#FierceMadness is back: Get voting in the 2024 drug name tournament

20 Mar 2024
www.fiercepharma.com
This year we’re taking the branded drug names that were officially approved by the FDA in 2022 and 2023 - now it's your turn to vote for your winner.
LAUNCHED: Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 a.m. ETFDA
It’s March, so it’s time for some #FierceMadness. Last year, we channeled the NCAA tournament for the best pharma ad campaigns, but, this year, we’re looking for the best of the best in drug names.
Here’s how it works.
We’ve chosen 64 of the most distinctive drug names to come out of the FDA’s 2022 and 2023 crop of new approvals. Whittling down to 64 from the 92 drug names available was our staff challenge, but now it’s up to you, readers, to deliberate and vote down to the final winner.
Remember, this isn’t about the drugs themselves—neither how well they FDA work (or not) nor any controversies in how they may have been approved. Our goal is to assess their marketing suitability, considering how well they perform in their respective field and against competitors.
Ready to play? Check out the bracket here (PDF) and see the full Madness 64 list below. Then vote is via our poll here. You can vote from now until Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m. ET. Check back here Monday, March 25, for your results, and the chance to vote in the next round.
After that, we’ll be back with a new round each Wednesday and Monday through Monday, April 8, when you can vote for your championship winner. Any remote robo-voting will be noted, and those votes will be discarded. Please play fair.
Don’t forget to tell us why you picked what you picked in the voting poll comments section—and what you think each drug name really sounds like. We’ll include the funniest and most out-of-the-box comments in our recaps every round, so make 'em good!
New this year: Our sister publication Fierce Biotech is also running its own Madness tournament for the best of the best in biotech company names. Check out and vote in its championship here.
Good luck, and happy Madness!
#FierceMadness 2024: The full bracket of 64
Jesduvroq vs. Lamzede
Jesduvroq
Maker: GSK
IndicatGSK: Anemia due to chronic kidney disease
Sounds like:Anemiayou hit chronic kidney diseasemer, but it’s in front of your children so you’re trying not to swear
Lamzede
Maker: Chiesi
Indication: Non-central nervous system manifestations of alpha-mannosidosis
Sounds like: A vegan mealalpha-mannosidosis
Pluvicto vs. Lunsumio
Pluvictoovartis
IndicatNovartisstate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer following other therapies
Lunsumio
IndicatRocheRelapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Briumvi vs. Camzyos
BriumviTG Therapeutics
IndicatTG Therapeuticsforms of multiple sclerosis
Sounds like: A sixth-generationmultiple sclerosis
Camzyos
CamzyosBristol Myers Squibb
IndicatBristol Myers Squibbertrophic cardiomyopathy
Voquezna vs. Mounjaro
Voquezna
Maker: Phathom Pharmaceuticals
IndicatPhathom Pharmaceuticalsi infection
Mounjaro
Maker: Eli Lilly
IndicatEli Lillyring blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes
Sounds like: A legendary medieval sword figType 2 diabetes
Vtama vs. Amvuttra
Maker: Dermavant
Indication: Plaque psoriasis
Sounds like:Plaque psoriasis
Amvuttra
Amvuttralnylam
IndicatAlnylamlyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis
Xenpozyme vs. Daxxify
IndicatSanoficid sphingomyelinase deficiency
Sounds like: An alien protein
Daxxify
Maker: Revance
Indication: The treatment of cervical dystonia and for the temporary improvement of frown lines
Sounds like: A ray gun to makcervical dystonia
Fruzaqla vs. Sotyktu
Fruzaqlaakeda Pharmaceuticals
IndicatTakeda Pharmaceuticalstatic colorectal cancer
Sounds like: A European metastatic colorectal cancer
Sotyktu
Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb
IndicatBristol Myers Squibbere plaque psoriasis
Sounds like: Gesundheit!plaque psoriasis
Terlivaz vs. Imjudo
Terlivazallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
IndicatMallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in adults with hepatorenal syndrome with rapid reduction in kidney function
Sounds like: A Hungarian dancehepatorenal syndrome
Imjudo
Maker: AstraZeneca
IndicatAstraZenecactable hepatocellular carcinoma
Elahere vs. Vabysmo
Elahere
Maker: ImmunoGen
IndicatImmunoGenrrent ovarian cancer that is resistant to platinum therapy
Sounds like:Recurrent ovarian cancert Hawaiian
Vabysmo
Maker: Roche
IndicatRocheNeovascular (wet) aged-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema
Pyrukynd vs. Rystiggo
Indication: Hemolytic anemia in pyruvate kinase deficiency
Rystiggo
Maker: UCB
IndicatUCB: Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor- or anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody-positive
Beyfortus vs. Xdemvy
BeyfortustraZeneca
IndicatAstraZenecavent respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract disease
Sounds like: A medieval stronghold
Xdemvy
Maker: Tarsus Pharmaceuticals
Sounds like: Elon Musk’s drunk attempt at renaming his business
Tzield vs. Rezlidhia
TzieldRezlidhia
Maker: Provention Bio
IndicatProvention Bio onset of stage 3 Type 1 diabetes
Sounds like: An electronic barrierType 1 diabetes
Rezlidhia
Maker: Rigel Pharmaceuticals
IndicatRigel Pharmaceuticalsactory acute myeloid leukemia with a susceptible isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation
Krazati vs. Leqembi
Maker: Mirati Therapeutics
IndicatMirati Therapeuticsted locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in adults who have received at least one prior systemic therapy
Leqembi
LeqembiEisai
IndicatEisaiAlzheimer’s disease
Sounds like:Alzheimer’s diseaserench aphorism
