Guideline of the National Institute of Pharmacy on the right choice of names
for medicinal products for human use
1.
2.
3.
3.1
3.1.1
3.1.2
3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.3
3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
3.4.4
3.4.5
3.4.6
3.4.7
3.4.8
3.5
4.
5.
6.
INTRODUCTION
LEGAL BACKGROUND
CONFORMITY CRITERIA FOR MEDICINE NAMES
Medicine safety criteria
Mix-up with other fantasy names
Misleading fantasy names
Similarity with international non-proprietary names
Similarity between a fantasy name and an existing INN
Fantasy names containing an INN stem
Other fantasy names of public health concern
Use of abbreviations, qualifiers
Use of promotional qualifiers
Special age groups
Issues relating to fantasy names for certain types of medicines
Vaccines
Biological medicines
Non-prescription medicines
Fix combinations
Co-packaged preparations
Names of generic, hybrid- and similar biological medicines
Use of common name or scientific name
Names of centrally authorized generic medicinal products
Braille requirements for name on product label
UMBRELLA TRADE NAMES
REGULATORY ASPECTS RELATED TO PROPOSED MEDICINE NAMES
PRIOR OPINION ON MEDICINE NAMES
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1. INTRODUCTION
Under the available legal framework OGYI makes all efforts to guarantee patients’ safe access to
medicines, at the same time to try to effectively foster a law-abiding conduct by drug market
stakeholders. Made in this spirit this guideline intends to provide assistance to drug market
stakeholders for choosing the right names for their medicinal products for human use by
introducing them to the principles that OGYI consistently enforces upon the adjudication of
medicine names.
Upon assessment of proposed medicine names OGYI first of all looks at whether the suggested
name raises public health and within that medicine safety concerns. The aim of the name scrutiny
is to find out whether or not the proposed name can potentially be mistaken with other medicine
names and/or whether a potential names mix up endangers safe use of the products bearing that
name.
As a consequence thereof - and because of the lack of explicit competence – intellectual property
rights, first of all trademarks, do not at all constitute the subject matter of the marketing
authorization, OGYI does not and cannot take this factor into account when looking at the
acceptability of the proposed names.
Moreover all information supplied by aApplicants and marketing authorization holders in respect
of medicine names is a business secret by operative legislation and also by OGYI internal confidentiality – rules, and is to be treated as such.
The below principles regarding the assessment of medicine names shall be used in new
marketing authorization applications, applications for the renewal of a marketing authorization as
well as in variation procedures concerning name changes starting after the publication of this
guideline.
Applicants are being requested to please follow the contents of this guideline when deciding
on the names for their medicinal products!
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2. LEGAL BACKGROUND
1. Section 1.13 of Act XCV of 2005 on Medicinal Products for Human Use and on the
Amendment of Other Regulations Related to Medicinal Products (hereinafter: Medicine Law)
says:
” The name of a medicinal product shall be the name given in the marketing authorization,
which can be a fantasy name not to be mistaken with the common name, or any common or
scientific name which is used together with the trademark or with the name of the marketing
authorization holder”
2. This definition according to the Medicine Law is in conformity with Article 1(20) of the
European Parliament and Council Directive 2001/83/EC (6 November 2001) on the Community
Code of Medicinal Products for Human Use (hereinafter: Directive), which says:
” The name of a medicinal product may be a fantasy name - not to be mistaken with the common
name - or any common or scientific name which is used together with the trademark or with the
name of the marketing authorization holder.”
3. Article 1(21) of the Directive says:
„The common name is the international non-proprietary name given in accordance with the
recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO), failing which the generally used
common name.”
4. Subsection (5) of Section 5 of MoH decree 52/2005 (XI. 18.) on the marketing authorization
of medicinal products for human use says:
„The name of the medicinal product in paragraph b) of Section (2) cannot be the same as the
name of another medicinal product already authorized for marketing and cannot resemble the
name of another medicinal product already authorized for marketing so closely that the
medicinal products concerned may be mixed up with each other.”
