HanAll Biopharma’s HL036 was Approved of its International Nonproprietary Name (INN) by the World Health Organization(WHO)
2018.06.25
HanAll Biopharma(CO-CEO Seung-kook Park and Jae-chun Yun) announced on the 22nd that WHO approved the INN of HL036.

The INN of HL036, approved by WHO, is Tanfanercept, a name associated with TNF (tumor necrosis factor), the target of the new drug candidate.

HL036 is a biomedicine that inhibits TNF activity, which induces inflammation in the body, and prevents corneal damage. Currently, 150 patients have been treated for phase 2 clinical trial in the United States. Last month, the company received topline data of phase 2 clinical trial from Ora, a contract research organization(CRO). The data confirms the excellent efficacy and safety of HL036. After completing various analyses until July, it will announce the clinical results at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit(OIS), the event of ophthalmology academy, which will be held in Chicago in October.

HanAll Biopharma officials said, “INN is a privilege that only a new drug development company that conducts clinical trials could have, and we are pleased that HanAll\'s new drug candidate has a brand name.” “Tanfanercept is proceeding smoothly to phase 2 clinical trial, and I hope that it contributes to improving the quality of life of patients suffering from dry eye syndrome by becoming available to be used worldwide after completing phase 3 clinical trial” he said.

Dry eye syndrome is an eye disease that causes lack of tears, excessive evaporation of eyes, damage to the surface of the eye, and irritation symptoms such as eye irritation. The number of patients is increasing due to excessive use of smartphones and environmental changes such as fine dust. The global market is estimated at 3.8 trillion won, with annual growth of 7%.

Meanwhile, INN, also called “ingredient name”, is basically based on the substance structure and mechanism of action of new drugs. Since the WHO started to approve INNs in 1953, more than 7,000 names have been registered. INN has the characteristic that it cannot be owned by a company, unlike product names, and it is a generic name that can be used equally worldwide to identify drugs.