Dihexa

A synthetic angiotensin IV analog studied in preclinical rat models of memory function, with no published human data to date.

Dihexa is a synthetic peptidomimetic derived from the body's own angiotensin IV, developed in Joseph Harding's research group at Washington State University. To date it has been studied exclusively in preclinical models, mainly rats, in connection with learning and memory performance. No published human studies exist for dihexa, so its safety profile in humans has not been examined.

Facts

• CAS number: 1401708-83-5
• Molecular weight: 504.7 g/mol
• Amino acids: 2

Evidence

• In rats, orally administered dihexa (2 mg/kg) reversed scopolamine-induced memory deficits in the Morris water maze test and improved learning in 24-month-old animals. McCoy AT et al. 2013, Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, PMID 23055539 (Arbeit trägt seit 2021 eine Expression of Concern der Herausgeber wegen möglicher Bildmanipulation, keine Retraktion)
• In a rat model of 3-nitropropionic acid-induced Huntington's-like symptoms, PNB-0408 (dihexa) showed no significant improvement in motor or neuropathological endpoints compared to control animals. Wells RG et al. 2024, Journal of Huntington's Disease, Bd. 13, Nr. 1, S. 55-66, PMID 38489193

Frequently asked questions

Are there any human studies on dihexa
No. All data published on dihexa to date come from animal models, mainly rats. A safety profile for human use has not been examined, so neither tolerability nor efficacy data in humans exist.

How is dihexa's mechanism of action explained
Dihexa is reported to bind to the hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met, a pathway proposed to trigger synaptogenesis in cell models. Part of the work that originally supported this mechanism was retracted in 2025 due to falsified data.

Is dihexa an approved medication
No. Dihexa has never entered a clinical approval process for human use and is not approved as a medication in Germany, the EU, or the United States. It is sold exclusively as a research chemical.

Documented prices

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