The FDA’s most trusted naming partner

FDA · USAN · NDA / BLA · Proprietary naming

The FDA's most
trusted naming
partner

For over 30 years, Brand Institute has led more FDA proprietary name approvals than any other agency in the world — backed by former FDA naming officials who co-authored the agency's name review guidelines. We hold an 88% share of FDA Rx name approvals.

Former FDA naming officials USAN/INN strategy Proprietary name development LASA safety screening NDA / BLA submissions FMEA analysis
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Free 30-min call with a former FDA naming official — no commitment required.


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    FDA INSIDER Brand Institute's regulatory subsidiary, Drug Safety Institute (DSI), is staffed by former FDA naming officials who co-authored the FDA proprietary name review guidance — the same documents your submission is evaluated against.
    CREDENTIALS
    Former FDA naming officials
    Co-authored FDA name review guidelines
    88% FDA Rx name approval share
    5,000+ names developed
    1,500+ pharma partners
    FDA submission expertise

    Every FDA naming pathway, covered

    Whether you're filing an NDA, BLA, or OTC application — or developing a USAN nonproprietary name — our former FDA officials navigate the full naming lifecycle.

    💊
    NDA / BLA
    Proprietary name development
    FDA-compliant proprietary (brand) name development, LASA safety analysis, medication error risk assessment, and full submission dossier — prepared by former FDA officials.
    🔬
    USAN / INN
    Nonproprietary naming strategy
    USAN application strategy, INN alignment, stem selection, and AMA Council advisory guidance. The most complex naming step — handled by the team that wrote the rules.
    🏪
    OTC branding
    Over-the-counter brand naming
    OTC brand name development with FDA OTC monograph compliance. Consumer research, retail shelf impact testing, and LASA review for consumer medication safety.
    🧬
    Biologics
    Biosimilar & biologic naming
    4-letter suffix strategy for FDA biosimilar naming, interchangeability designations, and 351(a)/(k) pathway naming — including complex biologic LASA analysis.
    🩺
    Medical devices
    Medical device naming
    510(k) and PMA device name development. FDA device naming conventions, trademark clearance via USPTO, and brand strategy for Class II / III devices.
    ⚗️
    Clinical trials
    IND-stage trial naming
    Protocol-stage naming protects your commercial launch. IND application naming strategy that sets up a smooth NDA/BLA proprietary name submission later.
    USAN / INN expertise

    The USAN advantage no other agency offers

    Former AMA naming leaders. Former WHO naming advisors.

    USAN (United States Adopted Name) selection is one of the most complex and consequential steps in drug development — and one that most naming agencies get wrong. Brand Institute's Drug Safety Institute includes former leaders from naming divisions at the AMA and WHO, alongside former FDA, EMA, and Health Canada officials — the same regulatory community that shapes the global nonproprietary naming system.

    • USAN application filing and negotiation with the AMA Council
    • INN submission to WHO — internationally harmonized naming
    • Stem strategy (selecting the right pharmacological suffix)
    • USAN/INN safety analysis — preventing confusion with existing names
    • Class name and modifier strategy for drug families
    • Nonproprietary name development for novel drug classes

    We name drugs across every therapeutic area and FDA submission type — from first-in-class biologics to OTC reformulations.

    Oncology
    mAbs, ADCs, small molecules, CAR-T, checkpoint inhibitors
    Biologics
    Biosimilars (4-letter suffix), reference biologics, gene therapies
    Rare / orphan
    Orphan drug designation naming, rare pediatric disease
    Vaccines
    Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine brand + nonproprietary
    CNS / neurology
    Psychiatric, neurological, Alzheimer's — complex LASA risk
    Cardiovascular
    High-risk LASA environment — precision naming critical
    Full service menu

    Everything your US launch needs

    From strategy through FDA submission — one partner, every discipline, no hidden fees.

    01
    Name development
    Hand-crafted proprietary names built for FDA safety standards and US market resonance — creative team plus innovative AI-assisted generation.
    02
    FDA regulatory strategy
    Former FDA naming officials guide your submission dossier, rebuttal strategy, and FDA dialogue — maximizing first-pass approval probability.
    03
    LASA / FMEA safety
    Failure Mode & Effects Analysis (FMEA) per FDA guidance. Look-Alike Sound-Alike screening against all US-marketed drug names.
    04
    US trademark clearance
    In-house trademark attorneys conduct USPTO Class 5 screening, federal and state database searches — no outsourcing, full confidentiality.
    05
    Market research
    US HCP and patient perception studies, name recall testing, and commercial viability assessment — benchmarked to historical US norms.
    06
    Visual identity
    Logo, labeling, packaging design — FDA-compliant layout with award-winning design team. One agency from name to shelf.
    5,000+
    pharmaceutical names developed
    88%
    share of FDA Rx name approvals (2025)
    1,500+
    pharma company partnerships
    30+
    years FDA naming expertise
    Client experience

    What US pharma teams say

    "Fantastic news regarding our successful INN submission. Congratulations to you and the BI team on achieving this great milestone with us."
    — VP, Global Therapy Lead, Indivior
    "Clear communications on the project, accessible and responsive to queries, delivered on all commitments."
    — Project Manager, Regulatory Affairs, AstraZeneca

    Ready to name your next FDA submission?

    Free 30-minute consultation with a former FDA naming official. NDA, BLA, USAN, OTC — we cover every pathway.