USAN Council Meeting Summaries

United States Adopted Names Council
Meeting Summary
Friday, July 13, 2012
American Pharmacists Association
Washington, DC

The 2012 Summer Meeting of the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council was held Friday, July 13, 2012 at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) headquarters located in Washington, DC. The topics discussed at this meeting included general USAN activities and policies, issues relating to drug nomenclature, and name requests.

All members of the USAN Council were in attendance, as well as the members of the USAN Program staff housed at the AMA.  Additional observers were present from the APhA, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Nonproprietary Name (INN) Program.

The following items were discussed:

USAN activities

Negotiation statistics showed a steady flow and slight rise in new submissions.

USAN Program activities discussed including statistical reports on active negotiations, cumulative adopted names, and USAN participation in the INN Program.

USAN negotiations

33 negotiations were discussed:  three revisions, three biologics, 11 multiple round and 16 new negotiations

WHO-INN nomenclature and USAN-sponsored applications

USAN sponsored 39 percent of the new INN applications discussed (36 USAN-sponsored applications).  There were minor changes to seven USAN Council recommended names.

USAN policy

New stems:  eight approved by the Council, two stems revised

Radicals and anions:  one approved by the Council

New requirements for biologics applications discussed.

Revisions to scope of USAN discussed.

USAN website

Website statistics included average site views per month, year-to-date totals and average time viewed.

Medication error issues

Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Medication Errors Reporting Program covering Oct. 1, 2011 - Mar. 31, 2012 and cumulative data since May 1, 2002 was discussed.

USP updates

USP representative provided updates pertaining to USP activities..