Drug names: The machinations behind the monikers

Ever heard of Viagra, Rogaine, or Ozempic? 

The process for turning a chemical compound into a household name is both a science and an art. In fact, naming a prescription drug can take a manufacturer up to four years, as a set of three monikers per medicine must run the gauntlet of several regulatory agencies.

It all starts with determining a drug’s chemical and generic names — both of which involve established rules. After those are settled, the rest is marketing. 

So how do some drugs become memorable? What global trends dominate drug naming? And what happens when a company gets it wrong?

Get all the answers in our season 8 opener.

The Quartz Obsession is produced by Podcast Fast Track, with additional support from Jason Russum, Amy Perry, Liliana Zapata, Juan Palacios, and Lorena Caro. Our theme music is by Taka Yasuzawa and Alex Suguira. This episode was recorded at G/O Media headquarters in New York.