Pfizer’s Viagra, before its famous name, went through several internal code names during its research and development. These names often reflected the drug’s chemical structure or intended therapeutic effect.
Early Internal Designations
- UK-92480: This was one of the earliest code names used internally at Pfizer. It simply reflected the compound’s unique identifier within Pfizer’s research database. PF-92480: Similar to UK-92480, but reflecting a different internal designation system.
These early codes lack the memorable quality of later names, focusing more on practicality and internal organization.
Transitional Code Names
The development team likely used additional, less-documented internal codes as the drug progressed through various testing phases. These aren’t publicly available. These transitional codes likely reflected updated chemical compositions or findings from clinical trials. Unfortunately, detailed information about these intermediate names remains scarce.
The transition from purely functional codes to more evocative names reflects the drug’s progress toward market launch. Secrecy around early code names is common in pharmaceutical development.
