The purpose of the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council 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 USAN Council (tri-sponsored by the American Medical Association (AMA), the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), aims for global standardization and unification of drug nomenclature and related rules to ensure that drug information is communicated accurately and unambiguously, working closely with the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) Programme of the World Health Organization (WHO), and various national nomenclature groups.

New USAN

afutuzumab (PDF, 22KB)
cetilistat (PDF, 17KB)
delafloxacin (PDF, 16KB)
droxidopa (PDF, 24KB)
dutogliptin tartrate (PDF, 19KB)
elotuzumab (PDF, 22KB) 
farletuzumab (PDF, 22KB) 
fidaxomicin (PDF, 28KB)
linaclotide (PDF, 26KB)
pozanicline (PDF, 15KB)
ramucirumab (PDF, 22KB)
sobetirome (PDF, 16KB)
sofinicline (PDF, 17KB)
voreloxin (PDF, 17KB)  
                   

 

USAN application process

Considerations and requirements before, during and after a name is recommended and adopted.

Staff contacts

Obtain answers to your general questions to expedite the USAN process.

Approved stems

List of common stems for which chemical and/or pharmacological parameters have been established.

Adopted names

A listing of adopted USAN.

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 produced by insertion of genetic material (transgene) into a vector (virus or plasmid) and where altered genetic material is administered to patients as a biologic drug. 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. Since most cell therapy products are manipulated or modified in some way, the manipulation or modification would be considered as part of the product and would hence be part of the name.

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.

Pronunciation guide

A pronunciation guide developed by the USAN Council as suggested pronunciation of USAN.

Council and review board

This section includes general information on USAN Council and Review Board membership and USAN Council meeting summaries.

Frequently asked questions

Common inquiries about USAN procedures, guidelines and the overall name selection process

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