AIPPI 2013: Pharmaceutical products and the trademark hiccup

30-09-2013

AIPPI 2013: Pharmaceutical products and the trademark hiccup

The annual International Association for the Protection of IP (AIPPI) conference in Helsinki, Finland, assessed the potential problems for pharmaceutical companies trying to brand their medicinal products.

During a workshop on September 6, one issue discussed was the difference between a trademark signifying a branded product and an international nonproprietary name (INN), which signifies a medical effect.

Examples of registered INNs include -olol for beta blockers (eg, atenolol) and -oxetine for fluoxetine derivatives, a group of antidepressants.

Raffaella Mattivelli, INN programme manager at the World Health Organization (WHO), said: “We have developed a resolution to ensure the INN is prominently displayed on the box of products and is easy to understand.


AIPPI, pharmaceuticals, trademarks, brands, INN

LSIPR