During the 67th INN Consultation, a discussion occurred on the future challenge of naming non-antibody scaffold (engineered) proteins in clinical use. It was suggested that during the 68th INN Consultation a new suffix for these types of proteins be evaluated.
The INN Expert Group agreed to use the letters “-bep” as a stem for “engineered or synthetic protein scaffold, non-immunoglobulin variable domain derived.“ This stem class would utilize current MAB infixes, identify the FC region (either as an infix or prefix) and include Greek letters to indicate glycosylation. At the June 2019 USAN Council meeting, the USAN Council members accepted the proposed synthetic or bio-engineered receptor protein nomenclature.
New nomenclature;
Random prefix XXXX-
Infixes -use Mab infixes as appropriate
Suffix -bep ending for engineered or synthetic protein scaffold; non-immunoglobulin variable domain derived. Use alfa because if it is glycosylated.
Target Infixes and Their Meaning
The target infixes for -bep nomenclature are based on the monoclonal antibody nomenclature scheme: (See list below).
- -al- =Albumin
- -ami- = Serum amyloid protein (SAP)
- -ba- = Bacterial
- -ci- = Cardiovascular
- -d(e)- = Endocrine targets
- -ef-= FC region
- -fung- = Antifungals
- -gro(s)- = Skeletal muscle mass related growth factors and receptors
- -ki- = Interleukins
- -li- = Immunomodulating
- -ne- = Neural
- -os- = Bone
- -ta- = Tumors, antineoplastics
- -toxa- = Toxin target
- -vet- = Veterinary use
- -vi- = Viruses, antiviral indications
