Decoding biological drug names in dermatology

The WHO International Nonproprietary Names system for monoclonal antibodies underwent its most fundamental revision in 2021 to 2022, retiring the universal -mab suffix and replacing it with 4 structure-based stems (-tug, -bart, -ment, -mig). Simultaneously, new stems for Janus kinase inhibitors (-citinib), Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (-brutinib), and oral peptide receptor antagonists (-kinra) have entered dermatological practice. These changes are not yet systematically addressed in dermatology education. Dermatologists prescribe the broadest range of biologic drug classes of any specialty, spanning anti-TNF, anti-interleukin, checkpoint inhibitor, Janus kinase/tyrosine kinase 2/Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and oral peptide antagonist therapies. This review provides a practical, disease-organized framework for decoding biological drug names, with a three-step algorithm, reference tables covering 26 approved agents, and guidance on biosimilar naming across FDA, European Medicines Agency, and Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (India) systems. The post-2022 structural stems carry direct pharmacokinetic implications, and 2 currently used agents (sonelokimab and certolizumab pegol) are structurally misclassified under their legacy-mab names. Nomenclature literacy directly affects adverse event attribution, biosimilar substitution decisions, and pipeline evaluation. Understanding this evolving system is a patient safety competency for practicing dermatologists.

Abstract from PubMed