Peptide LibraryResearch statistics
Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) research: publications and trials
At a glance
Publications, all years
968
Since 1981
Publications in 2026 so far
23
Through November 1, 2026
Human clinical research
8.5%
82 of 961 classified
Registered clinical trials
16
ClinicalTrials.gov
Randomized controlled trials
9
Publications reporting an RCT in people
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
0
Preclinical studies
76.3%
460 animal · 269 in vitro · 4 computational
Records that only mention it
155
Not counted above
Status in the library: Research only. Groups: Tissue-repair peptides. 7 publications are not yet classified by study type.
What to keep in mind
- More than 70% of the indexed publications are animal, cell or computational studies.
- Some completed trials have neither posted results nor a linked results publication.
- The body makes this molecule itself, so much of its literature is physiology rather than research on it as a compound.
Publications by year
Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) publications by year and evidence
Show the data
| Year | Human clinical research | Preclinical (animal, in vitro, computational) | Reviews and meta-analyses | Other and not yet classified | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1982 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1983 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 1984 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 1985 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 1986 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1987 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1988 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 1989 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 1990 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 1991 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 1992 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 21 |
| 1993 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 1994 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| 1995 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 1996 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 1997 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 1998 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 1999 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| 2000 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 2001 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
| 2002 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 2003 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 22 |
| 2004 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
| 2005 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| 2006 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| 2007 | 3 | 31 | 16 | 1 | 51 |
| 2008 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 2009 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| 2010 | 6 | 24 | 16 | 0 | 46 |
| 2011 | 9 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 40 |
| 2012 | 5 | 37 | 16 | 2 | 60 |
| 2013 | 5 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 45 |
| 2014 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| 2015 | 4 | 33 | 5 | 3 | 45 |
| 2016 | 7 | 23 | 8 | 0 | 38 |
| 2017 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 25 |
| 2018 | 1 | 34 | 14 | 1 | 50 |
| 2019 | 2 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| 2020 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 2021 | 6 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 33 |
| 2022 | 4 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 24 |
| 2023 | 2 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 28 |
| 2024 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 26 |
| 2026 (to date) | 1 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
Study types
| Animal study | 460 |
|---|---|
| In vitro study | 269 |
| Review | 122 |
| Observational human study | 68 |
| Editorial, letter or other | 20 |
| Randomized controlled trial | 9 |
| Not yet classified | 7 |
| Computational study | 4 |
| Correction or retraction notice | 4 |
| Other clinical trial | 3 |
| Case report | 2 |
Research areas
From MeSH major topics. A paper can be in several areas.
| Cardiovascular | 196 |
|---|---|
| Tissue repair | 193 |
| Immune system | 160 |
| Oncology | 138 |
| Neurological and mental health | 112 |
| Gastrointestinal | 82 |
| Reproductive and sexual health | 64 |
| Dermatology | 60 |
| Antimicrobial and infectious disease | 50 |
| Musculoskeletal | 42 |
| Endocrinology | 37 |
| Metabolic health | 32 |
Registered clinical trials
3 of 9 trials completed at least a year before the cutoff have neither posted results nor a linked results publication. A registration is not a result.
Completed: 9 · Terminated: 3 · Withdrawn: 2 · Not yet recruiting: 1 · Recruiting: 1
Phase 1: 3 · Phase 2: 8 · Phase 2 / Phase 3: 1 · Phase 3: 4
Human trials and evidence reviews
Meta-analyses, systematic reviews and trials in people, newest first.
- Recombinant human thymosin beta 4 improves ischemic cardiac dysfunction in mice and patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after reperfusion.
Cardiovascular research · December 1, 2025 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 0 times
PMID 41229390 · DOI 10.1093/cvr/cvaf223 · Human clinical research
- A 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 · August 4, 2021 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 17 times · open access
PMID 34346165 · DOI 10.1111/jcmm.16693 · Human clinical research
- Safety and efficacy of autologous thymosin β4 pre-treated endothelial progenitor cell transplantation in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: A pilot study.
Cytotherapy · June 7, 2016 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 30 times
PMID 27288307 · DOI 10.1016/j.jcyt.2016.05.006 · Human clinical research
- Thymosin 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.) · May 20, 2015 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 41 times · open access
PMID 26056426 · DOI 10.2147/opth.s80954 · Human clinical research
- Thymosin β4 significantly improves signs and symptoms of severe dry eye in a phase 2 randomized trial.
Cornea · May 1, 2015 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 61 times
PMID 25826322 · DOI 10.1097/ico.0000000000000379 · Human clinical research
- Increases in plasma Tβ4 after intracardiac cell therapy in chronic ischemic heart failure is associated with symptomatic improvement.
Regenerative medicine · May 1, 2015 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 7 times
PMID 26022762 · DOI 10.2217/rme.15.9 · Human clinical research
- The effect of thymosin treatment of venous ulcers.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · April 1, 2010 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 20 times
PMID 20536470 · DOI 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05490.x · Human clinical research
- A randomized, placebo-controlled, single and multiple dose study of intravenous thymosin beta4 in healthy volunteers.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · April 1, 2010 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 45 times
PMID 20536472 · DOI 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05474.x · Human clinical research
- Thymosin beta-4 and venous ulcers: clinical remarks on a European prospective, randomized study on safety, tolerability, and enhancement on healing.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · May 10, 2007 · Randomized controlled trial · cited 15 times
PMID 17495250 · DOI 10.1196/annals.1415.003 · Human clinical research
- Recombinant human thymosin beta-4 (rhTβ4) improved scalp condition and microbiome homeostasis in seborrheic dermatitis.
Microbial biotechnology · July 28, 2021 · Other clinical trial · cited 10 times · open access
PMID 34318587 · DOI 10.1111/1751-7915.13897 · Human clinical research
Most cited
By OpenAlex citation count. Citations measure attention, not quality or correctness.
