Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act
U.S. Congress · S1041 ·
Progression
Timing in context
Primary sponsor's contributions received (same period)
Adjacency in time is shown for context; it is not evidence of cause. Funded ≠ false — see the methodology.
What the bill says
Introduced 2025-03-13. Latest action: Held at the desk.
Summary (plain-language)
Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act This bill limits in certain instances the number of patents that the manufacturer of a biologic drug can assert in a lawsuit against a company seeking to sell a biosimilar version of that drug. (A biologic drug is produced through natural processes or isolated from natural sources. A biosimilar version is substantially similar to the original biologic, which is the reference product, and is often marketed as a less expensive alternative.) The bill's provisions apply to an existing framework that gives the biosimilar manufacturer an abbreviated path to Food and Drug Administration approval to sell the biosimilar. Specifically, if the biosimilar manufacturer completes certain actions under the framework, such as sharing certain information about its product with the reference product manufacturer, the bill limits the number of certain patents that the reference product manufacturer may assert in a lawsuit, such as patents that were filed more than four years after the reference product received market approval. The limit shall not apply to patents claiming certain methods for using the biologic drug. The court in which the infringement lawsuit is filed may increase the limit if justice so requires or if there is good cause for the increase.
Sponsors
Text versions
What analysts say
No nonpartisan analysis on file for this measure yet.
What politicians say
No linked claims or utterances yet — no one on record has cited this measure to justify a public argument.
Action History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2026-07-21 | Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. |
| 2026-07-21 | Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4198-4199; text: CR S4199) |
| 2026-07-21 | Message on Senate action sent to the House. |
| 2026-07-21 | Received in the House. |
| 2026-07-21 | Held at the desk. |
| 2025-04-10 | Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report. |
| 2025-04-10 | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 44. |
| 2025-04-03 | Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably. |
| 2025-03-13 | Introduced in Senate |
| 2025-03-13 | Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. |