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3. CONFORMITY CRITERIA FOR MEDICINE NAMES
3.1
Medicine safety criteria
Based on legal regulation in effect a medicine’s name can have one of the below structures:
-
Fantasy name in itself;
INN together with the MAH’s name; or
INN and trademark together.
Although a medicine’s name, according to existing legal rules, is always to be shown on the
packaging and in the patient information leaflet together with the strength and the dosage form,
these three categories need to be discussed in separate chapters. This guideline describes only the
principles applying to medicine names without the strength and dosage form.
Regarding the acceptability of medicine names OGYI primarily looks at whether the suggested
name tends to cause public health relevant complications. OGYI always examines medicine
names individually, relative to the given medicinal product, and the aim is to minimize the risk
of mix up with another medicinal product.
Applicants must bear in mind the contents of this directive whenever choosing a name for their
medicinal products.
First we describe the governing principles for fantasy names, they being the most important
category of medicine names.
3.1.1 Mix-up with other fantasy names
A medicine’s fantasy name should consist of at least 3 letters that should possibly form a single
word.
A fantasy name must differ from the name of an earlier authorized medicinal product. According
to this rule an earlier authorized medicinal product is:
-
-
A medicinal product that has been authorized for marketing and put on sale;
A medicinal product that has been authorized for marketing but not actually put on sale,
or is not sold at the time of the assessment of the application;
A medicinal product, the marketing authorization of which has been withdrawn within an
OGYI-specified period (but at least 5 years earlier), depending on the circumstances of
the case.
A medicinal product that is the subject matter of an earlier started – ongoing at the time
of the submission of the application - procedure.
A fantasy name is not to be mistaken with the fantasy name of another medicinal product, be it in
- Printed form,
- Handwritten form,
- Phonetic form or
- In the list of medicine names in user software containing medicine names (e.g. pharmacy
and prescription writing softwares).
OGYI uses the following points to assess a potential mix up:
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-
The number of common letters in similar medicine names and their position within the
words;
Phonetic resemblance of the names;
Use of prefixes and suffixes in the name;
Risk of mix up with other products in the case of handwritten prescriptions;
Indication(s)
Patient group(s);
Pharmaceutical form(s);
Route(s) of administration;
Strength(s);
Posology;
Pharmacovigilance profile;
Legal situation/classification (prescription only medicines – non-prescription medicines,
medicines bound to special prescription, etc.).
More principles used in the assessment of a mix up:
­ In spite of the fact that a fantasy name had been registered as a trademark, it still remains
required that the fantasy name cannot be mixed up with the name of an already existing
medicine;
­ A fantasy name is not allowed to contain any reference to any therapeutic area;
­ A fantasy name is not allowed to carry individual numbers, letters or symbols for they
might have misleading meaning for posology, strength or treatment duration. This rule,
however, does not apply to vaccines, radioactive medicines and immunological
preparations;
­ Characters like „®”, „©”, „™” etc. are not allowed to constitute part of a medicine’s
name;
­ The use of symbols (+, -, =, *, &, /, # etc.) is not acceptable in fantasy names;
­ The use of small or capital letters in a fantasy name is irrelevant from the point of
acceptability, but printed characters must by all means be displayed legibly in Latin
letters;
­ Any fantasy name or part of a fantasy name used in another language has to be translated
and changed by all means if the meaning in Hungarian is obscene, pejorative, or abusive;
­ Qualifier of a fantasy name that refers to a therapeutic area should always be translated to
avoid misinterpretation by consumers (for example: „ FANTASY Cough syrup” „FANTASY Köhögés elleni szirup”);
­ A fantasy name is not allowed to include Hungarian family and Christian names
including the name of the inventor of the medicine, and is not allowed to have religious,
historic, geographic or just an abusive meaning. Exception to this rule is that a fantasy
name can include a registered trademark or the name of the marketing authorization
holder;
­ The ability to spell the name in Hungarian is a general principle during assessment;
­ A fantasy name cannot be identical with the name of another category of products (e.g.
paramedicines, cosmetics, food supplements, nutrients, etc.) earlier put on the market by
an entity different from the marketing authorization holder;
­ During the development of a fantasy name attention must be paid to the legal requirement
of having to display the medicine name in Braille too;
­ Standard terms of the pharmaceutical form (gel, ointment etc.) are not allowed to form
part of a fantasy name;
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­ The fantasy name may be used on the summary of product characteristics, patient
information leaflet, label, and during commercial practice, and the marketing
authorization holder is responsible for the use.
