UPDATED Tuesday, March 24, 4:15 p.m. ET
The “Z”s had it in the Round of 32 of this year’s Fierce Madness Drug Name Tournament. Half of the round’s matchups included at least one of the otherwise-rare letters, and all but one ended with the “Z” name winning out. Meanwhile, the only battle that had zeds on both sides turned out to be one of the closest of the group.
That nail-biter was between Johnson & Johnson’s Lazcluze and Sanofi’s Wayrilz. In the final moments of voting, Wayrilz pulled ahead by just nine votes to secure its place in the Sweet 16. There, it’ll go up against a tournament favorite, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Cobenfy, which has so far sailed comfortably through the bracket—including taking 61% of the vote in its second-round fight against Servier’s Voranigo.
Closest of all in the Round of 32 was the faceoff between Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ Modeyso and Crinetics Pharmaceuticals’ Palsonify, which was ultimately decided by a margin of only three votes. To Modeyso go the spoils; though many voters appreciated how Palsonify sounds like the word “personify,” that resemblance came off “weird” and “creepy” to some, and one pointed out that the drug name “sounds like a Harry Potter curse.” Plus, as another commenter wrote, “Modeyso sounds like mayo. Delicious.” Indeed.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the most decisive victory once again went to Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ Dawnzera, which ousted GSK’s Blujepa with a resounding 85% of the vote. That’s two blowouts in a row for Dawnzera—which claimed 77% of votes in its first-round matchup against Ascendis Pharma’s Yorvipath—suggesting that Ionis may be well on its way to back-to-back championships in our biennial drug name tournament.
Yet again, most commenters remarked on Dawnzera’s hopeful evocation of the “dawn of a new era” for those with hereditary angioedema, with one applauding it as “marketing at its finest.”
Next up, Dawnzera will go toe-to-toe with AstraZeneca’s Voydeya, which took down Roche’s Itovebi with more than two-thirds of the vote in the Round of 32 and earned similar praise along the way, with voters noting that the name reminds them of a “voyage” and “brand new day.”
Voting is now open here for the Sweet 16 round of the #FierceMadness Drug Name Tournament. Share any thoughts on the drug names in the comment boxes, and remember to keep it to one submission per person, please.
Sweet 16 voting will close Friday, March 27, at 12 p.m. ET, with the Elite Eight competitors revealed soon after.
Check out the updated bracket and more about the 16 round three challengers below, and vote for your favorites here.
Fierce Madness 2026—Sweet 16 challengers:
Zegfrovy vs. Vizz
Zegfrovy
Maker: Dizal Pharmaceutical
Indication: Locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy
Vizz
Maker: Lenz Therapeutics
Indication: Age-related blurry near vision (presbyopia)
Modeyso vs. Rezdiffra
Modeyso
Maker: Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Diffuse midline glioma harboring an H3 K27M mutation with progressive disease following prior therapy
Rezdiffra
Maker: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis
Anktiva vs. Tryngolza
Anktiva
Maker: ImmunityBio
Indication: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ with or without papillary tumors
Tryngolza
Maker: Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome
Wayrilz vs. Cobenfy
Wayrilz
Maker: Sanofi
Indication: Persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia that had an insufficient response to a previous treatment
Cobenfy
Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb
Indication: Schizophrenia
Crenessity vs. Imaavy
Crenessity
Maker: Neurocrine Biosciences
Indication: Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Imaavy
Maker: Johnson & Johnson
Indication: Generalized myasthenia gravis in anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody positive patients
Attruby vs. Rhapsido
Attruby
Maker: BridgeBio Pharma
Indication: Cardiomyopathy of wild-type or variant transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis
Rhapsido
Maker: Novartis
Indication: Chronic spontaneous urticaria in patients who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment
Bizengri vs. Hernexeos
Bizengri
Maker: Merus
Indication: Advanced, unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer or advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, both harboring an NRG1 gene fusion with disease progression on or after prior systemic therapy
Hernexeos
Maker: Boehringer Ingelheim
Indication: Unresectable or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in patients whose tumors have HER2 TKD activating mutations and who have received prior systemic therapy
Dawnzera vs. Voydeya
Dawnzera
Maker: Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Hereditary angioedema
Voydeya
Maker: AstraZeneca
Indication: Extravascular hemolysis in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
VOTING FOR THE ROUND OF 32 IS NOW CLOSED.
