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| Other names | N-(1-Oxohexyl)-l-tyrosyl-N-(6-amino-6-oxohexyl)-l-isoleucinamide |
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| Formula | C27H44N4O5 |
| Molar mass | 504.672 g·mol−1 |
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Dihexa (developmental codePNB-0408; also known asN-hexanoic-Tyr-Ile-(6) aminohexanoic amide) is anoligopeptidedrug derived fromangiotensin IV that binds with highaffinity tohepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and potentiates its activity at its receptor,c-Met.[1][2] The compound has been found to potently improve cognitive function inanimal models ofAlzheimer's disease-likemental impairment.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] In an assay ofneurotrophic activity, dihexa was found to be seven orders of magnitude more potent thanbrain-derived neurotrophic factor.[12]
According to a patent, "Short duration safety studies with dihexa have uncovered no apparenttoxicity. Of particular note is a lack ofneoplastic induction[citation needed], since c-Met is recognized as anoncogene. This is unsurprising sinceoncogenesis requires multiplemutations including both oncogene induction andtumor suppressor attenuation."[13][citation needed]
Dihexa was developed by Joseph Harding and his team at Washington State University.[14] Later developments were done byM3 Biotechnology, a company founded to commercialize dihexa.[15]
Fosgonimeton, a phosphatepro-drug of dihexa is currently in clinical trials for the treatment ofneurodegenerative diseases such asAlzheimer's andParkinson's disease[16]