Is USAN the final authority for new drug names?

The correct statement is that USAN is not the final authority for new drug names. The United States Adopted Names (USAN) Council is involved in the process of creating unique and nonproprietary names for drugs, but it does not hold absolute authority over drug naming. The final approval and decision-making for drug names rest with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While USAN plays a significant role in the naming process and aims to ensure that the names are unique and appropriate, the FDA ultimately oversees drug approval and can make determinations about naming that may differ from USAN recommendations. Therefore, the statement that USAN is the final authority for new drug names is inaccurate, leading to the conclusion that it is false.

This distinction is important because it illustrates the collaborative nature of drug naming in the U.S., where multiple organizations contribute to ensure clarity and safety in drug identification. While other options may imply some level of authority or specificity, they do not capture the breadth of USAN’s role accurately, confirming that it is not the final authority in the naming process.