In Vitro Characterization Of Ftx6058, A Novel Small Molecule Fetal Hemoglobin Inducer For Sickle Cell Disease

Red blood cell disorders like Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and β-thalassemias are caused by mutations within the gene for the hemoglobin β (HBβ) subunit. A fetal ortholog of HBβ, hemoglobin γ (HBγ) can prevent or reduce disease-related pathophysiology in these disorders by forming nonpathogenic complexes with the required hemoglobin α subunit. Globin expression is developmentally regulated, with a reduction in production of the fetal ortholog (γ) occurring shortly after birth and a concomitant increase in the levels of the adult ortholog (β). It has been postulated that maintaining expression of the anti-sickling γ ortholog may be of therapeutic benefit in children and adults with SCD. Indeed, individuals with the SCD mutation who also have genetic variants that maintain HBγ expression and the resulting fetal hemoglobin (HbF) tetramer at clinically meaningful levels do not present with SCD-related symptoms.