#generic name

“Karen!” “Run Jake. Run or Steve will get you!!!”

It can go either way. Generic names sometimes make sense.  For example, with hepatitis C drugs, the last few letters of the generic name indicate the mechanism of action or drug class.  A classic example in HIV was enfuvirtide, the generic name for the fusion inhibitor Fuzeon or T20.  The “en” stood for “envelope,” the “fu” for “fusion,” the “vir” for “virus, and the “tide” for peptide. However, few generic names are that logical (and that one was a mouthful.)

Brand names sometimes have meaning as well.  In the example above, Fuzeon, was chosen because the drug inhibits fusion. Triumeq and Trizivir got their names because they’re both combination pills containing three (”tri”) drugs. 

Brand names are chosen by the drug company, often with the help of the marketing department, hired brand name consultants, and focus groups. They like names that seem powerful, which is apparently why so many drug names have Z’s and X’s in them. Prezcobix has both a “z” and an “x” (bonus!) but it makes some sense, because it contains darunavir (Prezista) and cobicistat. However, the decision about brand names is ultimately up to the FDA. They may reject a brand name, often to avoid confusion with other drugs. They can also reject names that seem too promotional. For example, if memory serves the proposed brand name for what we now know as Epzicom was something like EZTab.  It was nixed by the FDA, presumably because it sounded too much like a commercial.