Teva Launches Website to Provide People Living With Huntington’s Disease Information on Chorea
Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), today announced the launch of the Honestly HD website, which aims to provide information, inspiration and resources to help people understand what to expect with Huntington’s Disease (HD) chorea – one of the most visible and treatable symptoms of HD – and, how to talk to their doctor about preserving independence. In addition to the newly launched site, a Twitter channel, @HonestlyHD, has launched to further support the HD community and expand the resources already available through the Honestly HD Facebook community, which provides a virtual space for sharing personal stories and resources.1
“The progressive nature of HD can create feelings of isolation for patients and their families, and makes planning ahead crucial”
HD is an inherited disorder in which nerve cells in the brain break down and are irreversibly damaged.2,3 Ninety percent of people with HD will develop chorea, a movement disorder in which abnormally high levels of dopamine in the brain cause involuntary body movements such as fidgeting, squirming, or jerking that can affect the hands and face, limbs and torso or speech and mobility.1,4 While it’s not the only symptom of HD, chorea can have a significant impact on daily activities and progressively limit peoples’ lives.
“There is an immense amount to know about HD, which can lead to feeling overwhelmed and confused. While there is no cure for HD, many symptoms can be managed, helping to ease some of the challenges of living with the disease. Early treatment of chorea, for example, can help you stay independent longer,”2 said Dr. Victor W. Sung, Chair of HDSA’s National Board of Trustees, Director of HDSA Center of Excellence, Alabama. “Honestly HD provides patients and families affected by HD a central place to access helpful information and resources, as well as hear about the experiences of others to feel a sense of community.”
In addition to providing information about HD and chorea, HonestlyHD.com features helpful resources, including steps to help people decide how and when to address HD chorea, a HD chorea discussion guide to help patients and their care partners prepare for doctor’s appointments, and stories from patients and care partners about their experiences.
“The progressive nature of HD can create feelings of isolation for patients and their families, and makes planning ahead crucial,” said Michelle Roberts, MBA, MSN, NP, Senior Director, Medical Patient Advocacy, Teva Pharmaceuticals.1 “Our hope is that in addition to providing information and resources to aid in managing HD chorea symptoms and planning for the future, Honestly HD fosters a supportive and inspiring community so patients and their families don’t feel alone. Honestly HD underscores our commitment to supporting patients as they face the many complex challenges of living with a degenerative disease, and hopefully provides them with some actionable steps they can take to potentially reduce disease burden.”
To learn more, please visit HonestlyHD.com or @HonestlyHD or join the community at Honestly HD.
About Teva
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people’s lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com.