Note: The USAN application deadline for the December 2026 USAN Council meeting is Oct. 23, 2026. Following review at the USAN Council meeting, most applicants can expect a response from the USAN Council before the deadline for the spring INN consultation.
The USAN Program continues to encourage firms with a US IND number to file a USAN submission first (USAN First Policy [PDF]), and the USAN Program will file an INN application on the firm’s behalf when they do so. The requirement to hold USAN adoption until the name is published on a pINN list and the comment period completed, is waived when the USAN submission is filed first.
Following the INN review, and if all goes well with the proposed name, is the adoption of a USAN. Per standard USAN policy, adoptions occur the last Wednesday of each month.
A letter and adoption statement formally notifies the applicant that the negotiation has been completed and a USAN assigned. A firm may begin using a USAN when it receives an adoption statement. There is no need to wait until publication, which would normally occur 60 days later.
United States Adopted Names
Upon publication the adoption statement is published in the United States Adopted Name (USAN) Drug Finder.
Upon publication in the USAN Drug Finder, the USAN adoption statement is forwarded to the USP, for inclusion in the USP Dictionary of USAN and International Drug Names, the CAS Number Registry, and the FDA, for assignment of a UNII Code if none is present, and for inclusion in their database.
A firm may request a publication deferral for up to 6 months.
