**Voting for Round 2 has closed. See the results here and vote in the Final Four here.**
After a bruising two-day play-in, we have our first round of winners in this year’s drug name tournament challenge. Symproic, Nerlynx, Taltz and Giapreza all move into the round of 64 after defeating their opponents handily—but that means it’s time to say goodbye to four contenders, too.
In the Infectious diseases/Primary care region, the Radius drug Tymlos made an exit after a 135-52 smackdown from Purdue and Shionogi's opioid-induced constipation drug, Symproic. Readers liked the way Symproic clues doctors and patients in to the drug’s intended use; it treats “the SYM (symptoms) of OIC like a PRO,” one voter explained. And while another reader pointed out that you could potentially do the same with Tymlos—“it is TIME (tym) to LOSE (los) weight to get off all those diabetic drugs”—since Tymlos is actually an osteoporosis drug, that one’s not going to work. Bye.
La Jolla's Giapreza did away with Amgen's Parsabiv in the Rare diseases/Miscellaneous region in a 104-60 defeat. While some voters lamented two less-than-ideal choices—we got a lot of the “neither—ew,” sentiment in the comments—ultimately, they rallied behind a name that, according to one reader, sounded like “Afrezza’s better-looking sister.”
On the other side of the bracket, Takeda's Alunbrig fell in the round’s most lopsided contest, losing 125-41. Apparently, Puma could have named its drug anything using the “lynx” suffix and still won, considering that readers liked the company-name-drug-name feline connection—and “anything that ends in ‘lynx’ seems slick.” On a side note, props to whomever wrote simply, “IMFINZI.” Your time is coming.
Johnson & Johnson's Tremfya is the final drug heading home after one round of play. It took a 116-49 beating at the hands of Eli Lilly's Taltz. But Taltz was a polarizing pick. Some voters praised its “strong resonance” and ease of pronunciation, while others lamented that they’d “honestly pick any name over Taltz.” But while the moniker may sound like “a swear word or something that Gollum would say,” as one reader jibed, it’s moving on, and Tremfya, which “sounds like a women's health drug gone wrong,” is out.
If you thought that was fun, get ready for the round of 64, which begins RIGHT NOW. Voting will stay open through Sunday at 10 p.m. ET, and you might need that long to sift through the second round’s 32 matchups. If you haven’t filled out your printable bracket yet, get it right here, and don’t forget to tweet us a photo of your completed picks!
As usual, make sure to include the rationale behind your votes, but if you can, try to include the name of the drug you’re talking about in the comments. We’re usually pretty good about knowing which quips go with which drug, but sometimes they can go either way. “A minty oatcake they stopped making in the 1970s," for instance.
And last but not least, if you just can’t get enough #FierceMadness, check out the latest episode of FierceBiotech Radio, where we lay out our top tournament picks and host Amirah Al Idrus interviews drug-naming expert Scott Piergrossi of the Brand Institute.
Round 2 (Vote here)
Infectious diseases/Primary care
(1) Zepatier vs. (16) Symproic
Zepatier
Maker: Merck
Indication: hepatitis C
Sounds like: the guy who drives the Zeppelin
Symproic
Maker: Purdue Pharma
Indication: opioid-induced constipation
Sounds like: the Lion King's lost brother
(8) Prevymis vs. (9) Xepi
Prevymis
Maker: Merck
Indication: cytomegalovirus
Sounds like: that second right before you strike out
Xepi
Maker: Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals
Indication: impetigo
Sounds like: an island paradise off the coast of the Yucatan
(5) Zinplava vs. (12) Baxdela
Zinplava
Maker: Merck
Indication: Clostridium difficile infection
Sounds like: vampire wine of choice
Baxdela
Maker: Melinta Therapeutics
Indication: acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections
