I’ve developed names for a living for over 23 years, but I’ve only worked on two pharmaceutical names. Why? Because they’re incredibly challenging! This article provides one of the best explanations of the complexities involved in pharmaceutical naming.

One crucial aspect the article doesn’t mention is the time commitment. It can take a year or more to finalize a name for a pharmaceutical product. I remember when I joined Catchword in 2005, we were working on a drug for Merck, and I contributed names to our 14th and 15th rounds of submissions!

Despite the challenges, sometimes a name emerges that is both memorable and effective. Two of my favorites are Viagra and Ambien – iconic, aren’t they? Of course, there are also plenty of head-scratchers out there.

What are some of your favorite (or least favorite) drug names? I’m curious to hear your thoughts!