UPDATED Friday, March 20, 3 p.m. ET
Following a first round filled with multiple photo finishes, 32 pharmaceutical brand names have emerged victorious and ready for round two of this year’s Fierce Madness Drug Name Tournament.
With more than 1,200 voters participating, several of the Round of 64 matchups came down to the wire. As of Thursday afternoon, the competition between Zevra Therapeutics’ Miplyffa and Day One Biopharmaceuticals’ Ojemda was locked in a virtual tie, as was the contest pitting Kura Oncology’s Komzifti against Sanofi’s Wayrilz. By the time voting closed midday Friday, Ojemda and Wayrilz had nosed ahead in their respective races
The latter competition was separated by a margin of just 16 votes. Though many voters appreciated how Komzifti sounded “nifty,” even more pointed out how Wayrilz seemed to suggest “a way forward”—with a few also noting that it sounds like it has “rizz,” as the kids say.
Indeed, across the bracket, voters seemed most drawn to drug names that call to mind real words, while rejecting at least some cases of otherwise rare consonants: The letter “Q” is completely absent from the second round, and only two “X”s remain of the original five. Unavoidable, however, were the plethora of “Y”s and “Z”s endemic among drug names.
Another neck-and-neck contest emerged between Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ Redemplo and Akeso’s Anniko, where Redemplo ultimately won out by a mere 26 votes—again, with several voters drawing a comparison to the word “redemption.”
The round’s biggest shutout came from Ionis Pharmaceuticals’ Dawnzera, which trounced Ascendis Pharma’s Yorvipath with 77% of the vote. The vast majority of commenting voters caught on to how the Ionis hereditary angioedema med’s name seems to evoke the “dawn of a new era.”
Ionis has some experience in this particular arena: Diehard #FierceMadness fans will recall that the California-based biotech was responsible for the last Drug Name Tournament’s winner, as its AstraZeneca-partnered Wainua took the crown in 2024.
Elsewhere, other decisive victories came from Lenz Therapeutics’ short-and-sweet Vizz, which knocked out Leo Pharma’s Anzupgo with 76% of the vote, and Dizal Pharmaceutical’s Zegfrovy, which claimed 75% of the vote to triumph over Merck’s Ohtuvayre.
All those and more head-to-heads bring us to the Round of 32, where voting is now open here. Remember to share your thoughts about each drug name in the comment boxes if you’re so moved, and only one submission per person, please.
Round of 32 voting will close Tuesday, March 24, at 3 p.m. ET, with the Sweet 16 competitors revealed soon after.
Check out the updated bracket and more about the 32 round two challengers below, and vote for your favorites here.
