Senate bill · S. 1041 (119th Congress)

Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act

U.S. Senate

Latest action Jul 21, 2026

Sponsor: John Cornyn (U.S. Senator for Texas, Republican)

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From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Sep 23, 2026. About our data

Summary

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.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

Committee

House Committee on the Judiciary · U.S. House of Representatives

Also referred to Senate Committee on the Judiciary · U.S. Senate.

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Cosponsors

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Democratic1
Republican1

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Full history

Jul 21, 2026
Introduced
Held at the desk.
U.S. Senate
Jul 21, 2026
Held at the desk.
Jul 21, 2026
Held at the desk.
Jul 21, 2026
Message on Senate Action Sent to the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
U.S. Senate
Jul 21, 2026
Passed a chamber
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4198-4199; text: CR S4199)
U.S. Senate

Show full history (9 earlier events)

Jul 21, 2026
Sent to the executive
Received in the House.
U.S. House of Representatives
Apr 10, 2025
Reported out of committee
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report.
Apr 10, 2025
Reported out of committee
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Grassley with amendments. Without written report.
Apr 10, 2025
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar Under General Orders. Calendar No. 44.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 44.
U.S. Senate
Apr 3, 2025
Reported out of committee
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Apr 3, 2025
Reported out of committee
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate
Mar 13, 2025
Referred to committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 13, 2025
Referred to committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Read the record

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