarct area in STEMI patientsEvidence for heart health
StrengthAnimal evidence, 2 of 40 / 1Maximum load to failure (TB-500)Evidence for strength
Hair growthAnimal evidence, 2 of 40 / 1Hair regrowth after depilationEvidence for hair growth
Joint painAnimal evidence, 2 of 40 / 1Ligament healingEvidence for joint pain

Strongest study per claim: Healing, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2010, PMID 20536470; Eyes and vision, Cornea 2015, PMID 25826322; Skin, Microbial biotechnology 2021, PMID 34318587.

What the studies measured

TB-500 outcomes in published studies
OutcomeResultStudy typeSource
Infarct area in STEMI patientsIn the human trial, the overall difference in infarct area between the recombinant thymosin beta-4 and placebo groups was not significant; a reduction was reported only in the subgroup dosed early after PCI.Human RCTn = 96Cardiovascular research 2025, PMID 41229390
Safety and tolerabilityThe recombinant thymosin product was reported well tolerated and safe in healthy volunteers across the single and multiple dose ranges (phase I).Human RCTJournal of cellular and molecular medicine 2021, PMID 34346165
Scalp seborrheic dermatitisThe thymosin beta-4 gel was reported more effective than ketoconazole lotion for scalp seborrheic dermatitis (randomization not stated in abstract).Human controlled trialn = 71Microbial biotechnology 2021, PMID 34318587
Ocular discomfort and corneal stainingAt day 56, the treated group had a 35.1% greater reduction in ocular discomfort and a 59.1% greater reduction in total corneal fluorescein staining than vehicle (very small trial).Human RCTn = 9Cornea 2015, PMID 25826322
Primary endpointsNeither primary endpoint (ocular discomfort, inferior corneal staining) differed significantly between groups.Human RCTn = 72Clinical ophthalmology 2015, PMID 26056426
Secondary endpointsDiscomfort scores in the challenge environment on day 28 were 27% lower than placebo (P=0.0244), a secondary endpoint.Human RCTn = 72Clinical ophthalmology 2015, PMID 26056426
TolerabilityIntravenous synthetic thymosin beta-4 over 42-1260 mg, single or daily for 14 days, was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicity.Human RCTn = 40Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2010, PMID 20536472
Wound healingPhase 2 findings suggest a 0.03% dose may accelerate healing, with complete healing within 3 months in about 25% of patients, mainly those with smaller or milder ulcers.Human RCTn = 73Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2010, PMID 20536470
Phase 2 wound trialsThe review reports accelerated repair in phase 2 trials of pressure ulcers, stasis ulcers and epidermolysis bullosa wounds.ReviewVitamins and hormones 2016, PMID 27450738
Maximum load to failure (TB-500)Maximum load to failure was higher in both the BPC-157 and TB-500 groups than controls; the difference reached significance only for TB-500 (p < 0.05).Animal · rat (not a human result)n = 32Joint diseases and related surgery 2026, PMID 42542926
Combination vs single agentCombining BPC-157 and TB-500 gave no additional benefit over either alone.Animal · rat (not a human result)n = 32Joint diseases and related surgery 2026, PMID 42542926
Corneal alkali burnThe peptide-containing hydrogel accelerated corneal epithelial regeneration and reduced inflammation in an alkali burn model; this is a formulation study.Animal · human corneal cells in vitro plus an animal alkali burn model (species not stated in abstract) (not a human result)ACS applied materials & interfaces 2025, PMID 41359360
Hair regrowth after depilationHair regrowth was faster in mice overexpressing Tbeta4 and slower in knockout mice (genetic models, not injected peptide).Animal · mouse (transgenic overexpression and knockout) (not a human result)PloS one 2015, PMID 26083021
Neurological recovery after strokeNeurological outcome improved significantly at 2 and 12 mg/kg from day 14, extending to day 56.Animal · rat (not a human result)n = 10Journal of the neurological sciences 2014, PMID 25060418
Highest doseThe higher dose (18 mg/kg) did not show significant improvement, so the dose response was not linear.Animal · rat (not a human result)n = 10Journal of the neurological sciences 2014, PMID 25060418
Ligament healingLocal thymosin beta-4 improved ligament healing histologically and mechanically in rats.Animal · rat (not a human result)Regulatory peptides 2013, PMID 23523891
Detection after administrationAn analytical method detected the TB-500 peptide and its metabolites in horse urine and plasma after a single dose. This is a doping-control method paper with no efficacy outcome.Animal · horse (not a human result)Journal of chromatography. A 2012, PMID 23084823
Serum levels after injectionSerum thymosin beta-4 rose within 2 minutes of intraperitoneal injection and stayed elevated for 40 minutes in mice.Animal · mouse (not a human result)International journal of immunopharmacology 1997, PMID 9226473
Myoblast migrationThymosin beta-4 and its sulphoxide form accelerated wound closure and increased chemotaxis of cultured myoblasts.In vitro (not a human result)Journal of biochemistry 2011, PMID 20880960
Not shown in any study we cite. Searches behind this page: PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab])”: 1,199 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) AND (humans[mh] OR patients[tiab])”: 678 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR clinical trial[pt])”: 18 results. PubMed search on 2 Oct 2026 for “("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab])”: 16 results.

