Research use only. Nothing on this page is medical advice. Dihexa isn’t approved for human use.
Dihexa is an unapproved research compound sold as capsules, powder and vials. No human trial exists, and the 2014 paper behind its “HGF/c-Met” mechanism was retracted in 2025. If you buy it for laboratory work, a seller’s certificate should show the lot number, identity and measured peptide content. Posted prices run from about $0.20 to $0.23 per milligram.
- What it is
- N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide, a small molecule derived from angiotensin IV
- Formula and mass
- C27H44N4O5, 504.67 g/mol {pubchem}
- Also called
- PNB-0408
- Human trials
- None
- FDA status
- Not approved. On FDA’s withdrawn-nomination list for compounding
- WADA 2026
- S0 catch-all: bans any substance with no regulatory approval
- Seller prices
- $69.99 for 300 mg of capsules; $97.99 for 500 mg of powder
Where to buy dihexa
These three sellers publish testing information. The links are the sellers’ dihexa pages, and the sections below cover price, what the certificate must show and what the research says.
Nextchems
Dihexa 5 mg × 60 capsules · $69.99
- 300 mg total, listed shelf life 36 months, refrigerated
- States every batch is third-party tested and that a COA is on the product page
- Offers reimbursement if an independent HPLC test fails
SwissChems
Dihexa powder 500 mg · $97.99
- States independent HPLC testing and a COA per batch
- 30-day returns on unopened products
- Out of stock at last check, with a back-in-stock email option
Amino Club
Lyophilized dihexa vial
- Publishes a certificate library with ten assays per lot
- Panel covers purity, net peptide content, identity, fentanyl, heavy metals, sterility and endotoxin
- Check the lot report on the product page
How much does dihexa cost?
Dihexa costs about $0.20 per milligram as bulk powder and about $0.23 per milligram as capsules. A 500 mg powder is $97.99 and 300 mg of capsules is $69.99 (8, 9). Amino Club lists a lyophilized vial (10). Sale codes change often, so check each seller’s page.
| Seller | Form and size | Price | Per mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1SwissChems | Powder, 500 mg | $97.99 | $0.20 |
| 2Nextchems | Capsules, 5 mg × 60 (300 mg) | $69.99 | $0.23 |
| 3Amino Club | Lyophilized vial | See product page | n/a |
What is dihexa?
Dihexa is a small molecule built from angiotensin IV, a fragment of the blood-pressure hormone angiotensin II. It is N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide, with the formula C27H44N4O5 and a mass of 504.67 (11). That is two amino acids, tyrosine and isoleucine, between a hexanoyl cap and a 6-aminohexanamide tail, so it isn’t a hexapeptide despite the name.
Researchers at Washington State University developed it to survive digestion and cross the blood-brain barrier, features tested only in rodents (1). Our full dihexa guide covers the background.
Does dihexa work? What the research shows
| Study | What it reported | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1McCoy 2013Design paper, rodents | RodentsModified angiotensin IV tripeptides, ending in dihexa, reversed scopolamine-induced water-maze deficits and augmented hippocampal synaptogenesis (1) | Expression of concern, 2021 (2) |
| 2Benoist 2014Mechanism, HGF/c-Met | Rodents and cellsReported that the procognitive and synaptogenic effects depend on the HGF/c-Met system (3) | Expression of concern 2021, retracted 2025 (4, 5) |
| 3Human studiesClinical trials | NoneNo registered or published human trial of dihexa (6) | FDA found no human exposure data (7) |
The two papers that built the dihexa case both carry journal notices. The mechanism paper was retracted in 2025, so “activates HGF/c-Met” no longer rests on retraction-free evidence. Seller pages still repeat it. Nothing has been tested in people.
Dihexa dosage: is there one?
There is no human dose. No trial has tested dihexa in people, so no amount per day, per week or per capsule rests on evidence. A product’s strength, such as Nextchems’ 5 mg capsules (9), describes the product. It isn’t a recommendation.
Dihexa side effects and safety
No human safety data exist. FDA has not identified any human exposure data on drug products containing dihexa acetate by any route (7). HGF/c-Met signaling is also studied as a driver of tumor growth, so a compound said to activate it needs safety data that nobody has produced. The practical risks today are an unverified product and an untested compound.
