- The document discusses International Nonproprietary Names (INN), which are unique generic names designated by the WHO to identify pharmaceutical substances and ensure clear communication among health professionals worldwide. - The INN system began in 1950 and now includes over 7,000 names. Names are selected by experts to be distinctive, not too long, and avoid confusion. Rights of trademark owners are protected during the selection process. - INNs identify the active substance, while trade names identify finished products. INNs are intended for public use without restriction and should not be trademarked to ensure universal application.

1. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
INTERNATIONAL
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
NONPROPRIETARY NAMES
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
P.ILANANGAI
IP CONSULTANT
PATENT DEPARTMENT
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

2. INTRODUCTION
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’, • Drugs are generally marketed by their brand names though there is a
148-150, Luz Church Road, legal requirement to mention generic names in the labels. Countries
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004. have their own systems of generic nomenclature for pharmaceutical
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
substances. However owing to the various languages used by
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
different national nomenclature systems, there is a need to have a
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
uniform standardized system of generic names that are accepted
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
worldwide, which would help in identifying the composition of a
COIMBATORE
pharmaceutical substance.
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road, • The WHO administers an international generic nomenclature system
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 called INNs also known as rINN, for recommended International
Nonproprietary Name or pINN for proposed International
Nonproprietary Name).
• International Nonproprietary Names (INN) facilitates the
identification of pharmaceutical substances or active pharmaceutical
ingredients. Each INN is a unique name that is globally recognized
EMAIL and is public property. A nonproprietary name is also known as a
info@altacit.com generic name.
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

3. THE INN SYSTEM
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road, • Initiated in 1950 by a World Health
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 Assembly resolution
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
• Began operating in 1953
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400 • Cumulative list of INN now stands at some
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
7000 names designated since that time
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
• 120-150 new INN.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

4. AIM OF THE INN SYSTEM
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
• To provide health professionals with a unique
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
and universally available designated name to
identify each pharmaceutical substance.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
• For the clear identification, safe prescription and
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400 dispensing of medicines to patients, and
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue, • For communication and exchange of information
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
among health professionals and scientists
worldwide.
• Nonproprietary names are intended for use in pharma,
labeling, product information, advertising and other
promotional material, drug regulation and scientific
EMAIL
info@altacit.com literature, and as a basis for product names, e.g. for
WEBSITE generics.
www.altacit.com

5. TRADE NAMES AND
NONPROPRIETARY NAMES
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’, • Most products available on the market are nowadays
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore, advertised, promoted, and identified by a trade name. In
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821 pharmaceutical field, trade names are used when prescribing,
BANGALORE dispensing, selling, promoting, or buying a medicament. Trade
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
names are usually selected by the owner of the product and
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
registered in national trademark or patent offices. They are
COIMBATORE
private property and can be used only with the consent of the
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road, owner of the trademark.
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 • In most cases brand names are chosen for a finished
pharmaceutical product. Therefore, pharmaceutical
preparations containing the same active drug substance are
frequently sold under different brand/trade names, not only in
different countries, but even within the same country.
EMAIL contd..
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

6. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’, • Various trade names for one substance (example: paracetamol)
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
• Nonproprietary names are intended to be used as public property
without restraint. These names are usually designated by
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
national or international nomenclature commissions.
WEBSITE contd…
www.altacit.com

7. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• Nonproprietary names are designations to
identify the active pharmaceutical drug
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
substance rather than the final product.
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
• The selection of a nonproprietary name
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
follows established rules so that the name
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
itself communicates to the medical and
pharmaceutical health professional to which
the active drug substance belongs.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

8. SELECTION OF INN
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’, • The names which are given the status of an INN are selected
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
by the World Health Organization on the advice of experts
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
from the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on the International
BANGALORE
Pharmacopoeia and Pharmaceutical Preparations.
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers, • The process of INN selection follows three main steps:
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400 - a request/application is made by the manufacturer or
COIMBATORE inventor;
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
- after a review of the request a proposed INN is selected
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
and published for comments;
- after a time-period for objections has lapsed, the name
will obtain the status of a recommended INN and will be
published as such if no objection has been raised. Since the
name is available in the public domain it may be used freely.
EMAIL However, it should not be registered as a trade-mark since this
info@altacit.com
would prevent its use by other parties.
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

9. HOW
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
• INN is designated for the active part of the molecule only, to
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004. avoid the multiplication of entries in cases where several salts,
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
esters, etc. are actually used. In such cases, the user of the INN
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9, has to create a modified INN (INNM).
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001. • Ex: mepyramine maleate (a salt of mepyramine with maleic
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
acid)
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
• The primary principles for selection:
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 Distinctive in sound and spelling;
Not too long; and
Not liable to confusion with other names in common use.
Ex: ac: anti-inflammatory agents, ibufenac derivatives
-coxib for COX-2 inhibitors, a type of anti- inflammatory
EMAIL
info@altacit.com drugs (e.g. celecoxib)
WEBSITE contd..
www.altacit.com

10. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’, • Do not select names for mixtures of substances.
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
• Do not select for herbal substances (vegetable drugs)
or for homoeopathic products.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
• Do not select names for those substances that have a
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400 long history of use for medical purposes under well-
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
established names such as those of alkaloids (e.g.
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
morphine, codeine), or trivial chemical names (e.g.
acetic acid).
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

