FDA study asks whether drug names change how consumers, docs view meds

The FDA wants to know what, exactly, is in a drug name. Specifically, can a brand moniker determine how consumers and healthcare providers perceive the drug? So, the agency has launched a study to determine whether names sway opinions about a drug's effectiveness. Drugmakers submit their proposed names to the FDA for approval, but the companies often hire branding agencies to help create a name. The agency’s job is to make up brand names that draw relevant connections but follow FDA guidelines. For instance, pharma companies have to avoid names that specify a drug's attributes or names that are too similar to those already on the market.