====== International Nonproprietary Names ======

International Nonproprietary Names (INN) are the official names given to pharmaceutical drugs and other healthcare products. INNs are created and maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO) and are designed to provide a consistent and universally accepted name for a drug or product. INNs are intended to replace the proprietary or brand names given to products by their manufacturers, which can vary from one country to another, creating confusion and potential safety risks.

The purpose of INNs is to facilitate communication between healthcare professionals and other stakeholders, such as drug regulatory authorities, pharmacists, and patients. INNs help to identify drugs and products more accurately, reduce the risk of errors in prescribing and dispensing, and streamline the drug approval process. INNs are also used to support research and development, as they help to standardize the names of new and existing products.

INNs are generated by a WHO committee, which is composed of experts in pharmacology, toxicology, clinical pharmacology and other related fields. The committee considers the safety and efficacy of a drug or product, as well as its chemical and pharmacological characteristics, before assigning an INN. INNs consist of a generic name, which is typically derived from the chemical structure of the drug or product, and a qualifier, which may be used to differentiate products with similar generic names.

The WHO regularly updates the list of approved INNs in order to reflect new drugs and products, and to ensure that the INNs remain consistent and recognizable to healthcare professionals and other stakeholders. INNs are published in the International Nonproprietary Names (INN) for Pharmaceutical Substances publication, and are also available online.

INNs play an important role in the global healthcare system, as they help to reduce medical errors, streamline the drug approval process, and promote the safe use of drugs and other healthcare products. As such, INNs are widely recognized and accepted by regulatory authorities and healthcare professionals around the world.