Since the 19th century and the Industrial Revolution, insomnia has become a major public health issue. Attracted by the financial potential, the pharmaceutical industry quickly turned its attention to this emerging market. However, in a competitive market, pharmaceutical manufacturers had to create distinct product identities. One determining factor when creating an identity is trade name choice. This study investigates changes in trade names for insomnia medicines, from Veronal in 1903 to Quviviq, the latest drug launched in 2022. The lexicological analysis reveals that names have shifted from associative to abstract names. While older trade names had symbolic meaning, newer names were found to place the emphasis on phonetically pleasing onomastic patterns.
Posté par Pascaline Faure, mis à jour le 20 janvier 2025
