Dihexa — EU research guide.
Dihexa (N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide) is a synthetic peptide derived from angiotensin IV. It is the most potent known facilitator of HGF/c-Met signalling and has shown extraordinary pro-cognitive effects in rodent models.
What is Dihexa?
Dihexa was developed by Joseph Harding and colleagues at Washington State University. It is a metabolically stabilised analogue of angiotensin IV that binds with extremely high affinity to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and potentiates HGF/c-Met receptor signalling. This pathway promotes synaptogenesis — the formation of new neuronal connections — in the hippocampus.
What does the research show?
In aged rat models, Dihexa rescued spatial memory in Morris water maze testing at doses ~10⁷ times lower than BDNF in comparable synaptogenesis assays. The potency of its pro-cognitive effects is exceptional in animal models. However, no human clinical data exists as of mid-2026. The HGF/c-Met pathway is also involved in tumour growth, raising theoretical oncological safety questions for long-term use.
EU legal status
Research compound only. No clinical trials initiated as of mid-2026. The cancer biology intersection of the HGF/c-Met pathway makes this a compound requiring careful preclinical characterisation before any human development.
Molecular information
Pharmacokinetics
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Frequently asked questions
What is Dihexa? ▾
Dihexa is a metabolically stabilised analog of angiotensin IV, developed at Washington State University, that binds hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) with extremely high affinity and potentiates HGF/c-Met signalling to promote synaptogenesis in the hippocampus.
What does the research show? ▾
In aged rat models it rescued spatial memory at doses roughly 10 million times lower than BDNF in comparable synaptogenesis assays, an exceptional pro-cognitive potency, but no human clinical data exist as of mid-2026.
Are there safety concerns with Dihexa? ▾
The HGF/c-Met pathway is also involved in tumour growth, which raises theoretical oncological safety questions for long-term use.
How potent is Dihexa compared to BDNF? ▾
In animal synaptogenesis assays it was active at doses about 10 million times lower than BDNF, though this is animal data only.
Is Dihexa legal in the EU? ▾
It is sold as a research compound for laboratory use only.
Is Dihexa banned in sport? ▾
It is not currently on the WADA prohibited list.