Actor Will Forte shares family story in Teva awareness campaign
'Honestly HD' campaign aims to show 'what life with this disease really looks like'
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Comedian and actor Will Forte is teaming up with Teva Pharmaceuticals to raise awareness about Huntington’s disease (HD).
Forte has signed on as an ambassador for Teva’s Honestly HD campaign, sharing his family’s story with Huntington’s in hopes of offering resources and connection to people in the HD community.
“Any meaningful step forward in Huntington’s disease has to start with a clear understanding of what life with this disease really looks like, which is why we focus first on listening to people living with HD,” Heather DeMyers, Teva’s vice president of U.S. innovative medicines marketing, said in an email to Huntington’s Disease News.
Huntington’s, estimated to affect more than 41,000 people in the U.S., is a genetic, neurodegenerative disorder that leads to a range of symptoms, including motor issues, cognitive impairment, and behavioral and/or psychological problems.
Teva Pharmaceuticals is a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the developer of Austedo (deutetrabenazine), an approved therapy for Huntington’s-related chorea. An estimated 90% of Huntington’s patients develop this movement disorder, which is marked by uncontrolled jerky or writhing movements that can interfere with daily activities.
‘We can empower people’ to find resources
Forte’s connection to the disease is through his wife, Olivia. The two met when Olivia’s father was experiencing HD progression, and her brother, Doug Modling, was recently diagnosed with the condition. Forte and his brother-in-law want to share their family’s experience.
“Seeing firsthand the challenges my brother-in-law faces, and his enduring hope despite it all, I’m incredibly inspired by the resilience of everyone I’ve met from the HD community,” Forte said in a press release from Teva. “That’s why I’m sharing our story — to help raise awareness of this disease and let people know they are not alone, and that there are resources available to support them. It’s a hope I share with Teva — that we can empower people with stories like my family’s, or those beginning to experience symptoms like chorea, to connect with resources like Honestly HD and help preserve their independence for as long as possible.”
Honestly HD provides information and resources about Huntington’s symptoms, particularly chorea and how it affects daily life. The campaign features a discussion guide to help patients talk with their healthcare providers about this symptom. Teva also offers the HD Chorea Independence Planner to help patients plan for potential challenges associated with chorea and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
“Will and Doug’s experience reflects the strength and determination of so many families impacted by this disease and underscores how important hope and connection are along the way,” DeMyers said. “Their experience gets to the heart of Teva’s Honestly HD program: deepening empathy, expanding awareness and better supporting those living with HD.”
Honestly HD features the stories of other HD patients and care partners as well.
