Substituted benzimidazole and 3H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines or formula I: where X and Y respectively are selected from: (i) N and N; and (ii) N and CR4; A2 is selected from: a C5 heteroarylene group, containing 2 or 3 ring heteroatoms, where the bonds to L1 and the core are β to one another; L1 is selected from: (i) A1—O—CH2—A2; (ii) A1—CH2—O—A2; (iii) A1—C(═O)—NH—A2; (iv) A1—CH(OH)—A2; (v) A1—CH2—NH—C(═O)—A2; (vi) A1—S—CH2—A2; (vii) A1—CH2—S—A2; (viii) A1—CH2—A2; and (ix) A1—CH(CH3)—O—A2; A1 is phenyl, optionally substituted by F or CF3; their use as pharmaceuticals, and in particular, in treating cancer and hemoglobinopathies.