Fierce Madness 2026—Round of 32 challengers:
Ojemda vs. Zegfrovy
Ojemda
Maker: Day One Biopharmaceuticals
Indication: Relapsed or refractory pediatric low-grade glioma harboring a BRAF fusion or rearrangement, or BRAF V600 mutation
Zegfrovy
Maker: Dizal Pharmaceutical
Indication: Locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy
Vizz vs. PiaSky
Vizz
Maker: Lenz Therapeutics
Indication: Age-related blurry near vision (presbyopia)
PiaSky
Maker: Roche
Indication: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Modeyso vs. Palsonify
Modeyso
Maker: Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Diffuse midline glioma harboring an H3 K27M mutation with progressive disease following prior therapy
Palsonify
Maker: Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Acromegaly that can’t be or wasn’t effectively treated by surgery
Rezdiffra vs. Journavx
Rezdiffra
Maker: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis
Journavx
Maker: Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Moderate to severe short-term (acute) pain, including postoperative pain
Kebilidi vs. Anktiva
Kebilidi
Maker: PTC Therapeutics
Indication: Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency
Anktiva
Maker: ImmunityBio
Indication: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ with or without papillary tumors
Redemplo vs. Tryngolza
Redemplo
Maker: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome
Tryngolza
Maker: Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome
Lazcluze vs. Wayrilz
Lazcluze
Maker: Johnson & Johnson
Indication: Locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations
Wayrilz
Maker: Sanofi
Indication: Persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia that had an insufficient response to a previous treatment
Cobenfy vs. Voranigo
Cobenfy
Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb
Indication: Schizophrenia
Voranigo
Maker: Servier
Indication: Grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with a susceptible IDH1 or IDH2 mutation, following surgery
Brinsupri vs. Crenessity
Brinsupri
Maker: Insmed
Indication: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
Crenessity
Maker: Neurocrine Biosciences
Indication: Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Lerochol vs. Imaavy
Lerochol
Maker: LIB Therapeutics
Indication: Hypercholesterolemia
Imaavy
Maker: Johnson & Johnson
Indication: Generalized myasthenia gravis in anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody positive patients
Tryptyr vs. Attruby
Tryptyr
Maker: Alcon
Indication: Dry eye disease
Attruby
Maker: BridgeBio Pharma
Indication: Cardiomyopathy of wild-type or variant transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis
Cardamyst vs. Rhapsido
Cardamyst
Maker: Milestone Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Rhapsido
Maker: Novartis
Indication: Chronic spontaneous urticaria in patients who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment
Bizengri vs. Vyloy
Bizengri
Maker: Merus
Indication: Advanced, unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer or advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, both harboring an NRG1 gene fusion with disease progression on or after prior systemic therapy
Vyloy
Maker: Astellas Pharma
Indication: Locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with CLDN18.2-positive tumors
Ziihera vs. Hernexeos
Ziihera
Maker: Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive biliary tract cancer
Hernexeos
Maker: Boehringer Ingelheim
Indication: Unresectable or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in patients whose tumors have HER2 TKD activating mutations and who have received prior systemic therapy
Blujepa vs. Dawnzera
Blujepa
Maker: GSK
Indication: Uncomplicated urinary tract infections; uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea with limited or no alternative treatment options
Dawnzera
Maker: Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Hereditary angioedema
Voydeya vs. Itovebi
Voydeya
Maker: AstraZeneca
Indication: Extravascular hemolysis in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Itovebi
Maker: Roche
Indication: Endocrine-resistant, PIK3CA-mutated, HR-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, following recurrence on or after completing adjuvant endocrine therapy
LAUNCHED Tuesday, March 17, 6 a.m. ET
VOTING FOR THE ROUND OF 64 IS NOW CLOSED.
Everyone’s favorite bracket challenge has returned. That’s right—it’s time once again for Fierce Pharma Marketing’s annual #FierceMadness tournament.
In tandem with the college basketball March Madness competition, we join in on the bracket craze every spring to uncover standout drug marketing moves. Last year, we homed in on TV drug ads—with Apellis Pharmaceuticals’ Syfovre spot starring Henry Winkler ultimately edging out a commercial for AstraZeneca’s Airsupra in the nail-biting final—and this year, we’re back to watching newly minted drug names go head-to-head.
It all starts now, with 64 pharmaceutical brand names facing off in the first round. All of the medications were approved by the FDA in 2024 or 2025, picking up where our last drug name competition left off. That March 2024 bracket ended up with AstraZeneca and Ionis’ Wainua taking the crown over Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro.
Vote now for your favorite names—whether that means the most fun to say, the most bizarrely consonant-heavy, the most surprisingly normal-sounding or however else you define “favorite”—in the first round here until Friday, March 20, at 12 p.m. ET. You can share any thoughts about each matchup in their respective comment boxes; we may include (anonymous) snippets of your opinions here as the tournament progresses.
Check back here Monday to see the first round winners and cast your votes in the Round of 32.