Sounds like: a laid-back vacation spot down the shore
(4) Epclusa vs. (13) Adlyxin
Epclusa
Maker: Gilead
Indication: hepatitis C
Sounds like: the sad feeling of being left out
Adlyxin
Maker: Sanofi
Indication: Type 2 diabetes
Sounds like: when you can’t come up with marketing copy
(6) Vabomere vs. (11) Shingrix
Vabomere
Maker: Rempex Pharmaceuticals
Indication: complicated urinary tract infections
Sounds like: a blue-blood countryside estate
Shingrix
Maker: GlaxoSmithKline
Indication: Shingles vaccine
Sounds like: a leg cramp you get when playing rugby
(3) Mavyret vs. (14) Steglatro
Mavyret
Maker: AbbVie
Indication: hepatitis C
Sounds like: slang for a retired maverick
Steglatro
Maker: Merck
Indication: Type 2 diabetes
Sounds like: a mixed-breed dinosaur
(7) Vosevi vs. (10) Juluca
Vosevi
Maker: Gilead
Indication: hepatitis C
Sounds like: a new electric vehicle brand
Juluca
Maker: GlaxoSmithKline
Indication: HIV
Sounds like: a mixed martial arts training weapon
(2) Ozempic vs. (15) Solosec
Ozempic
Maker: Novo Nordisk
Indication: Type 2 diabetes
Sounds like: an athletic competition in the Emerald City
Solosec
Maker: Symbiomix Therapeutics
Indication: bacterial vaginosis
Sounds like: a watered-down orange liquor
Rare diseases/Miscellaneous
(1) Xiidra vs. (16) Giapreza
Xiidra
Maker: Shire
Indication: dry eye
Sounds like: a chemical you should keep out of the reach of children
Giapreza
Maker: La Jolla
Indication: increasing blood pressure in patients with septic shock
Sounds like: your favorite frozen pizza brand
(8) Xermelo vs. (16) Mepsevii
Xermelo
Maker: Lexicon Pharmaceuticals
Indication: carcinoid syndrome diarrhea
Sounds like: a hybrid fruit of the future
Mepsevii
Maker: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical
Indication: mucopolysaccharidosis type VII
Sounds like: cute furry invaders from outer space
(5) Exondys 51 vs. (12) Rebinyn
Exondys 51
Maker: Sarepta Therapeutics
Indication: Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Sounds like: the planet next to Tatooine
Rebinyn
Maker: Novo Nordisk
Indication: hemophilia B
Sounds like: bouncing back from a bad relationship
(4) Luxturna vs. (13) Hemlibra
Luxturna
Maker: Spark Therapeutics
Indication: inherited retinal disease
Sounds like: a chi-chi resort for the rich and famous
Hemlibra
Maker: Roche
Indication: hemophilia A with factor VIII inhibitors
Sounds like: the newest sign in the Zodiac
(6) Rydapt vs. (11) Emflaza
Rydapt
Maker: Novartis
Indication: acute myeloid leukemia
Sounds like: a ride-sharing service
Emflaza
Maker: PTC Therapeutics
Indication: Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Sounds like: the sound someone makes when they have a virus
(3) Spinraza vs. (14) Defitelio
Spinraza
Maker: Biogen
Indication: spinal muscular atrophy
Sounds like: a summer music festival
Defitelio
Maker: Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Indication: hepatic veno-occlusive disease
Sounds like: an underdog opera character
(7) Haegarda vs. (10) Brineura
Haegarda
Maker: CSL Behring
Indication: hereditary angioedema
Sounds like: Hagrid’s twin sister
Brineura
Maker: Biomarin
Indication: CLN2 disease
Sounds like: a saltwater shrimp species
(2) Bevyxxa vs. (15) Ocaliva
Bevyxxa
Maker: Portola Pharmaceuticals
Indication: venous thromboembolism
Sounds like: the condition of being confounded by too many consonant chains
Ocaliva
Maker: Intercept Pharmaceuticals
Indication: primary biliary cholangitis
Sounds like: an all-natural surface cleaner
Oncology
(1) Rubraca vs. (16) Nerlynx
Rubraca
Maker: Clovis Oncology
Indication: ovarian cancer with a BRCA mutation
Sounds like: a recently rediscovered, ancient device that’s better than an abacus but, like Betamax, never became industry standard
Nerlynx
Maker: Puma
Indication: early stage HER2-positive breast cancer
Sounds like: the most predatory of felines
(8) Venclexta vs. (9) Zejula
Venclexta
Maker: AbbVie and Roche
Indication: chronic lymphocytic leukemia with 17p deletion