3.1.2 Misleading fantasy names
A fantasy name cannot be misleading as to therapeutic effects and/or pharmaceutical connotation
and/or composition.
Based on the aforesaid the following flow chart is used to demonstrate decision-making process
on the acceptability of a fantasy name:
FANTASY NAME
Reference in the name to
therapeutic or
pharmaceutical meanings
YES
Reference in the name to the
medicine’s composition
YES
YES
YES
In written and printed
form or verbally it can
be mistaken with the
fantasy name of another
medicinal product
already on the market
YES
Similar pharmaceutical form and/or similar route
of administration and/or similar legal
situation/classification
3.2
YES
NO
Fantasy name not
acceptable
Fantasy name
acceptable
NO
Fantasy name
acceptable
Similarity with international non-proprietary names
According to Section 1.13 of the medicine law - and Articles 1(20) and 1(21) of the Directive – a
fantasy name should not be mistaken with the “common name”. The “common name” is the
international non-proprietary name given in accordance with the recommendation of the World
Health Organization (WHO), failing which the generally used common name. Here is to mention
WHO resolution No. WHA46.19, which says fantasy names should not be derived from the
International Non-proprietary Name (hereinafter: INN), neither is the use of INN stems desirable
in fantasy names.
Accordingly, concurrence with international non-proprietary names is likely to occur in the
following two cases.
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3.2.1 Similarity between a fantasy name and an existing INN
In the event where there is similarity between a proposed fantasy name and an existing INN
OGYI shall use the following criteria to assess the acceptability of the fantasy name:
-
The degree of similarity with own or other INN in writing or phonetically;
Similarity between the areas of use for the concerned products;
Similarity between the classification of the products – e.g. need for specific prescription;
Similarity between the route(s) of administration and wherever possible, between
pharmaceutical forms.
Applicants are advised to check in advance any similarity with INN-s before filing their
application and wherever needed submit an in-depth explanation to substantiate acceptability for
the planned fantasy name.
OGYI uses the following flow chart to decide on the acceptability of a fantasy name:
FANTASY NAME
Similarity with own or other INN
Closeness in writing and/or speech keeping
in mind the similarity between medical
setting and/or condition of use and/or route
of administration
YES
NO
Fantasy name not
acceptable
Fantasy name
acceptable
More information about INN is available on the following WHO homepage:
http://www.who.int/medicines/services/inn/innquidance/en/index.html
http://www.who.int/medicines/services/inn/GeneralprinciplesEn.pdf
3.2.2 Fantasy names containing an INN stem
The use of INN stems in fantasy names might give the impression for healthcare professionals
that it is a new active substance and not a fantasy name. So there is good reason to avoid using
INN stems in fantasy names.
If the proposed fantasy name happens to include an INN stem earlier published by WHO OGYI
assesses the acceptability of the fantasy name in consideration of the following circumstances:
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-
Similarity between the INN stem and the therapeutic class of the medicinal product;
The place of the INN stem in the fantasy name according to the WHO recommendation
on the placement of the INN stems;
Similarity between the indication of the products concerned;
Similarity between the classification of the products – e.g. need for specific prescription;
Similarity between the route(s) of administration and wherever possible, between
pharmaceutical forms.
Applicants are advised to check in advance the occurrence of INN stems in the proposed fantasy
name before filing their application and wherever needed submit an in-depth explanation to
substantiate acceptability for the planned fantasy name.
