What the preclinical literature examines, how to verify HPLC and mass spec results, lab storage, and sourcing TB-500 in Canada.
TB-500 is, alongside BPC-157, the most requested research peptide in Canada, and the two are frequently sourced together. Supply quality varies widely: TB-500 is a longer synthetic peptide than most in the category, which makes it more demanding to synthesize cleanly and easier to under-deliver on net peptide content. This overview covers what the published literature actually studies, how to verify what is in the vial, correct laboratory storage, and what to check before ordering from a Canadian supplier.
For laboratory research use only. TB-500 is not approved by Health Canada for any medical use. It is not for human or veterinary use, food, or cosmetic applications. Nothing on this page describes or recommends administration to people or animals.
TB-500 is a synthetic peptide corresponding to a fragment of thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4), a naturally occurring 43-amino-acid protein that is one of the most abundant actin-sequestering molecules in mammalian cells. Commercial TB-500 is typically supplied as the full 43-residue acetylated sequence (Ac-SDKPDMAEIEKFDKSKLKKTETQEKNPLPSKETIEKEKQAGES), with a molecular weight of approximately 4,963 Da. Its CAS registry number is 77591-33-4.
It is supplied as a lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder. In research-grade form it should be accompanied by a batch-specific certificate of analysis showing identity and purity results from an independent laboratory.
Thymosin beta-4 has a long preclinical literature, mostly in animal and in-vitro models. The dominant research themes are its role as a G-actin binding protein regulating actin polymerization and cytoskeletal organization; cell migration and motility assays; angiogenesis and endothelial cell studies; cardiac tissue models following injury; dermal wound models; and anti-inflammatory signalling, including NF-κB pathway work. The N-terminal acetylation of the native protein is also studied for its effect on stability.
What the literature does not contain is controlled human clinical trial data establishing safety or efficacy of TB-500 for any indication. Thymosin beta-4 itself has been investigated clinically in limited settings, but TB-500 as sold for research is an investigational reagent, and a supplier that frames it as anything else is a supplier to avoid.
Representative publications for a literature review:
Because TB-500 is a 43-residue peptide, synthesis impurities are more likely than with short peptides: truncated and deletion sequences, incomplete deprotection, oxidation at methionine, and residual trifluoroacetic acid. Net peptide content — the mass that is actually peptide rather than water and counter-ion — is also a common place for suppliers to fall short. Two tests matter.
HPLC purity. High-performance liquid chromatography separates the target peptide from related impurities and reports purity as the percentage of the main peak. For research-grade TB-500, look for a reported purity of 98 percent or higher, with the chromatogram shown, not just a number.
Mass spectrometry identity. HPLC confirms how pure the main compound is; mass spectrometry confirms that the main compound is TB-500, by matching the observed molecular weight to the expected value (approximately 4,963 Da for the acetylated 43-mer). A COA with HPLC but no MS has verified the purity of an unidentified substance.
When reading a certificate of analysis, check that the lot number matches the vial, that the testing laboratory is named and independent of the supplier, that the test date is recent, and that net peptide content is stated rather than assumed. Our guide on how to read a peptide certificate of analysis walks through each line.
Unopened lyophilized TB-500 should be stored at 2–8 °C, protected from light; −20 °C is preferred for long-term storage. Avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles — aliquot once if a vial will be used across multiple experiments.
Once reconstituted for an assay, the solution is far less stable than the dry powder. Keep it refrigerated, protect from light, use within the window stated in the supplier documentation, and discard anything cloudy or showing particulate. Use sterile, appropriate laboratory solvents and record lot, date, and concentration on the vial. Our peptide storage and handling guide covers general lab practice.
Ordering domestically avoids customs holds on a temperature-sensitive lyophilized product and makes it possible to get a straight answer about testing. Before ordering TB-500 from any Canadian source, check that a batch-specific COA from an independent laboratory is available for the exact lot you will receive, that it includes both HPLC and mass spectrometry, that net peptide content is reported, that the supplier ships from inside Canada with a stated transit time, that the product is clearly sold as research use only with no claims about effects in people, and that the payment method is one you can document (Interac e-Transfer is standard for Canadian research suppliers). For a broader checklist, see how to vet a research peptide supplier in Canada.
VerifiedPeptides.ca supplies TB-500 10mg and a BPC-157 + TB-500 20mg combination vial for laboratory research, shipped from Canada in 1–3 business days with third-party testing on every batch. Published certificates are listed on our batch results page as they are released. For the companion compound, see our BPC-157 research overview.
Is TB-500 the same as thymosin beta-4?
TB-500 is the synthetic research-grade form of the thymosin beta-4 sequence. Commercial TB-500 is usually the full 43-residue acetylated peptide; some suppliers sell shorter fragments under the same name, which is one more reason to confirm identity by mass spectrometry.
What purity should research-grade TB-500 have?
Look for 98 percent or higher by HPLC, confirmed by mass spectrometry, with net peptide content stated, on a batch-specific COA from a laboratory independent of the supplier.
Is TB-500 legal to buy in Canada?
TB-500 is not an approved drug in Canada and is not sold as one. It is available as a research-use-only reagent for laboratory study by qualified researchers and institutions. It cannot legally be sold or marketed for human or veterinary use.
Why is TB-500 often sourced together with BPC-157?
The two compounds appear together in published tissue-repair models and are commonly studied in combination protocols. The combination vial supplies both in a single lyophilized preparation for research designs that call for it.
Does VerifiedPeptides.ca provide dosing or protocol information?
No. We supply research reagents and documentation of their identity and purity. Experimental design is the responsibility of the researcher and their institution.
For laboratory research use only. Not for human or animal consumption. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. VerifiedPeptides.ca does not provide guidance on the administration of any compound.
Free report: 7 Alarming Things Canadian Researchers Must Know Before Ordering Peptides Online — Get the report