Thymosin beta‑4
Contents
In short
- Thymosin beta-4 is a protein the body makes itself, and it takes part in repairing tissue.
- It has been tested in humans as a cream on leg ulcers and as eye drops, with signs of faster healing and few side effects.
- Four placebo-controlled studies in humans have been done, including a double-blind study at eight hospitals.
- TB-500 is a short fragment of thymosin beta-4, not the same substance.
Fact box
- Type
- Research compound
- Research
- Controlled human trials
- Sequence
- Ac-SDKPDMAEIEKFDKSKLKKTETQEKNPLPSKETIEQEKQAGES
- Other names
- tymosin beta-4, Tβ4, TB4, RGN-259
What is Thymosin beta-4?
Thymosin beta-4 is a protein of 43 amino acids that the body makes itself. It helps cells move into damaged tissue, which is why it has been studied as a possible help for healing wounds and injuries.
Thymosin beta-4 is a protein the body makes itself. When we get a wound, it is released from the platelets at the site, and it helps cells move in and repair the tissue.[1]
Researchers have therefore tested a lab-made copy of the protein as a cream on wounds that will not heal, and as eye drops for damage to the cornea. These studies in humans put thymosin beta-4 ahead of most other recovery peptides.[2][3]
TB-500 is a short, synthetic piece of thymosin beta-4, only seven amino acids long.[4] The studies in humans were done with the full protein, so the results do not automatically apply to TB-500.[5]
The amino acid sequence in the fact box comes from UniProt.[6]
What does the research say about Thymosin beta-4?
Thymosin beta-4 has been tested in four placebo-controlled studies in humans, including a double-blind study at eight hospitals. Leg ulcers and corneal injuries showed signs of faster healing, and side effects were few. For sports injuries, the research so far is in animals.
| Use | Studies | Research |
|---|---|---|
| Wounds that will not heal (cream) | 1 study · RCT · n = 73 | Controlled human trials |
| Corneal injuries (eye drops) | 1 study · RCT · n = 18 | Early human studies |
| Dry eyes (eye drops) | 2 studies · RCT · n = 81 | Early human studies |
| Heart attack | 1 study · RCT · n = 90 | Early human studies |
| Injuries to tendons, muscles and joints | Animal study · Animals | Lab and animal studies |
RCT means randomised controlled trial. How to read a study
Wounds that will not heal (cream)
In a placebo-controlled phase 2 study at eight hospitals in Europe, 73 patients with venous leg ulcers were treated with a cream containing thymosin beta-4. Safety was in line with placebo, and the results suggested faster healing. About a quarter of the patients had their ulcer fully healed within three months, especially those with small and medium-sized ulcers.[2]
A review also describes a phase 2 study on pressure ulcers. In both wound studies, the wounds that healed fully did so almost a month faster with thymosin beta-4.[1]
Corneal injuries (eye drops)
In a phase 3 study with 18 patients with neurotrophic keratopathy, a condition where ulcers on the cornea do not heal, the ulcer had fully healed after four weeks in 6 of 10 patients using thymosin beta-4 eye drops, compared with 1 of 8 on placebo. Patients on thymosin beta-4 also had less discomfort, and the researchers saw no significant side effects.[3]
Dry eyes (eye drops)
In a phase 2 study with 72 participants with moderate to severe dry eyes, the eye drops gave 27 per cent less discomfort than placebo in a dry-air test, and less damage to the cornea. No one had side effects.[7]
A smaller study with nine patients with severe dry eyes found less discomfort and less damage to the cornea than with placebo.[8]
Heart attack
A phase 2 study with 90 patients with acute heart attack has tested thymosin beta-4. The study is registered as completed.[9] We have not found published results yet.
Injuries to tendons, muscles and joints
In animal studies, thymosin beta-4 supports the growth of new blood vessels and the repair of tissue, including in muscles and tendons. Studies in humans with sports injuries are the next step.[10]
Questions and answers about Thymosin beta-4
Is thymosin beta-4 the same as TB-500?
No. TB-500 is a short piece of thymosin beta-4. The studies in humans were done with the full protein.
Does thymosin beta-4 help with sports injuries?
The animal studies are promising, and in humans the protein has shown signs of faster healing of wounds and corneal injuries. Studies in people with sports injuries are the next step.