OGYI uses the following flow chart to decide on the acceptability of a fantasy name:
Fantasy name containing
an INN stem
As per WHO stem location
recommendation
YES
NO
Same therapeutic class
Different therapeutic class
Can public health concern
be identified?
YES
Fantasy name not
acceptable
Similar medical setting and/or condition of use
and/or route of administration
NO
Fantasy name
acceptable
YES
Fantasy name not
acceptable
NO
Fantasy name
acceptable
Fantasy name
acceptable
More information on INN stems and the list of published INN stems is available on the following
WHO homepages:
http://www.who.int/medicines/services/inn/StemBook2009.pdf
http://www.who.int/medicines/services/inn/GeneralprinciplesEn.pdf
3.3 Other fantasy names of public health concern
3.3.1 Use of abbreviations, qualifiers
The use of qualifiers (such as Rapid, Forte, Kombi, Plus, Mite, etc.) and abbreviations in fantasy
names is theoretically acceptable but the use of numbers is approved only in certain cases – for
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example to indicate the number of serotypes in a vaccine. Submissions of such type of fantasy
names must in every case be furnished with an explanation. Qualifiers used in medicine fantasy
names must be informative on the first place.
OGYI uses the following points to assess names containing abbreviations or qualifiers:
-
-
Does the qualifier/abbreviation carry added information on the properties of the
medicinal product (such as patient group, route of administration, composition, etc.) or
does it offer assistance for healthcare professionals and/or patients in the choice or
prescription of the right medicine; and
The rate of public health concerns potentially caused by doctors’ mistakes due to a
qualifier/abbreviation relative to the risks caused by more complex names with negative
impact on the ability to memorize or spell or prescribe the medicine.
The use of qualifiers, adverbials consisting of 1 or 2 letters or (Arabic or Roman) numbers is not
recommended in any case - this is particularly true for combinations of letters covering the
strength, because this will make it easy to mix it up with dosage form and/or dosing.
For example:
“Gyorsanható”, „Rapid” (including derived qualifiers) is acceptable only in that case if the data
in the summary of product characteristics do really substantiate a faster action or the faster action
has relevance to therapy;
„PLUS” “Plusz” is acceptable only in that case if the medicine includes an added active
substance that appreciably contributes to therapeutic efficacy;
„Co-„ “Ko-“ prefix is acceptable for combinations in which a new active substance is added to
an already existing product;
„Forte”/”Mite” qualifiers may be used in that case if the product includes an active substance
which has greater/smaller strength compared to an already existing product;
„Maximum”, the abbreviation thereof, „Max” or „Maximum strength” may only be used for
preparations where the medicinal product actually contains the maximum permissible quantity of
the active substance per unit of dose;
„Duo” “Kettő” is to be used only when two active substances are used in one preparation;
„Original”, „Classic” “Klasszikus”, “Klasszik” is acceptable only where the medicinal product
is available in more than one presentations on the market and the qualifier is used to differentiate
the product first authorized for marketing from the later variations;
Tastes („strawberry”, „menthol”) and fragrances („eucalyptus”) are to be indicated in Hungarian
only, in harmony with the product’s composition and with a prior explanation.
The use of superlatives should be avoided in all names.
3.3.2 Use of promotional qualifiers
Fantasy names are not allowed to convey any message of promotional nature implying
therapeutic and/or pharmacological properties or composition of a medicinal product.
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3.3.3. Special age groups
If a medicine exclusively targets one age group („Junior”, „ Baby”, „Adult”, „For children” etc.),
this has to be indicated on the package. The age group definition should follow the age
classification in the Formulae Normales VII/General Information, Section IX.
3.4 Issues relating to fantasy names for certain types of medicines
3.4.1 Vaccines
In the case of vaccines constituted from several serotypes the original name should be kept upon
the addition of a new serotype; the name is to be followed by the number of serotypes and the
dosage form.
For example:
„Fantasy name” X (serotype) suspension for injection.
The same procedure applies to the addition of new antigens. Differentiation between the
medicinal products has particular importance in cases when two vaccines are available parallel in
the market.