We’ll continue updating the bracket every few days until the champion is announced April 8. Please play fair: only one submission per person per round.
Check out the bracket and more information about each of the 64 starting challengers below, and cast your votes here.
Let the Madness begin!
Fierce Madness 2026—Round of 64 challengers:
Miplyffa vs. Ojemda
Miplyffa
Maker: Zevra Therapeutics
Indication: Niemann-Pick disease type C
Ojemda
Maker: Day One Biopharmaceuticals
Indication: Relapsed or refractory pediatric low-grade glioma harboring a BRAF fusion or rearrangement, or BRAF V600 mutation
Zegfrovy vs. Ohtuvayre
Zegfrovy
Maker: Dizal Pharmaceutical
Indication: Locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy
Ohtuvayre
Maker: Merck
Indication: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Vizz vs. Anzupgo
Vizz
Maker: Lenz Therapeutics
Indication: Age-related blurry near vision (presbyopia)
Anzupgo
Maker: Leo Pharma
Indication: Moderate to severe chronic hand eczema not adequately treated by topical corticosteroids
Nuzolvence vs. PiaSky
Nuzolvence
Maker: Innoviva
Indication: Uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea
PiaSky
Maker: Roche
Indication: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Modeyso vs. Aucatzyl
Modeyso
Maker: Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Diffuse midline glioma harboring an H3 K27M mutation with progressive disease following prior therapy
Aucatzyl
Maker: Autolus Therapeutics
Indication: Relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Palsonify vs. Gomekli
Palsonify
Maker: Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Acromegaly that can’t be or wasn’t effectively treated by surgery
Gomekli
Maker: SpringWorks Therapeutics
Indication: Neurofibromatosis type 1 with symptomatic plexiform neurofibromas not amenable to complete resection
Winrevair vs. Rezdiffra
Winrevair
Maker: Merck
Indication: Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Rezdiffra
Maker: Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Noncirrhotic metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis
Journavx vs. Imdelltra
Journavx
Maker: Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Moderate to severe short-term (acute) pain, including postoperative pain
Imdelltra
Maker: Amgen
Indication: Extensive stage small cell lung cancer with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy
Kebilidi vs. Lynozyfic
Kebilidi
Maker: PTC Therapeutics
Indication: Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency
Lynozyfic
Maker: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma that has been treated with at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory agent and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody
Anktiva vs. Voyxact
Anktiva
Maker: ImmunityBio
Indication: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ with or without papillary tumors
Voyxact
Maker: Otsuka Pharmaceutical
Indication: Reduction of proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy at risk for disease progression
Redemplo vs. Anniko
Redemplo
Maker: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome
Anniko
Maker: Akeso
Indication: Recurrent or metastatic non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Tryngolza vs. Sephience
Tryngolza
Maker: Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome
Sephience
Maker: PTC Therapeutics
Indication: Sepiapterin-responsive phenylketonuria
Yartemlea vs. Lazcluze
Yartemlea
Maker: Omeros
Indication: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy
Lazcluze
Maker: Johnson & Johnson
Indication: Locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations
Komzifti vs. Wayrilz
Komzifti
Maker: Kura Oncology
Indication: Relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a susceptible NPM1 mutation and no satisfactory alternative treatment options
Wayrilz
Maker: Sanofi
Indication: Persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia that had an insufficient response to a previous treatment
Datroway vs. Cobenfy
Datroway
Maker: AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo
Indication: Locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with EGFR-directed therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy; unresectable or metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer previously treated with endocrine-based therapy and chemotherapy
Cobenfy
Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb
Indication: Schizophrenia
Xolremdi vs. Voranigo
Xolremdi
Maker: X4 Pharmaceuticals
Indication: WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections and myelokathexis) syndrome
