Discussion on Nomenclature for Cell Therapy Products and Proposal for Biosimilars

The INN programme has received many enquiries from developers of cell therapy products

and there is a pressing need to consider the establishment of a naming scheme for them.

Overall, there was no clear consensus on the adoption of an INN scheme for cell therapy

products although in general it was felt that a scheme was eventually going to be required.

Those not in favour of pushing ahead with a system were of the opinion that it was too early

in the development of cell therapies, that too much remains unknown and that a naming

scheme would be pre-mature. Cell therapy experts themselves, plus others, were more in

favour of having an INN scheme and felt that the INN Committee should not wait, but

consider now the possibilities within this evolving situation for an INN scheme.