3.4.2 Biological medicines
If a change in the manufacture results in the birth of a new version of a biological medicine that
is a substitute of the old one (e.g. line extension), OGYI assesses the former fantasy name
according to the individual circumstances of that particular case.
But if the former biological medicine has its properties changed (for example through the
addition of a new adjuvant) the use of a new fantasy name or a prefix or suffix added to the old
fantasy name may become necessary. In this case the prefix or suffix has to convey clear
meaning for the consumer.
3.4.3 Non-prescription medicines
In the case of medicines available without medical prescription attention should be paid to the
special position of these types of medicines. The use of qualifiers/abbreviations should facilitate
easy selection, identification of the medicine by the patient and its differentiation from other
medicines. Hence the restrictions in Sections 3.3.1 and 3.3.2 need not necessarily to be applied in
such case.
To promote self-medication it is acceptable that non-prescription medicine names convey
positive meaning and/or informative message. We insist that Applicants in each case thoroughly
explain the use of the planned qualifier.
3.4.4 Fix combinations
Fantasy names for fix combination products should be selected in such a way that the name duly
differs from the names of active substances that constitute the medicine and/or from the names
of other fix combination products containing the same active substance(s). A way of doing so is
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the use of qualifiers, e.g. Diovan HCT, Pritor Plus, Aspirin Complex. The use of a completely
new fantasy name is another possibility.
A general principle is to rule out mix up when several fix combinations exist parallel, for
example: Tuttiname, Tuttiname Forte, Tuttiname Ind, Tuttiname Forte Ind, Tuttiname Rosu,
Tuttiname Forte Rosu, Tuttiname Ind Forte Rosu.
Making up the name of a fix combination from the fantasy names of the products constituting it
is not acceptable, e.g. Tuttiname + Muky.
3.4.5 Co-packaged preparations
If two medicinal products are packed in a common box (so-called „kombi-pack” or „copackaged product”) the name has to be well distinguished from:
- the names of products not co-packed;
- the names of other co-packaged products; and
- the names of other fix combination products.
Acceptable is a name structure such as „full name of the co-packaged preparations + a qualifier
referring to co-packaging”, e.g.: Tuttiname FORTE 20 mg/10 mg hard capsule + Muky 5 mg
film-coated tablet Kombi-pack.
The use of an entirely new fantasy name is also acceptable.
3.4.6 Names of generic, hybrid- and similar biological medicinal products
The same criteria apply to generic, hybrid and other similar biological medicines as to any other
medicinal product regarding the fantasy name.
3.4.7 Use of common name or scientific name
Apart from Section 3.2 if Applicant wants to use a common name or a scientific name in place of
the fantasy name – together with the trademark or the name of the marketing authorization
holder - the following should be kept in mind:
-
Where there is a WHO-recommended INN for the given active substance, it must be
shown in the medicine’s name exactly as it had been published, without abbreviations
and omissions. Any linguistic variations of the INN should be regarded as one name. If
there is no such name the generally used common name is to be used;
- Where there is a WHO-recommended Modified INN (hereinafter: INNM) for the given
active substance, it must be shown in the medicine’s name exactly as it had been
published, without abbreviations and omissions;
- Where the active substance is an INNM which had never been published before, the
medicine’s name can only be a version adopted together by the users of the INN
(pharmacopoeia committees, regulatory authorities, stakeholders), in accordance with
WHO 05.167/3 INNM working document which is available on the following link:
http://www.who.int/medicines/services/inn/INNMreview%20paperWkDoc167_Feb06_3_
.pdf
- The name of the marketing authorization holder or, if need be, the trademarked name
should be put right after the common name with or without a hyphen but in any case
before the strength and the pharmaceutical form. For example:
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-
-
-
-
INN - MAH / TRADEMARK + STRENGTH + PHARMACEUTICAL
FORM
INN
MAH / TRADEMARK + STRENGTH + PHARMACEUTICAL
FORM
Please note that only one of the above two combinations is allowed for a medicinal
product with a given active substance, a given strength and pharmaceutical form. Each
