BAM15

Overview

BAM15 is a synthetic small-molecule mitochondrial uncoupler (protonophore) — not a peptide — studied preclinically for obesity and metabolic disease as a potentially safer alternative to DNP. It has never been tested in humans, has no regulatory approval, and was added to the WADA Prohibited List as an AMPK activator. It is sold as a gray-market research chemical.

Mechanism of Action

BAM15 increases inner-mitochondrial-membrane proton permeability, letting protons bypass ATP synthase and dissipating the proton-motive force — uncoupling electron transport from ATP synthesis and raising substrate oxidation and heat. It does not depolarize the plasma membrane at fully-uncoupling doses (unlike DNP/FCCP) and activates AMPK downstream (Kenwood et al., 2014). All data are cell/animal; rodent PK only.

Research Summary

In diet-induced obese mice, BAM15 reduced fat mass and improved insulin sensitivity without changing food intake or lean mass (Nature Communications 2020); other mouse work shows benefit in diabetes, and in sepsis/acute kidney injury. Rodent PK is ~67% oral bioavailability with a ~1.7 h half-life; there is no human PK, safety, or dosing data. Not approved; not a peptide.

Vendors selling BAM15

Scored vendors carrying BAM15, ranked by trust grade. Grades are computed from indexed Certificates of Analysis. Full $/mg pricing is on the comparison page.

Reported Side Effects

• No human safety data — BAM15 has never been tested in humans
• Class risk of mitochondrial uncouplers (as with DNP): dangerous hyperthermia and metabolic disruption at excess doses
• WADA-prohibited at all times (S4, AMPK activator; added to the 2026 list)
• Reported by anti-doping bodies as an undisclosed adulterant in some online supplements

Compare BAM15 with Others

Research References

• Kenwood BM, et al. A novel mitochondrial uncoupler that does not depolarize the plasma membrane. Mol Metab. 2014. PMID 24634817.
• Mitochondrial uncoupler BAM15 reverses diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in mice. Nat Commun. 2020. PMC7224297.
• BAM15 as a mitochondrial uncoupler: a promising therapeutic agent for diverse diseases (review). 2023. PMID 37900126.

Frequently asked questions

Has BAM15 been independently lab-tested?

Disclosed Labs has collected 3 Certificates of Analysis (COA) for BAM15 from 1 independent testing lab. 1 vendor has submitted material for testing. Products average 99.1% tested purity across the corpus. Full testing data is available at https://www.disclosedlabs.com/peptides/bam-15/testing.

What is the average purity of BAM15 on the market?

Based on 3 COAs analyzed by Disclosed Labs, BAM15 products average 99.1% (±0.7%) tested purity. Individual vendor results vary; see per-vendor COA data at https://www.disclosedlabs.com/peptides/bam-15/coas.

Where can researchers source BAM15?

1 vendor with Disclosed Labs trust grades currently list BAM15, including Kimera Chems. Compare live prices and lab-verified COAs at https://www.disclosedlabs.com/prices/bam-15.

How does BAM15 work?

BAM15 increases inner-mitochondrial-membrane proton permeability, letting protons bypass ATP synthase and dissipating the proton-motive force — uncoupling electron transport from ATP synthesis and raising substrate oxidation and heat. It does not depolarize the plasma membrane at fully-uncoupling doses (unlike DNP/FCCP) and activates AMPK downstream (Kenwood et al., 2014). All data are cell/animal; rodent PK only.

What does the research say about BAM15?

In diet-induced obese mice, BAM15 reduced fat mass and improved insulin sensitivity without changing food intake or lean mass (Nature Communications 2020); other mouse work shows benefit in diabetes, and in sepsis/acute kidney injury. Rodent PK is ~67% oral bioavailability with a ~1.7 h half-life; there is no human PK, safety, or dosing data. Not approved; not a peptide.