USP Quality Review

No. 68, Issued September 1999

The Making of a Moniker 1,2,3

Nomenclature is indeed a science. A pharmaceutical product has many different titles — each with a specific purpose. A drug's chemical name identifies a pharmaceutical entity's molecular structure. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is responsible for generating this terminology. These names are lengthy and precisely identify a substance's configuration. The chemical name, however, proves impractical for common use by health care professionals, because it may be difficult to transcribe, pronounce, and recall.

The nonproprietary name is intended specifically for health care providers. Also known as a product's generic name, in the United States this drug title is selected by the United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council. The USAN Council assigns names to therapeutically active substances and excipients using a series of general and specific guidelines designed to assure uniformity, logic, and safety in the choice.

A drug's official title is determined by the USP Nomenclature Committee and is the USP–NF monograph title of the substance. For substances, the official title is usually the same as the USAN. An official title can also be used for a dosage form. Often this title will include a drug's intended route of administration, information about the dosage form, and other pharmaceutical properties, such as release characteristics.

A proprietary name, or brand name, is usually developed by the company that introduces a drug product to market. This name may be registered as a trademark, which will afford legal protection against infringement on the name by other products and companies. This name is usually catchy and easily remembered.