further name has to be a fantasy name;
The INN and the marketing authorization holder’s name cannot be combined to form a
single word (e.g.: pravastatinX);
The trademark to be used with the INN should be a trademark that the trademark owner
has agreed to;
If the trademark to be used with the INN is already a fantasy name of a marketing
authorized medicinal product, the trademark is not allowed to be used (e.g. Imodium;
Diphenoxylate-Imodium);
OGYI does not accept names structured as INN + qualifire + MAH, or INN + MAH +
qualifier because the qualifier must be part of the fantasy name. Renewals are the only
exception, if cannot be avoided;
The planned use of a promotional type of trademark affixed to the INN must be
thoroughly explained during the procedure;
Prefixes and abbreviations in INN names are not acceptable. Exception is the „HCT”
(hydrochlorothiazid) and „ASA” (acetyl salicylic acid). The prefix „Co-„ can be used for
fix combinations;
For medicines containing different active substances only a „/” sign should separate the
active substances (pl.: Metformine/Glibenclamide MAH);
If various salts of an active substance are used and the MAH wants to authorize several of
them, the salt should be shown in the name clearly and well separable from one another
(e.g.: Amlodipin maleate MAH 5 mg tablet and Amlodipin bezilate MAH 5 mg tablet).
3.4.8 Names of centrally authorized generic medicinal products
Article 3 (3) c) of Regulation No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying
down Community procedures for the authorization and supervision of medicinal products for
human and veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines Agency says that a generic
medicinal product is authorized under the same name in all the Member States where the
application has been made. For the purposes of this provision, all the linguistic versions of the
INN (international non-proprietary name) shall be considered to be the same name. Accordingly,
a generic medicinal product should have the same name in all the member states regardless of
which procedure (central, mutual recognition or decentralized) the generic medicine is to be
authorized for marketing.
There are two cases when departure form the aforesaid main rule is allowed:
­
­
Use of the first name may be allowed in a Member State where the trade mark law of that
member state does not allow use of the suggested fantasy name, in this case a detailed
explanation must be provided in substantiation of the use; or
Use of a different name may be allowed if the MAH is not identical in all the member
states AND the MAH in one or more member states is not eligible for the use of the
trademark. In this case satisfactory evidence must be provided to prove that the MAH is
not eligible to the trademark in the problematic Member State.
Of course with INN-MAH structured names, if the marketing authorization is transferred to
another MAH after authorization, the marketing authorization of the generic medicinal product
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should be modified in accordance with Commission Regulation No. 1234/2008/EC concerning
the examination of variations to the terms of marketing authorizations for medicinal products for
human and veterinary use.
Prior to submission of the marketing authorization application Applicants are advised to check
member state markets for similar names and provide several alternative medicine names.
3.5 Braille requirement for name on product label
Within the meaning of Subsection (7) of Section 2 of MoH decree 30/2005 (VIII. 2.) on the
labeling and patient information leaflet of medicinal products for human use the name of a newly
authorized medicinal product is to be shown in Braille on the outer packaging, or failing which,
on the immediate packaging. If the medicine is available in more than one strengths, the strength
should also be shown next to the name of the medicinal product.
For medicinal products already authorized at the time when the decree took effect the provisions
applying to labeling and patient information leaflet – including an obligation to show the
medicine name in Braille – have to be complied with, with effect of December 31, 2010.
4. UMBRELLA TRADE NAMES
The so-called „Umbrella trade names” constitute a special group in medicine names and hence is
to be discussed separately.
Umbrella trade names are understood to mean the extension of a fantasy name – affixed, if need
be, with a prefix or suffix – on several products („umbrella trade names” or „umbrella brands”).
The real purpose of the umbrella trade names is to highlight the property that identifies a product
of an umbrella brand as one group.
