Anti-sickling agents

Abstract

Compounds for the treatment of sickle-cell disease, and methods for their use are provided. The compounds have a dual mode of action. First, binding of the compounds to hemoglobin increases the oxygen affinity of both normal and sickle hemoglobin. Secondly, binding of these compounds to the N-terminal amino acid of sickle hemoglobin results in destabilization of potential contacts between sickle hemoglobin molecules, preventing polymerization and the formation of fibrous precipitates of the sickle hemoglobin. The compounds are also useful for inducing hypoxia, e.g. to augment cancer treatments.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.