Nivolumab/Relatlimab

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. ET 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 may 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 Indication: Anemia due to chronic kidney disease Sounds like: When you hit your finger with a hammer, 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 meal   Pluvicto vs. Lunsumio Pluvicto Maker: Novartis Indication: Prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer following other therapies Sounds like: A new planet   Lunsumio Maker: Roche Indication: Relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma Sounds like: A Japanese wrestler   Briumvi vs. Camzyos Briumvi Maker: TG Therapeutics Indication: Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis Sounds like: A sixth-generation cheese    Camzyos Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb Indication: Obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Sounds like: A Spanish holiday resort   Voquezna vs. Mounjaro Voquezna Maker: Phathom Pharmaceuticals Indication: Helicobacter pylori infection Sounds like: A sports drink with a kick   Mounjaro Maker: Eli Lilly Indication: Lowering blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes Sounds like: A legendary medieval sword fighter    Vtama vs. Amvuttra Vtama Maker: Dermavant Indication: Plaque psoriasis Sounds like: A mouthful   Amvuttra Maker: Alnylam Indication: Polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis Sounds like: A pope’s gift    Xenpozyme vs. Daxxify Xenpozyme Maker: Sanofi Indication: Acid 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 make you sassy    Fruzaqla vs. Sotyktu Fruzaqla Maker: Takeda Pharmaceuticals Indication: Refractory, metastatic colorectal cancer Sounds like: A European swear word   Sotyktu Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb Indication: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis Sounds like: Gesundheit!   Terlivaz vs. Imjudo Terlivaz Maker: Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Indication: Improve kidney function in adults with hepatorenal syndrome with rapid reduction in kidney function Sounds like: A Hungarian dance   Imjudo Maker: AstraZeneca Indication: Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma Sounds like: A self-confident martial artist   Elahere vs. Vabysmo Elahere Maker: ImmunoGen Indication: Recurrent ovarian cancer that is resistant to platinum therapy Sounds like: An inebriated attempt at Hawaiian   Vabysmo Maker: Roche Indication: Neovascular (wet) aged-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema Sounds like: A new way of saying fantastic   Pyrukynd vs. Rystiggo Pyrukynd Maker: Agios Indication: Hemolytic anemia in pyruvate kinase deficiency Sounds like: A drunk Scrabble game   Rystiggo Maker: UCB Indication: Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor- or anti-muscle-specific tyrosine kinase antibody-positive Sounds like: An Italian village     Beyfortus vs. Xdemvy Beyfortus Maker: AstraZeneca Indication: To prevent respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract disease Sounds like: A medieval stronghold   Xdemvy Maker: Tarsus Pharmaceuticals Indication: Demodex blepharitis Sounds like: Elon Musk’s drunk attempt at renaming his business   Tzield vs. Rezlidhia Tzield Maker: Provention Bio Indication: Delay the onset of stage 3 Type 1 diabetes Sounds like: An electronic barrier   Rezlidhia Maker: Rigel Pharmaceuticals  Indication: Relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a susceptible isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation Sounds like: A new Disney princess     Krazati vs. Leqembi Krazati Maker: Mirati Therapeutics Indication: KRAS G12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in adults who have received at least one prior systemic therapy Sounds like: A crazy party   Leqembi Maker: Eisai Indication: Alzheimer’s disease Sounds like: An inspirational French aphorism   Cibinqo vs. Brenzavvy Cibinqo Maker: Pfizer Indication: Refractory, moderate to severe atopic dermatitis Sounds like: A game of cheeky bingo   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 the Caribbean"   Jaypirca vs. Skyclarys Jaypirca Maker: Eli Lilly Indication: Relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma in adults who have had at least two lines of systemic therapy, including a BTK inhibitor Sounds like: A strong coffee   Skyclarys Maker: Biogen Indication: Friedreich’s ataxia Sounds like: A high-rise building   Zavzpret vs. Paxlovid Zavzpret Maker: Pfizer Indication: Migraine treatment Sounds like: A Turkish fast-food restaurant   Paxlovid Maker: Pfizer Indication: Mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19 Sounds like: A bizarre Pac-Man sequel   Inpefa vs. Columvi Inpefa Maker: Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Indication: Heart failure Sounds like: An anti-fascist offshoot group   Columvi Maker: Roche Indication: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, or large B-cell lymphoma arising from follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy Sounds like: An ancient Roman detective   Daybue vs. Zynyz Daybue Maker: Acadia Indication: Rett syndrome Sounds like: How my five-year-old insists debut is spelled    Zynyz Maker: Incyte Indication: Metastatic or recurrent locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma Sounds like: Drug naming companies may be running out of ideas   Rezzayo vs. Qalsody Rezzayo Maker: Melinta Therapeutics Indication: Candidemia and invasive candidiasis Sounds like: A phrase used when you’ve had a great nap in the day   Qalsody Maker: Biogen Indication: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in adults who have a SOD1 gene mutation Sounds like: From the makers of “Better Call Saul” comes “better Qalsody”   Elfabrio vs. Veozah Elfabrio Maker: Chiesi Indication: Fabry disease Sounds like: The lost Spanish Mario brother   Veozah Maker: Astellas Indication: Moderate to severe hot flashes caused by menopause Sounds like: A Broadway play     Epkinly vs. Zurzuvae Epkinly Makers: AbbVie/Genmab Indication: Relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and high-grade B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy Sounds like: Someone who watches too many streaming episodes   Zurzuvae Makers: Sage/Biogen Indication: Postpartum depression Sounds like: A mouthful   Izervay vs. Talvey Izervay Maker: Iveric Bio Indication: Geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration Sounds like: A new app for scanning the land   Talvey Maker: Johnson & Johnson Indication: Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior therapies Sounds like: A little too close to talc…   Elrexfio vs. Veopoz Elrexfio Maker: Pfizer Indication: Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior lines of therapy Sounds like: A new dinosaur found in Mexico   Veopoz Maker: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Indication: Patients 1 year old and older with CD55-deficient protein-losing enteropathy Sounds like: Double-plus good!   