The marketing authorization holder is responsible for the use of umbrella trade names. If any
probable mix up among the products of an umbrella brand may raise potential medicine safety
and/or efficacy concerns the use of the umbrella trade name has better avoided in respect of the
problematic medicine. In particular the following cases may constitute public health risk:
-
The medicinal products contain different active substance(s);
The medicinal products were meant for different patient populations;
The medicinal products’ safety profile is different in each patient population (e.g. some
medicines can be given to pregnant women, others cannot);
If their interactions differ;
If the properties and treatment of overdose is different for each medicinal product;
If the umbrella trade name is used for several product categories (medicinal products,
paramedicines, food supplements, cosmetics, etc).
During examination of the acceptability of an umbrella trade name the main point is that the
suggested name should raise no safety and efficacy concerns and that the name satisfies
legislative criteria. In the result thereof and/or in the absence of explicit legal regulation OGYI in
every case looks upon and assesses separately the acceptability of an umbrella trade name for the
medicinal product in question.
In general the following can be said:
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­
­
­
­
It is not recommended that the suggested name of a medicine be an umbrella brand name
used for products of other status (food supplements, food, cosmetics, etc) already
launched on the market;
If OGYI learns that a MAH had extended a medicine name to some other product
category – that OGYI understandably has no legal means to prevent – and holds that by
the individual circumstances of the case this is misleading for the consumers or implies
medicine safety risks, OGYI takes the necessary steps to start a consumer protection
and/or advertising supervisory proceeding as provided for in law;
It is only in exceptional cases that an umbrella brand name can be shared between several
marketing authorization holders. Applicant must given an explanation for the shared use;
Umbrella trade names can parallel be used for prescription-only and non-prescription
medicines. It follows that any change affecting the prescription status of a medicine
(„switch”) does not rule out continuing use of the umbrella trade name for the switched
preparation. Yet, Applicants are being warned that radically different rules apply for
commercial practice with medicinal products included in the scope of the health
insurance system than with non-prescription medicines.
The following situations may be possible with umbrella trade names:
1. An umbrella trade name is to be extended to a medicine that contains the same active
substance as the other medicines in the product family and has the same therapeutic area.
Acceptable.
E.g.: Fantasy MAH 400 mg film-coated tablet, Fantasy MAH 20 mg/ml oral suspension, Fantasy
MAH 400 mg suppository
2. An umbrella trade name is to be extended to a medicine that contains the same active
substance as the other medicines in the product family but has a different therapeutic area.
Acceptable, provided, the therapeutic area is shown in the medicine’s name in harmony
with the indications in the summary of product characteristics. Applicants must provide
evidence to prove that extension of the umbrella trade name to another therapeutic area
poses no safety risk.
E.g.: Fantasy 500 mg tablet (indication: fever, pain, inflammation)
Fantasy Protect 100 mg tablet (cardiovascular indication)
3. An umbrella trade name is to be extended to a medicine that contains more active
substance(s) than the other medicines in the product family but has the same therapeutic area
as theirs.
Acceptable, provided, a prefix or suffix is affixed to the name to differentiate the medicine
from the other products in the umbrella brand to exclude ambiguity.
Pl.: Fantasy 20 mg hard capsule
Fantasy Plus 20 mg/10 mg hard capsule
Co-Fantasy 20 mg/10 mg hard capsule
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4. An umbrella trade name is to be extended to a medicine that contains more active
substance(s) than the other medicines in the product family but has a different therapeutic
area.
Not recommended but is acceptable in exceptional cases if the therapeutic area is shown in
the medicine’s name in harmony with the indications in the summary of product
characteristics. Applicants must provide evidence to prove that extension of the umbrella
trade name to another therapeutic area poses no safety risk.
5. An umbrella trade name is to be extended to a medicine that contains different active
substance(s) and has the same therapeutic area as the other medicines in the product family.
Not recommended but is acceptable in exceptional cases, if Applicant can prove without a
shadow of doubt that this does not imply medicine safety and/or efficacy concerns.
6. An umbrella trade name is to be extended to a medicine that contains different active
substance(s) and has a different therapeutic area from that of the other medicines in the
product family.
