Dihexa is an experimental peptidomimetic studied in laboratory and animal models. A key 2014 HGF/c-Met mechanism paper was retracted in 2025; the separate 2013 discovery study carries a 2021 notice of concern. Other animal studies report model-dependent findings, including benefits in some memory tasks and a negative result in a rat model of Huntington-like disease. Additional preclinical work supports investigation of HGF/MET involvement, but the sources reviewed do not establish cognitive benefit, safety, or a validated dosing regimen in people. Laboratory potency comparisons must not be presented as proof of clinical superiority over BDNF. Scientific/expert review pending.
Claims that relied on that paper need independent confirmation. The retraction does not establish that every possible claim about Dihexa is false, and it does not supply human efficacy or safety evidence either.
Sources and proposed-mechanism explanation
The proposed mechanism attracted interest, but a plausible pathway depends on reliable supporting experiments.
- Dihexa mechanism paper: retraction record, 2025 (new tab)
- Benoist et al. — 2014 HGF/c-Met mechanism study (retracted April 2025; historical source only) (new tab)
- Benoist et al. — April 2025 retraction notice for the 2014 mechanism paper (new tab)
- McCoy et al. — 2013 Dihexa discovery study (separate 2021 notice of concern) (new tab)
- McCoy et al. — 2021 notice of concern for the separate 2013 discovery study (new tab)
- Sun et al. — 2021 APP/PS1 mouse Dihexa research (new tab)
- Wells et al. — 2024 negative Huntington-like toxin rat-model study (new tab)
- Martino et al. — repeated mild TBI rat working-memory research, first online November 20, 2025 (new tab)