- MALAT-1, a novel noncoding RNA, and thymosin beta4 predict metastasis and survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
Oncogene · September 1, 2003 · Observational human study · cited 2,189 times
PMID 12970751 · DOI 10.1038/sj.onc.1206928 · Human clinical research
- Genomic analysis of metastasis reveals an essential role for RhoC.
Nature · August 1, 2000 · In vitro study · cited 1,445 times
PMID 10952316 · DOI 10.1038/35020106 · In vitro studies
- In vivo reprogramming of murine cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes.
Nature · May 1, 2012 · Animal study · cited 1,360 times · open access
PMID 22522929 · DOI 10.1038/nature11044 · Animal studies
- Evidence supporting paracrine hypothesis for Akt-modified mesenchymal stem cell-mediated cardiac protection and functional improvement.
FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · April 1, 2006 · Animal study · cited 1,157 times
PMID 16581974 · DOI 10.1096/fj.05-5211com · Animal studies
- Thymosin beta4 activates integrin-linked kinase and promotes cardiac cell migration, survival and cardiac repair.
Nature · November 1, 2004 · Animal study · cited 657 times
PMID 15565145 · DOI 10.1038/nature03000 · Animal studies
Latest publications
- Adjunctive recombinant human thymosin β4 therapy improves antibacterial outcomes against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.
Microbiology spectrum · October 29, 2026 · In vitro study · cited 0 times
PMID 42954461 · DOI 10.1128/spectrum.03570-25 · In vitro studies
- Investigational Peptides in Orthopaedic Practice: Evidence, Safety, and Patient Counseling for BPC-157, Thymosin Beta-4, and TB-500.
The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons · October 27, 2026 · Review · cited 0 times
PMID 42937313 · DOI 10.5435/jaaos-d-26-00049 · Reviews and meta-analyses
- Comparative Transcriptomic Profiling of Diabetic Wound Responses to Recombinant <i>Periplaneta americana</i> Thymosin Isoforms in Male ob/ob Mice.
Genes · October 16, 2026 · Animal study · cited 0 times · open access
PMID 42938412 · DOI 10.3390/genes17101296 · Animal studies
- Peptides in Regenerative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Applications in Tissue Repair and Chronic Pain Management.
Current pain and headache reports · August 24, 2026 · Review · cited 0 times
PMID 42635865 · DOI 10.1007/s11916-026-01542-z · Reviews and meta-analyses
- Recombinant human Thymosin β4 ameliorates experimental colitis and intestinal fibrosis through suppression of mineralocorticoid receptor signaling.
Molecular biomedicine · August 17, 2026 · Animal study · cited 0 times · open access
PMID 42606759 · DOI 10.1186/s43556-026-00539-9 · Animal studies
- Thymosin β4 Mitigates Acute Cerebral Infarction Via Inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB Pathway and Suppression of Neuronal Pyroptosis.
Applied biochemistry and biotechnology · August 13, 2026 · Animal study · cited 0 times
PMID 42593616 · DOI 10.1007/s12010-026-05867-8 · Animal studies
- Peptide Supplements and Their Therapeutic Applications in Sports Medicine.
The American journal of sports medicine · August 11, 2026 · Review · cited 1 times · open access
PMID 42578445 · DOI 10.1177/03635465261464420 · Reviews and meta-analyses
- Thymosin β4 alleviates sepsis-associated acute kidney injury by suppressing MAPK signaling pathway.
Clinical science (London, England : 1979) · August 1, 2026 · Animal study · cited 1 times · open access
PMID 42417058 · DOI 10.1042/cs20261084 · Animal studies
- Effects of BPC-157 and TB-500 on Achilles tendon healing in rats: A histopathological and biomechanical study.
Joint diseases and related surgery · July 23, 2026 · Animal study · cited 0 times · open access
PMID 42542926 · DOI 10.52312/jdrs.2026.2951 · Animal studies
- Understanding the effects of ciprofloxacin on corneal epithelial cells: a study using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) technology.
Experimental eye research · July 10, 2026 · In vitro study · cited 0 times · open access
PMID 42431294 · DOI 10.1016/j.exer.2026.111162 · In vitro studies
How this is counted
PubMed records matched by the names below, counted when the peptide is in the title, indexed by MeSH, or confirmed from the abstract. The exact query can be rerun on Europe PMC. Methodology
Search terms: Full-length thymosin beta-4; Tβ4; Tbeta4; Thymosin beta 4; Timbetasin
((TITLE_ABS:"Full-length thymosin beta-4" OR CHEM:"Full-length thymosin beta-4" OR TITLE_ABS:"Full-length thymosin beta4" OR CHEM:"Full-length thymosin beta4") OR (TITLE_ABS:"Tβ4" OR CHEM:"Tβ4" OR TITLE_ABS:"Tbeta4" OR CHEM:"Tbeta4" OR TITLE_ABS:"Tbeta 4" OR CHEM:"Tbeta 4") OR (TITLE_ABS:"Tbeta4" OR CHEM:"Tbeta4" OR TITLE_ABS:"Tbeta 4" OR CHEM:"Tbeta 4") OR (TITLE_ABS:"Thymosin beta 4" OR CHEM:"Thymosin beta 4" OR TITLE_ABS:"Thymosin beta4" OR CHEM:"Thymosin beta4") OR (TITLE_ABS:"Timbetasin" OR CHEM:"Timbetasin")) AND SRC:MED
Cite this page
Peptide Library. (2026, November 2). Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) research statistics (Version weekly-2026-11-01) [Statistic]. Peptide Library. https://peptidelibrary.app/research/peptides/thymosin-beta-4