Zilbrysq vs. Ojjaara Zilbrysq Maker: UCB Indication: Generalized myasthenia gravis in adults who are anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody positive Sounds like: Absolute zero   Ojjaara Maker: GSK Indication: Intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis in adults with anemia Sounds like: “What’s my name?”     Exxua vs. Pombiliti Exxua Maker: Fabre-Kramer Pharmaceuticals Indication: Major depressive disorder Sounds like: Someone who’s always leaving   Pombiliti Maker: Amicus Indication: Late-onset Pompe disease Sounds like: The ability to treat Pompe disease (this feels a little on the nose)    Rivfloza vs. Velsipity Rivfloza Maker: Novo Nordisk Indication: Urinary oxalate levels in patients 9 years and older with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 and relatively preserved kidney function Sounds like: An exuberant DJ   Velsipity Maker: Pfizer Indication: Moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults Sounds like: A deodorant brand you wouldn’t want to buy   Bimzelx vs. Omvoh Bimzelx Maker: UCB Indication: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy Sounds like: Throwing away unwanted antacids   Omvoh Maker: Eli Lilly Indication: Ulcerative colitis Sounds like: A new age prayer   Loqtorzi vs. Defencath Loqtorzi Maker: Coherus Biosciences Indication: Recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma when used together with or following other therapies Sounds like: How you close the door in a magical kingdom   Defencath Maker: CorMedix Indication: Reduce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections in adults with kidney failure receiving chronic hemodialysis Sounds like: A Dungeons and Dragons character   Augtyro vs. Ryzneuta Augtyro Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb Indication: ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer Sounds like: A virtual reality game where you’re the bad guy   Ryzneuta Maker: Acrotech Biopharma Indication: Neutropenia Sounds like: Getting rid of someone’s charisma   Truqap vs. Ogsiveo Truqap Maker: AstraZeneca Indication: Breast cancer that meets certain disease criteria Sounds like: A limit on truth   Ogsiveo Maker: SpringWorks Indication: Progressing desmoid tumors who require systemic treatment Sounds like: Oh, give us a go!     Quviviq vs. Ztalmy Quviviq Maker: Idorsia Indication: Insomnia Sounds like: A producer 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 nefarious Yevgeny Zamyatin character   Opdualag vs. Wainua Opdualag Maker: Bristol Myers Squibb Indication: Unresectable or metastatic melanoma Sounds like: A Russian prison   Wainua Maker: AstraZeneca Indication: Polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis Sounds like: A Premier League footballer

Pictured: A Bristol Myers Squibb office building/iStock, hapabapa Bristol Myers Squibb added to its tally of late-phase immuno-oncology wins Wednesday, revealing that combining Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) improved overall survival in a patient population served by rival checkpoint inhibitors from AstraZeneca and Roche. BMS’ CheckMate -9DW trial randomized more than 700 people with untreated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, to receive the PD-1 and CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitors Opdivo and Yervoy or the investigator’s choice of sorafenib or lenvatinib. People on the BMS combination were living longer at an interim analysis, causing the study to hit its primary overall survival (OS) endpoint. The company is yet to share data from the study, only revealing that the effect on OS was “significant and clinically meaningful.” BMS added that the safety pro consistent with previously reported results and that adverse events were manageable with established protocols. No new safety signals were seen. BMS, which is still evaluating the readout, plans to share more data at an upcoming medical conference and discuss the results with health authorities. If BMS files for and wins approval, it would emerge as a rival to AstraZeneca and Roche for the first-line liver cancer market. CheckMate -9DW used the kinase inhibitors sorafenib and lenvatinib as comparator drugs. Bayer brought sorafenib to market as Nexavar and Eisai sells lenvatinib as Lenvima. When BMS began the Phase III trial in 2019, sorafenib was the standard of care but immunotherapy-based combinations have beaten the kinase inhibitor in recent years. The FDA approved the combination of Roche’s checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and VEGF inhibitor avastin (bevacizumab) in the population in 2020. Two years later, AstraZeneca won approval for Imjudo (tremelimumab) with Imfinzi (durvalumab). Imjudo and Imfinzi are, respectively, AstraZeneca’s equivalents of BMS’ Yervoy and Opdivo. AstraZeneca and Roche won the FDA approvals by showing their combinations improved OS compared to sorafenib. Roche reported median OS of 19.2 months and 13.4 months, respectively, in its investigational and control cohorts. The OS figures in the AstraZeneca trial were 16.4 months and 13.8 months. Those results provide a benchmark for when BMS shares the OS data from its study. BMS grew Opdivo sales by 12% in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2023 but, with the product set to lose patent protection in 2028, the company is already looking for its next growth drivers. The drugmaker is planning to offset the impact of biosimilars by switching patients to a subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo and has a successor in development in indications including HCC. The successor, Opdualag (nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw), is a fixed-dose combination of BMS’ PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor and a LAG-3-blocking antibody. BMS is testing the therapy, which the FDA approved in melanoma in 2022, as a first-line treatment for HCC and expects to report data this year. Nick Paul Taylor is a freelance pharmaceutical and biotech writer based in London. He can be reached on LinkedIn.