[e-drug] The use of stems in International Nonproprietary Names (4)

[baloccor@who.int]

E-DRUG: The use of stems in International Nonproprietary Names (4)
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Dear Dr Lyftingsmo,

Reference is made to your e-mail message attached here below.

Please note that International Nonproprietary Names (INN) identify
pharmaceutical substances or active pharmaceutical ingredients. Each INN
is a unique name that is globally recognized and is public property. A
nonproprietary name is also known as a generic name.

The INN system as it exists today was initiated in 1950 by a World
Health Assembly resolution WHA3.11 and began operating in 1953, when the
first list of International Nonproprietary Names for pharmaceutical
substances was published. The cumulative list of INN now stands at some
8000 names designated since that time, and this number is growing every
year by some 120-150 new INN.

Since its inception, the aim of the INN system has been to provide
health professionals with a unique and universally available designated
name to identify each pharmaceutical substance. The existence of an
international nomenclature for pharmaceutical substances, in the form of
INN, is important for the clear identification, safe prescription and
dispensing of medicines to patients, and for communication and exchange
of information among health professionals and scientists worldwide.

As unique names, INN have to be distinctive in sound and spelling, and
should not be liable to confusion with other names in common use. To
make INN universally available they are formally placed by WHO in the
public domain, hence their designation as "nonproprietary". They can be
used without any restriction whatsoever to identify pharmaceutical
substances.

Another important feature of the INN system is that the names of
chemically/pharmacologically-related substances demonstrate their
relationship by using a common "stem". Therefore" The Use of stems in
the selection of International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for
pharmaceutical substances" book, is only a nomenclature system only
which existed since the beginning of the INN Programme and does not
replace at all the ATC classification.  Moreover please note that the
INN database and the ATC one are cross linked and that the INN Programme
collaborates very closely with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug
Statistics Methodology in Oslo to ensure this link.

You may be interested to know that we offer an electronic information
service via MedNet, our Extranet, that provides access to the INN
database. In order to obtain access, please connect to our site
http://mednet.who.int, subscribe to the online system and request access
to the MedNet INN service. Access is free of charge. An administrator is
routinely reviewing requests and the applicant   will be notified once
he has been granted access. Queries concerning INN information and INN
lists can be mailed via this service.

Moreover the WHO/EDM Medicines Web site includes also a special section
on INN-related information, activities, application form and fees. From
here you can also download lists of proposed and recommended INNs and
the application form. The web site also includes access to all
information related to INNs, including the list of INN stems. See
http://www.who.int/medicines/edmtopics and select the hyperlink for
International Nonproprietary Names.

The Cumulative List No 11 CD Rom can be obtained from WHO/MDI
Department. The CD Rom contains the Cumulative List Nr 11 as PDF and the
searchable database. All six official UN languages (therefore also
Spanish) are included in addition to Latin. INNs lists are regularly
published in the WHO Drug Information. To subscribe please contact MDI
Department, email bookorders@who.int or consult our web page.

I trust that this information is of use to you and thank you for your
interest in the INN Programme.

Kind regards, Raffaella Balocco

Dr Raffaella G. Balocco Mattavelli
Responsible Officer
International Nonproprietary Names (INN) Programme
Quality Assurance and Safety: Medicines
Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy
World Health Organization

Tel. +41-22-791.3695/3660 Fax. +41-22-791.4730
http://www.who.int/medicines
innprogramme@who.int  baloccor@who.int