Cibinqo vs. Brenzavvy
CibinqoPfizer
IndicatPfizerefractory, moderate to severe atopic dermatitis
Sounds like: A game of cheeky bingoatopic dermatitis
Brenzavvy
Maker: TheracosBio
Indication: Glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise
Sounds like: Heard in a copy of "Pirates of Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Jaypirca vs. Skyclarys
Jaypirca
Maker: Eli Lilly
IndicatEli Lillypsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma in adults who have had at least two lines of systemic therapy, including a BTK inhibitor
Skyclarys
Maker: Biogen
IndicatBiogenriedreich’s ataxia
Sounds like:Friedreich’s ataxiang
Zavzpret vs. Paxlovid
IndicatPfizerigraine treatment
Sounds like:Migrainesh fast-food restaurant
Paxlovid
IndicatPfizerild to moderate COVID-19 in adults at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19
Sounds like: A bizarre Pac-MaCOVID-19COVID-19
Inpefa vs. Columvi
Inpefa
Maker: Lexicon Pharmaceuticals
Sounds like:Heart failureist offshoot group
Columvi
Maker: Roche
IndicatRocheDiffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, or large B-cell lymphoma arising from follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy
Daybue vs. Zynyz
DaybueZynyz
Maker: Acadia
IndicatAcadiaett syndrome
Sounds like:Rett syndromeyear-old insists debut is spelled
Zynyz
Zynyz: Incyte
Indication: Metastatic or recurrent locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma
Sounds like: Drug naming companies may be running outMerkel cell carcinoma
Rezzayo vs. Qalsody
Rezzayo
Maker: Melinta Therapeutics
IndicatMelinta Therapeuticsinvasive candidiasis
Sounds like:Candidemiaused invasive candidiasiseat nap in the day
Qalsody
Maker: Biogen
IndicatBiogenmyotrophic lateral sclerosis in adults who have a SOD1 gene mutation
Sounds like:Amyotrophic lateral sclerosisall Saul” comes “betteSOD1lsody”
Elfabrio vs. Veozah
Indication: Fabry disease
Sounds like:Fabry diseasenish Mario brother
Veozah
Maker: Astellas
Indication: Moderate to severe hot flashes caused by menopause
Sounds like: A Broadway playhot flashes
Epkinly vs. Zurzuvae
Makers: AbbVie/Genmab
IndicatiAbbVielGenmabor refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and high-grade B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy
Zurzuvae
ZurzuvaeSage/Biogen
Indication: PBiogentum depression
Izervay vs. Talvey
Izervay
Maker: Iveric Bio
IndicatIveric Bioaphic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration
Talvey
Maker: Johnson & Johnson
IndicatJohnson & Johnsonrefractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior therapies
Elrexfio vs. Veopoz
IndicatPfizerelapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior lines of therapy
Sounds like: A new dinosaur found imultiple myeloma
Veopoz
Veopoz Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
IndicatRegeneron Pharmaceuticalsand older with CD55-deficient protein-losing enteropathy
Zilbrysq vs. Ojjaara
IndicatUCB: Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody positive
Ojjaara
IndicatGSK: Intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis in adults with anemia
Sounds like: “What’s my name?”myelofibrosisanemia
Exxua vs. Pombiliti
Maker: Fabre-Kramer Pharmaceuticals
Sounds like: Someone who’s always leaving
Pombiliti
IndicatAmicusate-onset Pompe disease
Sounds like: The abilitPompe diseasempe disease (this feels a little on the nose)
Rivfloza vs. VelsipityPompe disease
Rivflozaovo Nordisk
IndicatNovo Nordisk oxalate levels in patients 9 years and older with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 and relatively preserved kidney function
Sounds like: An exuberant DJprimary hyperoxaluria
Velsipity
Maker: Pfizer
IndicatPfizeroderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults
Sounds like: A deodorant brand you active ulcerative colitis
Bimzelx vs. Omvoh
Maker: UCB
IndicatUCB: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy
Sounds like: Throwing away unwaplaque psoriasis
Omvoh
Maker: Eli Lilly
IndicatEli Lillyrative colitis
Sounds like:Ulcerative colitis
Loqtorzi vs. Defencath
Loqtorzioherus Biosciences
IndicatCoherus Biosciencesetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma when used together with or following other therapies
Defencath
Maker: CorMedix
IndicatCorMedixuce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections in adults with kidney failure receiving chronic hemodialysis
Sounds like: A Dungeons and Dragons catheter-related bloodstream infectionskidney failure
Augtyro vs. Ryzneuta
Augtyro
Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb
IndicatBristol Myers Squibbon-small cell lung cancer
Sounds like:ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancerROS1-positiveality game where you’re the bad guy
Ryzneuta
Maker: Acrotech Biopharma
Sounds like:Neutropeniad of someone’s charisma
Truqap vs. Ogsiveo
Truqap AstraZeneca
IndicatAstraZeneca cancer that meets certain disease criteria
Sounds like:Breast cancerruth
Ogsiveo
OgsiveoSpringWorks
Indication: Progressing desmoid tumors who require systemic treatment
Sounds like: Oh, give usdesmoid tumors
Quviviq vs. Ztalmy
QuviviqIdorsia
IndicatIdorsiasomnia
Sounds like:Insomniacer asking a biotech founder turned politician to get ready for his TV appearance
Ztalmy
Maker: Marinus
Indication: Seizures in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 deficiency disorder
Sounds like: A nefariouscyclin-dependent kinase-like 5
Opdualag vs. Wainua
Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb
IndicatBristol Myers Squibb metastatic melanoma
Sounds like: A Russian prison
Wainua
Maker: AstraZeneca
IndicatAstraZenecauropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis
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