Claimed: faster tendon and ligament repair

The one study that tested TB-500 itself for repair was an exploratory study in rats with a cut Achilles tendon, which linked TB-500 to a biomechanical advantage during early repair. It is animal data.[9]

A rat ligament study of full-length thymosin beta-4 (not TB-500) reported better healing of a cut ligament, histologically and mechanically, when the protein was placed locally.[13]

Claimed: skin and wound healing

In a 73-patient phase 2 trial of topical full-length thymosin beta-4 (not TB-500) on venous ulcers, the authors said a 0.03% dose may accelerate healing, with about 25% of patients fully healed within 3 months.[7]

In seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, a recombinant full-length thymosin beta-4 gel (not TB-500) beat ketoconazole lotion in a 71-patient study.[3]

Claimed: eye and heart benefits

In a 72-subject phase II dry-eye trial of full-length thymosin beta-4 eye drops (not TB-500), neither primary endpoint showed a significant difference from placebo.[5]

In a 96-patient heart-attack trial of recombinant full-length thymosin beta-4 (not TB-500), the overall difference in infarcted area was not significant.[1]

Claimed: hair growth and muscle repair

Hair regrowth was faster in mice genetically engineered to overexpress thymosin beta-4 and slower in knockout mice. These are genetic mouse models, not injected TB-500.[11]

For muscle, cultured mouse myoblast cells moved faster toward thymosin beta-4. This is a cell-culture finding about the full-length protein, not a result in people.[16]

Claims with no study behind them

A PubMed search for TB-500 or its acetylated LKKTETQ sequence on 2 October 2026 returned 33 records, and the evidence file records no human trial of the TB-500 fragment among them.

Calculated from evidence file web/src/data/evidence/tb-500.json; query "TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "Ac-LKKTETQ"[tiab]; date 2026-10-02; records 33; human trials of fragment 0. Formula: records = 33; human trials of the TB-500 fragment among them = 0

The evidence file found no study of any thymosin beta-4 form for joint pain beyond the rat ligament paper, so a joint-pain benefit has no human study here.

Calculated from evidence file web/src/data/evidence/tb-500.json; joint pain human studies 0; rat ligament studies 1. Formula: human joint-pain studies = 0; rat ligament studies = 1

More on TB-500

DosageSide effectsResultsHow it works

Common questions

Is TB-500 proven to work?

The strongest study we summarise for TB-500 is human rct evidence, among 16 studies. A trial result is not an approval; see the legal status.

What does TB-500 do?

Its only direct test in the cited studies is the exploratory rat tendon study; everything else is full-length thymosin beta-4, which is a different molecule.

Calculated from studies testing tb500 itself 1; studies of full length tb4 9. Formula: 1 TB-500 study (rat tendon) among the cited; the rest test the longer protein

More on TB-500

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.CalculatorVial, water and dose to syringe units.Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.ResultsStudy outcomes and when they were measured.How it worksTarget, mechanism and how long it acts, from the label or studies.TopicalStudies that gave TB-500 as creams and serums, and what is approved.

