They’re all called things like Zyrtec or Imbruvica. What is the convention that’s used to create these names, and why can’t they just be called something normal, like … I dunno, ‘Headache-Be-Gone’ ?
In: 20
I’m surprised no one has mentioned trademark. It’s nearly impossible to find a non-offensive name that’s also able to be trademarked in all the countries where the drug is going to be sold. Trademark plays a HUGE role in all of this – then you have to add in regional slang, and it gets even tricker.
For example, outside of the drug realm, there’s a myth that the Chevy Nova (a car) didn’t sell well in Mexico because “No Va” means “doesn’t go” in spanish. Well, if your made up drug name is something like “Aguamuerte” then you might be fine in Finland and Japan, but in any spanish speaking country that would mean “death water” – probably not something you’d want to name a drug.
So now you have to find something you can trademark in all the countries you want to sell in, it has to clear translations in proper language, and slang language in all those countries, and as a few of the pharmacists chiming in have mentioned, it also typically has a name that is in some way related to the function of the drug itself. When you combine those 3 things, you end up having to come up with some very weird names.
Latest Answers