Is dihexa approved or legal?
FDA has not approved dihexa. Dihexa acetate is on FDA’s list of substances nominated for compounding and then withdrawn from Category 2, the category for substances that may carry significant safety risks (7). It wasn’t among the seven peptides FDA’s advisory committee reviewed in July 2026 (12). On WADA’s 2026 List, S0 bans any substance without regulatory approval, which covers dihexa (13). Research use only is the seller’s label, and it doesn’t make a compound approved or safe for people.
Capsules, powder or vial?
Nextchems sells capsules, SwissChems sells powder and Amino Club lists a vial. The form changes what a certificate can show. Powder and vials can carry a measured net peptide content and sterility results, which matter for any injectable. Capsules are a finished product, so ask whether the certificate covers the raw powder or the capsules. Whatever the form, the certificate has to match the lot on your package.
How to check a dihexa certificate
- A lot number that matches your package, from a laboratory you can verify independently.
- Identity by mass spectrometry or another stated method, matching 504.67 g/mol (11).
- Measured content in milligrams, not only a purity percentage. HPLC purity is a share of the detected material and says nothing about how much is in the container.
- Endotoxin and sterility results for anything meant to be dissolved or injected, and a heavy-metals panel.
Our guide to verifying a peptide COA walks through each step, best peptide vendors compares more sellers, and peptide scams to avoid lists the red flags.
Dihexa FAQ
What is dihexa?
Dihexa is an angiotensin IV derivative sold for laboratory research. It is a small molecule, N-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide, with a mass of 504.67 g/mol. It has no approved use.
Is dihexa a peptide?
Not in the usual sense. It contains two amino acids, tyrosine and isoleucine, joined to a hexanoyl cap and an aminohexanamide tail. It is a peptide-derived small molecule, not a hexapeptide.
Is dihexa FDA approved?
No. FDA has not approved dihexa, and dihexa acetate is on FDA’s list of substances nominated for compounding and withdrawn from Category 2. FDA found no human exposure data.
Does dihexa work?
No human data exist. The rodent work reported memory benefits, but the 2014 mechanism paper was retracted in 2025 and the 2013 design paper carries an expression of concern.
How much does dihexa cost?
About $0.20 per milligram as powder and $0.23 per milligram as capsules. A 500 mg powder is $97.99 and 60 capsules of 5 mg are $69.99.
What is the dihexa dosage?
There is no established dose. No human trial exists, and a product’s capsule strength is not a recommended amount.
What are dihexa’s side effects?
Unknown. No human safety data exist, and FDA found no human exposure data. HGF/c-Met signaling is also studied in tumor growth.
Where can you buy dihexa?
Research-chemical sellers such as Nextchems, SwissChems and Amino Club list it for laboratory use. Check that the certificate shows a matching lot number, identity and measured content.
Is dihexa banned in sport?
Yes. WADA’s 2026 Prohibited List bans any substance without regulatory approval under S0, which covers dihexa.
Dihexa vs semax: which has more evidence?
Neither has a controlled human trial in the indexed literature. Semax is registered as a drug in Russia, while dihexa isn’t registered as a drug in the US.
Keep researching: the full list of peptides, Semax vs Selank, types of research peptides and the best peptides by goal.
References
Show references (13)Hide references
- McCoy AT, et al. Evaluation of metabolically stabilized angiotensin IV analogs as procognitive/antidementia agents. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2013. Source
- Notice of concern on McCoy et al. 2013. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021. Source
- Benoist CC, et al. The procognitive and synaptogenic effects of angiotensin IV-derived peptides are dependent on activation of the hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met system. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2014 (retracted). Source
- Notice of concern on Benoist et al. 2014. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021. Source
- Retraction notice for Benoist et al. 2014. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2025. Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov search for dihexa: no registered studies. Source
- FDA. Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (content dated 22 April 2026). Source
- Swiss Chems. Dihexa powder, 500mg: product page. Source
- Nextchems. Dihexa, 5mg, 60 capsules: product page. Source
- Amino Club. Certificate of analysis library. Source
- PubChem. Dihexa, compound CID 129010512. Source
- Healio. FDA committee recommends looser restrictions for several peptides. 24 July 2026. Source
- WADA. The 2026 Prohibited List. Source