VIAGRA -- A name suggesting vigor and vitality.
Here are some examples of recent drug names created with help of naming consultants, along with comments from the consultants about what the names are intended to convey:
-- Avonex, an injectable drug for multiple sclerosis. ''It flows off the tongue,'' is very distinctive, and because it starts with the letter ''a,'' it gets listed at the top of drug formularies. Also, the ''nex'' suffix suggests next, or advanced.
-- Biaxin, an antibiotic. Suggests action.
-- Effexor, an antidepressant. ''It practically says effective in the name'' and the end sounds powerful.
-- Mirapex, for Parkinson's disease. ''It sounds soft and friendly, and also you think of miraculous.''
-- Prostep. ''It's a nicotine patch that tries to focus on the benefit of taking a positive step ... in your life.''
-- Prozac, an antidepressant. ''It works on an exact part of the brain'' and in an exact dosage. Also, it sounds hard-hitting to convey effectiveness.
-- Reditabs, dissolving wafer-like allergy drug. ''It's a tablet that's always ready'' because water is not needed to swallow it.
-- Tetramune, a vaccine against four childhood diseases. The suffix suggests immunity.
-- Vantin, an antibiotic. ''It's two syllables, very short and memorable,'' and the ''van'' prefix connotes advantage or advanced.
-- Xenecal, a weight loss drug. Indicates X-ing out the calories.
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