Will Roberts, an Alabama teen battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer, is now set to receive access to an experimental treatment after his emotional plea on social media gained widespread attention and prompted swift action from public figures and medical professionals.
In a post shared by his mother, the family said the breakthrough came within hours of the video spreading online, ultimately leading to direct contact with doctors developing the drug.
According to the post, the family received a call from Dr. Mehmet Oz, who then reached out to the developers of the experimental treatment DeltaRex-G in Santa Monica, California.
“We have now had a tele-health call with the doctors, and they told us that Will is gaining access to the drug and we will be traveling to Santa Monica very soon,” the post states.
The update follows a widely shared video in which the teen, identified as Will Roberts, asked viewers to help spread his story as he battles osteosarcoma, a severe form of bone cancer.
“Hey y’all, my name is Will Roberts. I’m from Alabama,” he says at the start of the video.
Roberts said in the video that he has been undergoing treatment for more than a year, but that his chemotherapy has not been effective.
“My chemos are just not working… and it’s just not much is working,” he says.
He also described the cancer as having spread throughout his body, including to his liver.
“The cancer’s all over my body right now and all in my liver,” Roberts says.
In his message, Roberts asked viewers to help amplify his story in hopes it would reach national figures.
“Could y’all please… help get this video out,” he says.
His mother said the effort quickly gained traction, crediting a number of individuals and elected officials for helping bring attention to his case, including Barry Moore, Katie Britt, Tommy Tuberville, State Sen. Gerald Allen, and Jared Hudson. The post also thanked Hank Williams Jr., his wife Brandi, businessman Stan Pate, and others who shared the message.
The post emphasized that the momentum began with Will himself.
“WILL DID THIS!!!! EVERY bit of this,” she wrote.
DeltaRex-G is an experimental gene therapy designed to target and destroy cancer cells by delivering a genetic agent that disrupts tumor growth. The treatment has been studied in early-stage clinical trials and limited expanded access programs for patients with advanced, treatment-resistant cancers, including osteosarcoma. While some studies have shown signs of tumor response in certain patients, the therapy remains investigational and is not widely approved as a standard treatment.
The family said they are now preparing to travel to California for treatment, marking a significant shift after previously describing limited remaining options.
Roberts had earlier spoken candidly about the emotional toll of his diagnosis.
“Y’all, I’m terrified… just like y’all would be if y’all knew that y’all were about to die,” he said.
The family’s update framed the development as a turning point, crediting both public support and a rapid chain of events following the video’s release.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
