International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for pharmaceutical substances

WHO has a constitutional mandate to "develop, establish and promote international standards with respect to biological, pharmaceutical and similar products". The Organization collaborates closely with national nomenclature committees to select a single name of worldwide acceptability for each active substance that is to be marketed as a pharmaceutical. To avoid confusion, which could jeopardize the safety of patients, trade-marks should neither be derived from INNs nor contain common stems used in INNs. Recent developments in pharmacological research and biotechnology are challenges for the nomenclature committee. New schemes and concepts are being developed, for example, for naming monoclonal antibodies and other recombinant compounds.