ndd Medical Sponsors Leonard Nimoy COPD Documentary

ndd Medical Technologies Inc has signed on to sponsor the upcoming documentary about Leonard Nimoy’s struggle with COPD, the third leading cause of death in the US. Nimoy died of end-stage COPD on February 27, 2015.

Read more: Leonard Nimoy, 83, Dies of End-Stage COPD

The documentary, “COPD: Highly Illogical – A Special Tribute to Leonard Nimoy,” is being co-produced by Nimoy’s daughter Julie Nimoy and her husband David Knight. The documentary will be released later this year to coincide with “Star Trek’s” 50th anniversary.

According to a company news release by ndd, the film entertains while educating viewers about COPD through the actor’s story and those of other sufferers, detailing the latest diagnostic techniques, treatments and the quest for a cure. Nimoy gave his blessing to the project prior to his death.

“Leonard felt he had a responsibility to educate people about COPD and create awareness,” explained Knight. After his diagnosis in 2013, Nimoy went public with his condition and became a COPD activist on social media. Knight said it’s likely his father-in-law suffered from COPD years before his official diagnosis and one of the film’s goals is to reach the estimated 12 million undiagnosed or misdiagnosed people who have the disease, but do not know it.

“We at ndd are very excited to be involved with this project and as a company that develops pulmonary function testing equipment, we believe this documentary will be a game changer,” said Joy Tobin, ndd’s director of Marketing. “If diagnosed early, COPD can be managed and quality of life improved. This movie will deliver that message far and wide.”

ndd is the sole PFT manufacturer to underwrite the film, according to the company.

Nimoy, who immortalized the “Star Trek” character “Mr. Spock,” began smoking as a young teenager growing up in Boston, but quit in 1986, according to Knight. Nimoy was shocked by the diagnosis, because he hadn’t smoked in three decades.