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TB-500 Results: What Studies Measured and When

What published studies measured for TB-500, when those outcomes were measured, and what is still unproven.

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureSynthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4Updated

What studies measured

Each outcome below comes from a published study, with its type and size, strongest design first. Animal and cell results are labelled as such and are not human results.

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
  • TB-500 is a short synthetic fragment (N-acetylated LKKTETQ, the actin-binding region of thymosin beta-4). Nearly all human and animal literature in this file tests full-length thymosin beta-4 (43 amino acids), given as synthetic, recombinant or topical product; each study here says which molecule was used. Results for full-length thymosin beta-4 should not be assumed to apply to TB-500 or to products sold as TB-500.
  • The only study in this file that tests TB-500 itself for a goal is a 32-rat Achilles tendon study (PMID 42542926), which describes TB-500 as synthetic thymosin beta-4; the abstract calls it exploratory and preliminary.
  • No human trial of the TB-500 fragment has been published in PubMed as of 2 October 2026. Human trials are of full-length recombinant or synthetic thymosin beta-4 (RGN-259 eye drops, topical gel for venous ulcers, intravenous dosing, cardiac use).
  • The dry-eye, venous ulcer and cardiac trials are small phase 1 or 2 studies. The 72-subject dry-eye trial missed both primary endpoints, and the cardiac trial found no overall difference in infarct area.
  • The only knee-pain human report mixing TB4 with BPC-157 is listed under BPC-157 (PMID 34324435); it gave BPC 157 alone or with TB4 and cannot isolate TB-500.
  • No half-life value was found for TB-500 or for full-length thymosin beta-4: a mouse immunoassay study (PMID 9226473) reports serum elevation from 2 to 40 minutes after injection and a human phase I study (PMID 20536472) reports half-life rising with dose, without values.
  • The thymosin beta-4 literature is dominated by endogenous-protein biology, biomarker and cell studies, which are not covered here. A 2023 analytical paper (PMID 36482504) examining internet-sold TB500/TB1000 products reports that their content is not systematically consistent with the former descriptions, a product-quality caution.
  • No evidence was found for joint pain (beyond the rat ligament study), arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, gut health, immune system, back pain, shoulder pain, osteoporosis, neuropathy, wrinkles, skin tightening, cellulite, allergies or athletes.

Typical timeline

When the studies above measured their outcomes. This is the study schedule, not a promise of when anyone will notice a change.

TB-500: when outcomes were measured in studies
WhenWhat was measuredStudy typeSource
Four weeks post-operativelyBiomechanical and histological assessmentAnimal · rat (not a human result)n = 32Joint diseases and related surgery 2026, PMID 42542926

Before-and-after photos

We don't publish before-and-after photos. They can't be verified, rarely show dose, diet or other drugs, and only the most dramatic results get posted.

Common questions

How long does TB-500 take to work?

The studies we summarise measured outcomes at set points, for example Biomechanical and histological assessment at Four weeks post-operatively. Timelines outside studies vary.

Do you show TB-500 before and after photos?

No. Photos can't be verified, rarely show dose, diet or other drugs, and only the most dramatic ones get posted. We summarize measured outcomes instead.

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.PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.How to injectSites, syringe types and hygiene, step by step.

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

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