What is the mechanism of action of Dihexa peptide?

Dihexa is a synthetic derivative of angiotensin IV developed at Washington State University that works by potentiating hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-Met, which play crucial roles in synaptic plasticity. Unlike traditional nootropics that modulate neurotransmitters, Dihexa is designed to stimulate synaptogenesis, the formation of new neural connections. In preclinical studies, it was found to be seven orders of magnitude more potent than BDNF in neurotrophic activity assays, though no human clinical trials have been published and concerns exist regarding its activation of pathways associated with cancer cell growth.