Sounds like: the regret felt when you didn’t click to buy
Zejula
Maker: Tesaro
Indication: epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer
Sounds like: a washed-up fortune teller
(5) Imfinzi vs. (12) Lartruvo
Imfinzi
Maker: AstraZeneca
Indication: unresectable Stage III non-small cell lung cancer and bladder cancer
Sounds like: when something will never, ever, ever happen again
Lartruvo
Maker: Eli Lilly
Indication: soft tissue sarcoma
Sounds like: the real first name of that Metallica drummer
(4) Kymriah vs. (13) Idhifa
Kymriah
Maker: Novartis
Indication: B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Sounds like: a top-10 baby name for 2019
Idhifa
Maker: Celgene and Agios
Indication: acute myeloid leukemia with an isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 mutation
Sounds like: Pharoah’s personal scribe
(6) Kisqali vs. (11) Verzenio
Kisqali
Maker: Novartis
Indication: HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
Sounds like: a flirty Roman
Verzenio
Maker: Eli Lilly
Indication: HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
Sounds like: a dead spot where mobile phones can’t connect
(3) Tecentriq vs. (14) Aliqopa
Tecentriq
Maker: Roche
Indication: bladder cancer, non-small cell lung cancer
Sounds like: an unorthodox old man
Aliqopa
Maker: Bayer
Indication: follicular lymphoma
Sounds like: a freestyle snowboarding maneuver
(7) Bavencio vs. (10) Besponsa
Bavencio
Maker: Pfizer and Merck KGaA
Indication: Merkel cell carcinoma, bladder cancer
Sounds like: the court jester
Besponsa
Maker: Pfizer
Indication: relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Sounds like: a command for your wand
(2) Yescarta vs. (15) Calquence
Yescarta
Maker: Gilead
Indication: non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Sounds like: a next-gen encyclopedia
Calquence
Maker: AstraZeneca
Indication: mantle cell lymphoma
Sounds like: a supplement for seniors
CNS/Anti-inflammatory
(16) Trulance vs. (16) Taltz
Trulance
Maker: Synergy Pharmaceuticals
Indication: chronic idiopathic constipation and IBS-C
Sounds like: a weapon used by King Arthur’s knights
Taltz
Maker: Eli Lilly
Indication: psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Sounds like: a mashup ballroom dance
(8) Radicava vs. (9) Eucrisa
Radicava
Maker: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America
Indication: ALS
Sounds like: slang for a really cool house
Eucrisa
Maker: Pfizer
Indication: eczema
Sounds like: former city-state in the Greek Empire
(5) Ocrevus vs. (12) Xadago
Ocrevus
Maker: Roche
Indication: multiple sclerosis
Sounds like: James Bond's archnemesis
Xadago
Maker: Newron Pharmaceuticals
Indication: Parkinson's disease
Sounds like: a Shakespeare villian
(4) Kevzara vs. (13) Fasenra
Kevzara
Maker: Sanofi and Regeneron
Indication: rheumatoid arthritis
Sounds like: a new-age magician
Fasenra
Maker:
Indication:
Sounds like: a hat worn by Egyptian nobility
(6) Odactra vs. (11) Austedo
Odactra
Maker: ALK
Indication: house dust mite allergies
Sounds like: The Shakespeare heroine who exposes Xadago
Austedo
Maker: Teva
Indication: Huntington's disease and tardive dyskinesia
Sounds like: Spanish slang for, “see you later, man”
(3) Dupixent vs. (14) Nuplazid
Dupixent
Maker: Sanofi and Regeneron
Indication: atopic dermatitis
Sounds like: a type of foreign currency
Nuplazid
Maker: Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Indication: delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease
Sounds like: a renewable energy source
(7) Ingrezza vs. (10) Briviact
Ingrezza
Maker: Neurocrine Biosciences
Indication: tardive dyskinesia
Sounds like: the beautiful, wealthy and secretly evil female lead in a new CW drama
Briviact
Maker: UCB
Indication: partial onset seizures
Sounds like: a one-minute scene from a play
(2) Cinqair vs. (15) Siliq
Cinqair
Maker: Teva
Indication: severe asthma
Sounds like: a Lucha Libre wrestling star
Siliq
Maker: Valeant
Indication: psoriasis
Sounds like: an organic version of WD40