S 1041 United States Senate · 119th Congress

Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act

This bill limits how many patents brand-name drug companies can use to block generic versions of biological drugs (biologics). It caps the number of patents a brand company can assert in lawsuits against generic manufacturers at 20, with no more than 10 being patents issued after a specified date. Courts may allow more patents only in specific cases, such as if the generic company fails to provide required information or if there are material changes to the product. The law applies to new applications submitted after enactment and aims to reduce patent-related delays for cheaper generic biologics.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Jul 2026

House Passage

President

Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Last action Jul 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in Senate → Engrossed in Senate · 4 edits · Jul 21, 2026

MODERATE

The Engrossed version makes several technical corrections to cross-references and citations in the patent infringement section, including fixing a typo in a U.S.C. citation and clarifying references to Public Health Service Act sections. The most notable change is the removal of 'Medicare Improvement Fund' from the Section 2 heading, suggesting that funding-related provisions were reorganized or moved to a different section of the bill.

TECHNICAL

Section 2 heading changed from 'Patent infringement; Medicare Improvement Fund' to 'Patent infringement,' removing the reference to the Medicare Improvement Fund from this section's title, likely because those provisions were relocated within the bill.

Cross-reference in paragraph (1) corrected from 'clause (ii)' to 'subparagraph (C)(ii)' for more precise citation of the relevant provision.

Typo fix: '42 U.S.C.' corrected to '42. U.S.C.' in a statutory citation within the good cause provision.

Reference to 'section 351(l)(7)(A) of Public Health Service Act' corrected to 'section 351(l)(7) of the Public Health Service Act,' removing the '(A)' designation and adding the article 'the.'

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jul 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4198-4199; text: CR S4199)

upper

Jul 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report.

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors