Quick Answer

Class 5 covers pharmaceuticals & medicines in India's Nice Classification trademark system. If your business operates in this space, Class 5 is your primary or an essential trademark class. Search your brand free at tmpublicsearch.com before filing.

What Does Class 5 Cover?

  • Pharmaceutical preparations and medicines (allopathic, Ayurvedic, Unani, Homoeopathic, Siddha)
  • Dietary supplements and nutraceuticals — vitamins, minerals, protein supplements
  • Veterinary medicines and preparations
  • Medical disinfectants, antiseptics, and sterilising agents
  • Medicated cosmetics and medicated skincare (with active pharmaceutical ingredients)
  • Sanitary preparations for medical purposes
  • Wound care products — medicated bandages, antiseptic creams
  • Baby food and infant formula (for health purposes)
  • Dental preparations — medicated toothpaste, antiseptic mouthwash

What Class 5 Does NOT Cover

  • Medical devices and instruments → Class 10
  • Non-medicated cosmetics → Class 3
  • Health services and hospital services → Class 44
  • Surgical instruments → Class 10

Who Needs to File in Class 5?

  • Pharmaceutical companies (allopathic, Ayurvedic, Unani, Homoeopathic)
  • Nutraceutical and supplement brands
  • Veterinary medicine companies
  • Hospital and clinic private label products
  • Health food companies with supplement lines

Indian Brand Examples — Class 5

BrandClass 5 Coverage
Dr Reddy'sPharmaceutical giant with hundreds of drug brand registrations in Class 5
Himalaya Drug CompanyAyurvedic and herbal medicine brand
CiplaMajor pharma with extensive Class 5 portfolio
PatanjaliAyurvedic products, Class 5 and Class 3
HealthKartNutrition supplement brand — Class 5

Filing Fees — Class 5

Applicant TypeE-filing fee
Individual / MSME / Startup₹4,500
Company / LLP / Partnership₹9,000
Filing Tip — Class 5

Class 5 trademark searches are particularly important — a confusingly similar drug name can not only cause legal disputes but also public health risks. The Trade Marks Registry and courts apply a higher standard of similarity when assessing pharmaceutical marks. Even slight phonetic similarity can lead to refusal.

Before filing in Class 5, run a thorough trademark public search. Use tmpublicsearch.com — select Class 5 in the class filter, enter your brand name, and review all existing registrations and applications.

Look for: identical marks, phonetically similar marks (marks that sound like yours), conceptually similar marks (marks with the same meaning), and marks in related classes that may cause confusion.

Class 5 Strategy

Filing in Class 5 protects your brand specifically for pharmaceuticals & medicines activities. If your business spans multiple activities, you may need additional classes. Book a free consultation — our IP attorneys will advise which classes you actually need.