Dihexa
Compound snapshot
Class
Research peptide
FDA approved
No
Clinical development
Phase 2
Last reviewed
September 2026
Research areas
Cognition / Mood / Neuroprotection
Regulatory status
Research use only — not approved
Internet attention
Moderate
Registry query
Dihexa
A small angiotensin IV analogue engineered for high brain penetration, studied for synapse formation.
Reality check — what we actually know
Supported by human evidence
- No adequately powered randomised human trials establish the outcomes this compound is marketed for.
Animal research only
- Reported in rodent work to be orders of magnitude more potent than BDNF at forming new synapses
- Reversed cognitive deficits in scopolamine and Alzheimer's-model rodents
- Studied for Parkinson's models and traumatic brain injury
Mechanistically plausible
- Potentiates hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signalling at the c-Met receptor, which drives synaptogenesis — new connections between neurons.
Common internet claims
- Online discussion frequently presents Dihexa as a proven treatment rather than a research compound.
Not established
- Human efficacy for the outcomes commonly claimed
- Optimal route, quantity and duration in humans
- Long-term human safety
Evidence distribution
Each band is a live PubMed search for Dihexa, filtered to that kind of study. Top is the strongest evidence; the base is reasoning, not proof. A band with no records means that kind of study has not been published for this compound yet.
Mechanism and reported findings
Potentiates hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signalling at the c-Met receptor, which drives synaptogenesis — new connections between neurons.
- Reported in rodent work to be orders of magnitude more potent than BDNF at forming new synapses
- Reversed cognitive deficits in scopolamine and Alzheimer's-model rodents
- Studied for Parkinson's models and traumatic brain injury
Strength of the evidence: Preclinical only. No human trials, no human safety data whatsoever.
Safety and known cautions
Powerful growth-factor signalling in the brain with unknown long-term consequences. Among the least characterised compounds sold online.
Evidence at a glance
No single score, on purpose. The line beside each bar shows how much reported outcomes vary between studies.
Development stage
- Discovery
- Preclinical
- Phase 1
- Phase 2Current
- Phase 3
- Regulatory review
- Approved