Voranigo
Maker: Servier
Indication: Grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with a susceptible IDH1 or IDH2 mutation, following surgery
Brinsupri vs. Orlynvah
Brinsupri
Maker: Insmed
Indication: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
Orlynvah
Maker: Iterum Therapeutics
Indication: Uncomplicated urinary tract infections with limited or no alternative oral antibacterial treatment options
Crenessity vs. Nemluvio
Crenessity
Maker: Neurocrine Biosciences
Indication: Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Nemluvio
Maker: Galderma
Indication: Prurigo nodularis and moderate to severe atopic dermatitis not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies
Lerochol vs. Jascayd
Lerochol
Maker: LIB Therapeutics
Indication: Hypercholesterolemia
Jascayd
Maker: Boehringer Ingelheim
Indication: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; progressive pulmonary fibrosis
Imaavy vs. Unloxcyt
Imaavy
Maker: Johnson & Johnson
Indication: Generalized myasthenia gravis in anti-AChR or anti-MuSK antibody positive patients
Unloxcyt
Maker: Sun Pharma
Indication: Metastatic or locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma not eligible for curative surgery or curative radiation
Tryptyr vs. Ebglyss
Tryptyr
Maker: Alcon
Indication: Dry eye disease
Ebglyss
Maker: Eli Lilly
Indication: Moderate to severe eczema not well controlled with prescription topical therapies
Attruby vs. Exdensur
Attruby
Maker: BridgeBio Pharma
Indication: Cardiomyopathy of wild-type or variant transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis
Exdensur
Maker: GSK
Indication: Severe asthma characterized by an eosinophilic phenotype
Lenmeldy vs. Cardamyst
Lenmeldy
Maker: Orchard Therapeutics
Indication: Presymptomatic late infantile, presymptomatic early juvenile or early symptomatic early juvenile metachromatic leukodystrophy
Cardamyst
Maker: Milestone Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Ibtrozi vs. Rhapsido
Ibtrozi
Maker: Nuvation Bio
Indication: Locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer
Rhapsido
Maker: Novartis
Indication: Chronic spontaneous urticaria in patients who remain symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment
Qfitlia vs. Bizengri
Qfitlia
Maker: Sanofi
Indication: Hemophilia A or B with or without factor VIII or IX inhibitors
Bizengri
Maker: Merus
Indication: Advanced, unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer or advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, both harboring an NRG1 gene fusion with disease progression on or after prior systemic therapy
Vyloy vs. Zevaskyn
Vyloy
Maker: Astellas Pharma
Indication: Locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with CLDN18.2-positive tumors
Zevaskyn
Maker: Abeona Therapeutics
Indication: Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
Ziihera vs. Revuforj
Ziihera
Maker: Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive biliary tract cancer
Revuforj
Maker: Syndax Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Relapsed or refractory acute leukemia with a KMT2A translocation; relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a susceptible NPM1 mutation and no satisfactory alternative treatment options
Kisunla vs. Hernexeos
Kisunla
Maker: Eli Lilly
Indication: Alzheimer’s disease
Hernexeos
Maker: Boehringer Ingelheim
Indication: Unresectable or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in patients whose tumors have HER2 TKD activating mutations and who have received prior systemic therapy
Blujepa vs. Alyftrek
Blujepa
Maker: GSK
Indication: Uncomplicated urinary tract infections; uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea with limited or no alternative treatment options
Alyftrek
Maker: Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Cystic fibrosis with at least one F508del mutation or another responsive mutation in the CFTR gene
Yorvipath vs. Dawnzera
Yorvipath
Maker: Ascendis Pharma
Indication: Hypoparathyroidism
Dawnzera
Maker: Ionis Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Hereditary angioedema
Lynkuet vs. Voydeya
Lynkuet
Maker: Bayer
Indication: Moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause
Voydeya
Maker: AstraZeneca
Indication: Extravascular hemolysis in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Itovebi vs. Aqneursa
Itovebi
Maker: Roche
Indication: Endocrine-resistant, PIK3CA-mutated, HR-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, following recurrence on or after completing adjuvant endocrine therapy
Aqneursa
Maker: IntraBio
Indication: Niemann-Pick disease type C