Dihexa: what it is and what the evidence says
A small molecule derived from angiotensin IV, studied for enhancing the signal of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) at its receptor c-Met, which is linked to synaptic plasticity and the formation of neural connections. It was designed for the oral route and to cross into the brain.
Last reviewed: August 16, 2026 · How we verify this
The ground it plays on
The brain adapts by forming and strengthening connections. Neurotransmitters take part in that conversation, along with factors that help neurons survive and grow. Compounds in this group are studied for their relationship with focus, memory, mood or neuroprotection — and it is worth saying plainly that this is the area where claims are most exaggerated and where human evidence is thinnest.
What it is studied for
Learning, memory, plasticity.
There is a distinction that almost always gets lost. A compound being studied for something is not the same as achieving it. And even where it works in a dish or in a mouse, that says little about whether it works in a person or whether the benefit is worth the risk. The section below therefore carries more weight than everything above it.
What the human evidence says
Dihexa itself has no published trials in people yet; its direct evidence comes from rodents and cell cultures. Its prodrug, fosgonimeton, was studied in people (a phase 1 study with 88 participants and the ACT-AD and LIFT-AD trials in Alzheimer's), with good tolerability over half a year and without outperforming placebo on its primary endpoints.
The limitation that matters most
Trials in people with oral Dihexa and long-term safety follow-up are still missing, especially given its action on the HGF and c-Met axis, which takes part in cell and blood vessel growth. The 2014 paper that proposed that mechanism was retracted in 2025, so the explanation is waiting to be confirmed again.
Regulatory status
Not approved in any country; a research compound. In the United States, the FDA took dihexa acetate off Category 2 of substances for compounding in April 2026, and its advisory committee will review it before March 2027; that change does not yet authorize compounding it. It is not listed by name on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, but HGF is in section S2 and unapproved substances fall under S0, so in sport under anti-doping control it is treated as prohibited.
Status can change and varies by country. Always verify the rules in force where you live before drawing conclusions.
Cautions and context
Early-stage research; long-term safety not well characterized. It acts on the HGF and c-Met axis, which is tied to cell and blood vessel growth, so cancer history and retinal history are reviewed beforehand and blood pressure is monitored.
With neurological conditions, a history of cancer, retinal disease, or high blood pressure, professional assessment comes before considering it and continues while you are on it.
What this page cannot give you
A reference page can take you this far. You know what Dihexa is and where its research stands, which already puts you ahead of most readers. Four questions remain that no encyclopedia can answer for you, because the answers depend on your own situation:
- What would you measure beforehand, so that later you could tell whether anything actually changed?
- What would you watch along the way, and how consistently?
- What would you ask a professional, and in how much detail, so you do not walk out with a textbook answer?
- What would make you stop?
That is what the course is for
PeptiXtreme is ${CIF.LECCIONES} lessons that hand out no numbers. Each one ends with your starting point, what to watch along the way, the specific questions you take to a professional and the signals that mean stop. It includes per-module exams, a Certificate of Completion with a verifiable certificate ID, a Progress Tracker to follow how you are doing, and a human advisor you can actually write to.
See the course → Or measure your judgment, freeReferences
Every entry links to its record on PubMed, the US National Library of Medicine database. Open them and check. We would rather have a reader who verifies than one who takes our word for it.
- Evaluation of metabolically stabilized angiotensin IV analogs as procognitive/antidementia agentspreclinical J Pharmacol Exp Ther · 2013 · PMID 23055539 →
- AngIV-Analog Dihexa Rescues Cognitive Impairment and Recovers Memory in the APP/PS1 Mouse via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathwaypreclinical Brain Sci · 2021 · PMID 34827486 →
- Effects of an Angiotensin IV Analog on 3-Nitropropionic Acid-Induced Huntington's Disease-Like Symptoms in Ratspreclinical J Huntingtons Dis · 2024 · PMID 38489193 →
- Stem cell, Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor and/or Dihexa to promote limb function recovery in a rat sciatic nerve damage-repair model: Experimental animal studiespreclinical Ann Med Surg (Lond) · 2021 · PMID 34703584 →
- The development of small molecule angiotensin IV analogs to treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseasesreview Prog Neurobiol · 2015 · PMID 25455861 →
- Cognitive benefits of angiotensin IV and angiotensin-(1-7): A systematic review of experimental studiesreview Neurosci Biobehav Rev · 2018 · PMID 29733881 →
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Frequently asked questions
What is Dihexa?
A small molecule derived from angiotensin IV, studied for enhancing the signal of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) at its receptor c-Met, which is linked to synaptic plasticity and the formation of neural connections. It was designed for the oral route and to cross into the brain. It is studied within the area of cognitive.
Is there human evidence for Dihexa?
Dihexa itself has no published trials in people yet; its direct evidence comes from rodents and cell cultures. Its prodrug, fosgonimeton, was studied in people (a phase 1 study with 88 participants and the ACT-AD and LIFT-AD trials in Alzheimer's), with good tolerability over half a year and without outperforming placebo on its primary endpoints.
Is it approved by any health agency?
Not approved in any country; a research compound. In the United States, the FDA took dihexa acetate off Category 2 of substances for compounding in April 2026, and its advisory committee will review it before March 2027; that change does not yet authorize compounding it. It is not listed by name on the 2026 WADA Prohibited List, but HGF is in section S2 and unapproved substances fall under S0, so in sport under anti-doping control it is treated as prohibited.
What is the dose of Dihexa?
We do not publish dosages. This is not an oversight. No single figure works for everyone: the regimen depends on a person's medical history, on whatever medication they already take, and on the goal they are chasing, which is something a professional weighs with the case in front of them. What you can build is the ability to walk into that appointment knowing what to ask.
Where can I learn to evaluate this properly?
This page tells you what Dihexa is and what the evidence says. The PeptiXtreme course teaches the other half: what you would measure before considering anything, what you would watch, the specific questions you would take to a professional and when you would stop.