United States Adopted Names
The purpose of the United States Adopted Names Council (USANC) is to serve the health professions in the United States by selecting simple, informative, and unique nonproprietary names for drugs by establishing logical nomenclature classifications based on pharmacological and/or chemical relationships.
The USANC is tri-sponsored by the American Medical Association (AMA), the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cooperates with and is represented on the USANC. The USANC aims for global standardization and unification of drug nomenclature and related rules to ensure that drug information is communicated accurately and unambiguously. The USANC works closely with the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) Program of the World Health Organization (WHO), and various national nomenclature groups.
Adopted names
A listing of adopted USAN.
USAN application process: how to apply for a name
Considerations and requirements before, during and after a name is recommended and adopted.
Names under consideration
A listing of names under consideration by the USAN Council.
Naming biologics
Guidelines for assigning USAN for biological products such as insulins, interferons, interleukins, growth hormones, colony-stimulating factors, cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, and coagulation factors.
Contact lenses
This section describes how to apply for a USAN for a contact lens material.
Gene therapy naming scheme
Gene therapy naming scheme to assign names to non-cellular products. This scheme distinguishes a gene therapy drug and conveys safety information to the user physician.
Cell therapy naming scheme
The nomenclature scheme for cell therapy products, described in this report, was developed by the USAN working group for cell therapies. The naming scheme would apply to all cell therapy products, with the exception of minimally manipulated hematopoietic elements, combination products and prophylactic vaccines.
Organic radicals, counterions and solvent molecules used in coining two-word names
Listing which includes terms for common and uncommon radicals and anions compiled by USAN for the purpose of providing assistance and guidance in selecting appropriate two-word names when working with salts and esters.
Geometric isomerism and chirality: the USAN perspective
This document explores the "USAN experience" with substances that have a chiral center and explains nomenclature rules for enantiomers and stereoisomers. We analyzed records of USAN adoptions between 1999 and 2004 to see how many chiral compounds were undergoing clinical development.
