Impact of BPC-157 on Recovery Following Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery

Conditions

• Rotator Cuff Tear

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• BPC-157 — DRUG
  BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide derived from human gastric juice. It has demonstrated pro-angiogenic, cytoprotective, and tissue-regenerative effects in multiple preclinical models of musculoskeletal injury, including tendon and ligament healing. Although widely discussed in experimental and anecdotal contexts, BPC-157 has not undergone formal human clinical trials and remains an investigational compound not approved by the FDA. This study is designed to explore its potential role in promoting tendon regeneration and functional recovery in a postoperative orthopaedic setting.
• Sham (No Treatment) — OTHER
  Participants in this group will not receive any active treatment or placebo injections. This sham group serves as a no-treatment control to evaluate the natural course of postoperative recovery following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair without investigational intervention. Participants will continue to receive standard postoperative care and rehabilitation in accordance with institutional protocols. This group is included to help differentiate the effects of BPC-157 from both placebo and routine recovery.

Study Details

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial investigating the effects of BPC-157 on tendon healing and functional recovery following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR). BPC-157 is a synthetic peptide that has demonstrated promising regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects in preclinical animal models of musculoskeletal injury, but it has not yet been studied in formal human clinical trials. Twenty patients undergoing aRCR will be enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either BPC-157 or a saline placebo. Participants will self-administer subcutaneous injections daily for 90 days following surgery. All other aspects of care will follow the standard postoperative rehabilitation protocol. The study will assess tendon healing using postoperative MRI, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), range of motion (ROM), and muscle strength via handheld dynamometry. Blood samples will also be collected to evaluate biomarkers associated with collagen turnover and inflammation. The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of BPC-157 in promoting tendon healing and improving functional outcomes after rotator cuff repair. Results will inform the design of a future larger-scale clinical trial.

Key Dates

First listed

Sep 3, 2026

Start date

Jan 1, 2027

Status verified

Sep 2026

Primary completion

Aug 1, 2027

Completion

Aug 1, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: BPC-157 Group
  Participants in this arm will receive BPC-157. BPC-157 will be self-administered via subcutaneous injection once daily for 90 days following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. All participants will follow the standard postoperative rehabilitation protocol in addition to the study intervention.
• Sham Comparator: Sham
  Participants in this arm will receive normal saline. Normal saline will be self-administered via subcutaneous injection once daily for 90 days following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. All participants will follow the standard postoperative rehabilitation protocol in addition to the study intervention.

Primary Outcome Measure

Shoulder Strength [ Time Frame: Baseline, 12 weeks, and 5 months post operatively ]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Little Rock, AR

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