Medical terms simplifier
EMA’s medical terms simplifier gives plain-language descriptions of medical terms commonly used in information about medicines:
The resource focuses on side effects and other terms used in medicines information and assessments of medicines.
The medical terms simplifier does not cover rarely used terms, most disease states, very specialised areas or the broader field of medical science. EMA will issue updates of the document.
Glossary of regulatory terms
EMA's glossary of regulatory terms gives definitions for the main regulatory terms used on this website and in EMA documents.
Click on a letter below to see terms beginning with that letter.
Disclaimer: EMA has developed the definitions in this glossary to help this website's users understand regulatory terminology. Definitions may differ from those given in European Union legislation.
The 10-year period after the marketing authorisation of an orphan medicine when similar medicines for the same indication cannot be placed on the market.
More information can be found under 'Marketing authorisation and market exclusivity'.
The protection of an approved medicine against competition from generic medicines that extends beyond the protection conferred by data exclusivity. During this period, applications for generics can be accepted and authorised, but the generic medicines cannot be placed on the market.
More information can be found under 'European Medicines Agency procedural advice for users of the centralised procedure for generic / hybrid applications'.
The approval to market a medicine in one, several or all European Union Member States.
An application made to a European regulatory authority for approval to market a medicine within the European Union.
The company or other legal entity that has the authorisation to market a medicine in one, several or all European Union Member States.
Any non-transactional information considered to play a key role in the core operation of a business and re-used for multiple purposes.
More information can be found under 'Substance, product, organisation and referential (SPOR) master data'.
The maximum concentration of a medicine residue that is considered acceptable in food produced from an animal that has been treated with that medicine.
More information can be found under 'Maximum residue limits'.
A substance or combination of substances that is intended to treat, prevent or diagnose a disease, or to restore, correct or modify physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action.
A type of veterinary medicine that is to be used in small numbers of animals or in animals of low individual economic value, such as honey bees.
More information can be found under 'Minor uses / minor species and limited markets'.
A copy of the flat artwork design for a medicine's inner and outer packaging, in full colour, that can be assembled into a three-dimensional replica.
More information can be found under 'Mock-ups and specimens'.
A vaccine that contains a strain of flu virus which that could cause a pandemic. The mock-up procedure allows a vaccine to be developed in advance of a pandemic.
More information can be found under 'Vaccines for pandemic influenza'.
Techniques that use mathematical models to understand and predict the outcomes of interventions.
More information can be found under 'Methodologies and statistics'.
A procedure through which an authorisation of a medicine in one European Union Member State is recognised by another Member State.
For more information, see volume 2A: Procedures for marketing authorisation: Chapter 2: Mutual recognition.
An agreement between two regulatory agencies to recognise each other's regulatory assessments, inspections or reviews.