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99% Invisible

Ask Your Doctor About

5/12/202632 min

As wild and random as they might seem, a lot of work—and even poetry—goes into coming up with today's catchiest, most unforgettable drug names.

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Clips

How Viagra Got Its Name
A Deadly Naming Mix-up
When Drug Names Must Sing
Teasing A New Weight-Loss Name
Why Names Got Weirder
From Headlines To Brand Names

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Roman Mars· Host0:00

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  2. Sean Cole· Guest1:03

    Roman, what prescription drugs do you take?

  3. Roman Mars· Host1:05

    Well, I, I, I don't- Do you take Jernavyx? This is Sean Cole, everybody. He's an old friend of mine, a friend of the show.

  4. Sean Cole· Guest1:11

    Or Xtencor? Do you take Xtencor?

  5. Roman Mars· Host1:13

    I don't think I wanna discuss, you know, like- Or Xiaflex? What is going on?

  6. Sean Cole· Guest1:17

    Ask your doctor.

  7. Speaker 2· Soundbite1:18

    Ask your doctor about XDENV. Ask your doctor about Nexplanon.

  8. Scott Piergrosi· Guest1:22

    Ask about Repatha.

  9. Speaker 2· Soundbite1:23

    Ask about Nucala.

  10. Scott Piergrosi· Guest1:24

    Ask your doctor about Caplyta. Help see more of the light inside

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