On: Trial results for new lung cancer drug are 'off th...

[zzzeek]

Why do all the new cancer drugs coming out end in the letter "B"?

[andyjohnson0 → zzzeek]

Its a side-effect of the naming convention for generic drug naming [1]. Small molecule inhibitors end with “ib”. Monoclonal antibodies end with “mab”. Etc.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_nomenclature

[abracadaniel → zzzeek]

I think the *mab ones are monoclonal antibodies, and the *nib ones are inhibitors. I don't think it's a hard rule though.