What are the naming conventions when creating prescription medicines? Why do we have names like Skyrizi, Lipitor, and Rybelsis?
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A lot of the time, the generic names have certain prefixes, middle parts, and suffixes that relate to the function and structure of the drug.
For example, the drug apixaban is a factor Xa inhibitor in the clotting cascade. Basically, it interacts with a particle in the body and prevents clots from forming. Note the name: api-xa-ban. Other drugs in this class have -xa- in the middle as well.
The issue here is that these names can get long, so companies come up with easier to pronounce names. For example, it’s a lot easier to say Paxlovid than it is to say nirmatrelvir-ritonavir.
Most of the time, drug names fit into [categories](https://denalirx.com/drug-prefix-root-and-suffix/), although my understanding is that these categories will be changing soon. Not something you have to worry about if you’re not in medicine/pharmacy
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