International non-proprietary names for pharmaceutical substances (INNs)
There is an internationally agreed list of common or standard names for pharmaceuticals and related substances. These are known as INNs.
Each INN is a unique name that is globally recognised and is public property . This means it cannot be registered as a Trade Mark. We will object to your application to register such a mark and inform you that it is a 'reserved word'.
The World Health Organisation decides INN names. You can find a list of the names, and more information, on their web-site.
The World Health Organisation also publishes lists of:
- ‘Recommended International Non-proprietary Names for Pharmaceutical Substances’
- 'Proposed International Non-proprietary Names for Pharmaceutical Substances'.
If you want to get copies of the lists so that you can either make informal comment or raise an objection, you should contact:
Mr R B Trigg,
GeName Consulting,
126
The Drive,
Rickmansworth,
Hertfordshire,
WD3 4DP.
| Telephone | +44 (0)1923 774293 |
| gename@tiscali.co.uk | |
| roger.trigg@tiscali.co.uk |
