Sickle cell disease (SCD) is autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the β-globin gene, and induction of fetal γ-globin is considered an established therapeutic strategy for the treatment of this disease. A research team led by scientists at Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has discovered RK-701, a small-molecule inhibitor of G9a and G9a-like protein (GLP) as a potential therapeutic agent for SCD.