Not acceptable.
Again, OGYI in each case subjects the suggested name to a risk-based examination to make
sure that inclusion of the product in the brand has no medicine safety and/or efficacy concerns.
Apart from the above general principles OGYI also considers the following factors to decide
about the acceptability of an umbrella trade name:
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Explanation to substantiate the suggested name;
Description of own or other manufacturer’s products that belong to the same or similar
brand;
Indication field for all relevant medicinal products;
Classification categories for the products concerned;
Differences in interactions with other medicines;
Any medicine safety issue likely to emerge if the product is included in the brand;
Specific patient and consumer groups (children, expecting mothers, elderly, etc.), where
there are differences between preparations in the same brand;
Differences in overdose effects and treatment;
Differences in indications, contra-indications, warning, posology (dosing frequency and
various strengths) and in information in the summary of product characteristics and
patient information leaflets;
Use of various prefixes and suffixes and a study of how they differentiate products from
one another;
Differences between the properties of the active ingredients in preparations in the brand
and safety risks originating from it;
Packaging characteristics: color, design, size, shape, the look of the inner packaging, its
shape, color, useful information, indication of the active ingredient, distinction between
products in a brand.
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If an examination according to the aforesaid points holds that inclusion of a product in the brand
has undoubtedly no adverse effect on the safe and efficient use of the products potentially
affected by the name OGYI agrees to the umbrella trade name being extended to another
medicinal product.
5.
REGULATORY ASPECTS RELATED TO PROPOSED MEDICINE NAMES
New procedure
In the procedure to grant marketing authorization to a medicinal product Applicant proposes one
or more names. OGYI is being in touch with the Applicant to discuss acceptability of the names.
In decentralized or mutual recognition procedures it is important to agree on a name by the start
of the national phase.
Variation of a marketing authorization
MAH is allowed to any time modify the name of an authorized medicine. According to A. 2 of
European Commission’s „Guideline on the details of the various categories of variations to the
terms of marketing authorizations for medicinal products for human use and veterinary
medicinal products (2010/C 17/01)” (hereinafter: Guideline) a change in the name of an
authorized medicinal product is to be regarded a minor change of I.B type. During a marketing
authorization variation procedure Commission regulation No. 1234/2008/EC concerning the
examination of variations to the terms of marketing authorizations for medicinal products for
human use and veterinary medicinal products has to be followed.
Change of status of a medicinal product
In the case of switch from prescription to non-prescription status it is up to Applicant to decide to
either to request extension or variation to an earlier marketing authorization while keeping the
original name or propose a new name for the medicine by starting a new marketing authorization
procedure.
If the MAH wants to market the medicine in both prescription and non-prescription status, and
since a medicinal product cannot be present on the market in both status with the same name, the
MAH has to give a new fantasy name to one of the medicines or affix a suitable qualifier to one
of them to differentiate one from the other.
6.
PRIOR OPINION ON MEDICINE NAMES
Prior to the start of a marketing authorization procedure or a procedure for the variation of a
marketing authorization OGYI may be requested to give prior opinion on the planed medicine
names.
The request should be sent by post to mailing address 1372 POB 450 or emailed to
nevek@ogyi.hu.
The request must include:
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The name planed for the medicine;
Active substance;
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Strength (except for traditional herbal medicines);
Pharmaceutical form;
Indications;
Specific target group (children, elderly, expecting mothers, etc.);
A brief summary of the mechanism of action of the medicine;
Route of administration;
The planned status of the medicinal product (prescription-only, non-prescription, etc.);
Other necessary explanations.
OGYI drafts the prior opinion in 22 business days from date of receipt of the request.
The prior opinion on the acceptability of the name reflects the conditions that existed at the time
of the making of the opinion, hence content of the opinion on the grounds of other possible new
circumstances learned by OGYI after issuing this prior opinion (e.g. a name of a medicinal
product in a procedure initiated in the meantime) is in no way binding for OGYI during later
official proceedings.
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