11. THE RIGHTS OF EXISTING
TRADE-MARK OWNERS
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
• In the process of INN selection, the rights of existing
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
trade-mark owners are fully protected. If in the period
of four months following the publication of a proposed
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers, INN, a formal objection is filed by an interested person
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
who considers that the proposed INN is in conflict with
COIMBATORE an existing trade-mark, WHO will actively pursue an
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
arrangement to obtain a withdrawal of such an
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
objection or will reconsider the proposed name. As
long as the objection exists, WHO will not publish it as
a recommended INN.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

12. PROTECTION OF INN
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
• The World Health Organization collaborates closely
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road, with INN experts and national nomenclature committees
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 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.
EMAIL
contd..
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

13. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’, • During the past few years, INN common stems have been
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
increasingly introduced in trademarks. This hampers the
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
selection of new nonproprietary names within the established
BANGALORE
system. Given the fact that all INNs should be distinct from
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers, existing INNs and trademarks, this practice causes
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001. difficulties when selecting a new name.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
• There are a large number of brands for a single
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
pharmaceutical substance
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 Generic name No. of brands INN
amoxycillin 86 vinleurosine
contd..
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

14. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
• Based on recommendations made by the WHO Expert
148-150, Luz Church Road, Committee on the Use of Essential Drugs, a resolution was
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004. adopted during the 46th World Health Assembly requesting
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
Member States to
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
• "Enact rules or regulations, as necessary, to ensure that
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001. international nonproprietary names… are always displayed
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
prominently;
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road,
• Encourage manufacturers to rely on their corporate name and the
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 international nonproprietary names, rather than trademarks, to
promote and market multisource products introduced after patent
expiration;
• Develop policy guidelines on the use and protection of
international nonproprietary names, and to discourage the use of
EMAIL
names derived from INNs, and particularly names including
info@altacit.com INN stems in trademarks."
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

15. USE OF INNs IN INDIA
• In India, Section 13 (b) of the Trade Marks Act,
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
1999 prohibits the registration of names of chemical
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
elements or INNs which have been declared by the
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
World Health Organization (WHO) and notified by
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001. the Registrar of Trade Marks. Nevertheless, there
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
are reported incidents of marketing of drugs under
BB1, Park Avenue,
# 48, Race Course Road, names that are similar to INNs. The WHO has
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
brought the same to the attention of the Drug
Controller General of India. The basic requirement
of Section 13 (b) of the Trade Marks Act, 1999 is
that INNs must be notified by the Registrar.
EMAIL contd…
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

16. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’, • The use of INNs as trademarks constitutes a problem in two
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
ways: use of parts of INNs in trademarks can dilute the INN
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
system by creating confusion in drug nomenclature.
BANGALORE
Secondly, since trademarks enjoy legal protection unlike
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers, INNs, the use of INN stems in trademarks may thwart the
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001. coining of new INNs in the future using the common stem,
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
where a trademark owner opposes the INN. This is because in
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue, the selection of INNs it is ensured that the rights of trademark
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
owners are not affected through INNs.
• Use of INNs to coin brand names
INN Stem Brand Name Company
vinleurosine -osine Virosine DR Ranbaxy
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

17. PREVENTION OF REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN
TRADEMARKS BY SOME INDIAN COMPANIES
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
• The WHO demanded that the applications for
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
registration of brand names, like Tiotrop, Guapride,
Dipride and Pride by companies Sun Pharma,
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers, Ajanta Pharma, Divus Lab and First Care Pharma
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
respectively should not be entertained.
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
• Also, WHO asked the DCGI to prevent approval of
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
brand name Riluzole by Rajvi Vipul Bhagat,
Mumbai as Riluzole is an INNs.
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

18. CONCLUSION
CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’, • While selecting INNs it is ensured that these are not similar to
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
trademarks. WHA Resolution 46.19 of 1993 exhorts Member States
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
to develop legal and policy regimes to address this need. Though
WHA Resolution 46.19 is non-binding in nature, India has
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9, substantially implemented its requirements under Section 13 (b) of
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road, the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Nevertheless, no INN has been notified
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400 by the Trade Marks Registry in the Trade Marks Journal.
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
• The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks has
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
finally published a list of International Non-Proprietary Names as
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921 declared by the World Health Organization which can be viewed in
this link http://ipindia.nic.in/list_INN_08February2012.pdf.
Hopefully this publication will be followed up by an official
notification, following which Trade Mark Examiners will be
mandated to examine pharmaceutical trademarks for any similarities
to the INNs published in the list. Any names which are identical to
EMAIL those on the INN list will not be registered as a pharmaceutical
info@altacit.com
trademark.
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com

19. CHENNAI
3rd Floor, ‘Creative Enclave’,
148-150, Luz Church Road,
Mylapore,
Chennai - 600 004.
Tel: +91 - 44 - 2498 4821
BANGALORE
Suite 920, Level 9,
Raheja Towers,
26-27, M G Road,
Bangalore - 560 001.
Tel: +91 - 80 - 6546 2400
COIMBATORE
BB1, Park Avenue,
THANK YOU
# 48, Race Course Road,
Coimbatore - 641018.
Tel: +91 - 422 – 6552921
EMAIL
info@altacit.com
WEBSITE
www.altacit.com