Chapter 34 – Drug Nomenclature

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a constitutional mandate to “develop, establish, and promote international standards with respect to biological, pharmaceutical, and similar products.” One way in which this mandate is discharged is through the Programme on International Nonproprietary Names (INNs) for pharmaceutical substances. This program was established in 1950 by resolution WHA3.11 of the World Health Assembly This chapter describes scope, functions and tools of the International Nonproprietary Name Programme.