Sources

  1. 1Recombinant human thymosin beta 4 improves ischemic cardiac dysfunction in mice and patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after reperfusion.Cardiovascular research · 2025PMID 41229390Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2A first-in-human, randomized, double-blind, single- and multiple-dose, phase I study of recombinant human thymosin β4 in healthy Chinese volunteers.Journal of cellular and molecular medicine · 2021PMID 34346165Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  3. 3Recombinant human thymosin beta-4 (rhTβ4) improved scalp condition and microbiome homeostasis in seborrheic dermatitis.Microbial biotechnology · 2021PMID 34318587Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4Thymosin β4 significantly improves signs and symptoms of severe dry eye in a phase 2 randomized trial.Cornea · 2015PMID 25826322Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5Thymosin beta 4 ophthalmic solution for dry eye: a randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase II clinical trial conducted using the controlled adverse environment (CAE™) model.Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2015PMID 26056426Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6A randomized, placebo-controlled, single and multiple dose study of intravenous thymosin beta4 in healthy volunteers.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2010PMID 20536472Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7The effect of thymosin treatment of venous ulcers.Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · 2010PMID 20536470Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8Thymosin β4 Promotes Dermal Healing.Vitamins and hormones · 2016PMID 27450738Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats: A histopathological and biomechanical study.Joint diseases and related surgery · 2026PMID 42542926Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10Alkaline Phosphatase-Triggered Spatiotemporal Repair of Corneal Injury with TB500 Peptide Hydrogel.ACS applied materials & interfaces · 2025PMID 41359360Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11Thymosin Beta-4 Induces Mouse Hair Growth.PloS one · 2015PMID 26083021Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12A dose-response study of thymosin β4 for the treatment of acute stroke.Journal of the neurological sciences · 2014PMID 25060418Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13Thymosin β4 enhances the healing of medial collateral ligament injury in rat.Regulatory peptides · 2013PMID 23523891Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14Doping control analysis of TB-500, a synthetic version of an active region of thymosin β₄, in equine urine and plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.Journal of chromatography. A · 2012PMID 23084823Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  15. 15Biodistribution of synthetic thymosin beta 4 in the serum, urine, and major organs of mice.International journal of immunopharmacology · 1997PMID 9226473Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  16. 16Muscle injury-induced thymosin β4 acts as a chemoattractant for myoblasts.Journal of biochemistry · 2011PMID 20880960Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  17. 17PubMed search: ("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) (1199 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  18. 18PubMed search: ("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) AND (humans[mh] OR patients[tiab]) (678 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  19. 19PubMed search: ("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR clinical trial[pt]) (18 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  20. 20PubMed search: ("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab]) (16 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  21. 21PubMed search: ("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) AND (wound[tiab] OR dermal[tiab] OR skin[tiab] OR hair[tiab]) (212 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  22. 22PubMed search: ("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab]) AND (tendon[tiab] OR muscle[tiab] OR cardiac[tiab] OR myocardial[tiab] OR heart[tiab]) (246 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  23. 23PubMed search: "TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "Ac-LKKTETQ"[tiab] (33 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  24. 24PubMed search: ("TB-500"[tiab] OR TB500[tiab] OR "thymosin beta-4"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta4"[tiab] OR Tbeta4[tiab] OR RGN-259[tiab] OR RGN-137[tiab]) AND (adverse[tiab] OR "side effect*"[tiab] OR safety[tiab] OR tolerab*[tiab] OR toxicity[tiab] OR "case report"[pt]) (61 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 11 Oct 2026
  25. 25PubMed search: ("RGN-259"[tiab] OR "RGN-137"[tiab] OR "thymosin beta 4"[tiab]) AND (eye[tiab] OR ophthalmic[tiab] OR neurotrophic[tiab] OR cornea*[tiab]) AND (patients[tiab] OR trial[tiab]) (15 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 11 Oct 2026

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