Dihexa

Research summary

Dihexa is a peptidomimetic derived from angiotensin IV, studied preclinically as an allosteric modulator that promotes dimerization of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), enhancing signaling through its receptor c-Met. HGF/c-Met signaling in the hippocampus and cortex is linked to synapse formation, the basis for studying dihexa in cognitive-function models.

In rodent studies, dihexa rescued cognitive deficits in scopolamine-treated and aged animals at very low (picomolar-to-nanomolar) concentrations and promoted synaptogenesis in hippocampal neuron cultures through a c-Met-dependent mechanism. Important caveat: foundational biochemistry papers describing dihexa's HGF-binding mechanism were retracted in April 2025, and no human clinical trial of dihexa has been completed —findings should be treated as unconfirmed pending independent replication.

Sources: Originally J. Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2013/2014 (retracted April 2025); preclinical rodent studies. Findings from published research —not a claim about this product, and not evidence of safety or effectiveness for human use.