International Nonproprietary Name - Name Stems

Name Stems

Drugs from the same therapeutic or chemical class are usually given names with the same stem. Stems are mostly placed word-finally, but in some cases word-initial stems are used. They are collected in a publication informally known as the Stem Book.

Examples are:

• -coxib for COX-2 inhibitors, a type of anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. celecoxib)
• -mab for monoclonal antibodies (e.g. infliximab); see Nomenclature of monoclonal antibodies
• -olol for beta blockers (e.g. atenolol)
• -oxetine for fluoxetine derivatives, a group of antidepressants
• -pril for ACE inhibitors (e.g. captopril)
• -vastatin for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, a group of cholesterol lowering agents (e.g. simvastatin)
• io- for iodine containing radiopharmaceuticals (e.g. iobenguane)