S. 2305 · 118th Congress
Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 118th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
This bill removes certain requirements for biosimilars to be designated as interchangeable. (Biosimilars that are designated as interchangeable may be substituted for the reference product at a pharmacy without a new prescription, depending on state pharmacy laws.)
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Jul 13, 2023
Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act
This bill removes certain requirements for biosimilars to be designated as interchangeable. (Biosimilars that are designated as interchangeable may be substituted for the reference product at a pharmacy without a new prescription, depending on state pharmacy laws.)
Specifically, the bill establishes a presumption that an approved biosimilar is interchangeable with the reference product without the need for additional evidence from the manufacturer, and it removes the applicable exclusivity periods for a first interchangeable biosimilar (i.e., a product that is the first interchangeable biosimilar to be approved with respect to the reference product).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may require a manufacturer of a biosimilar to conduct a safety study with respect to switching or alternating between the biosimilar and the reference product, but only after the FDA briefs certain members of specified congressional committees to explain why the study is necessary.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act
Latest action (Jul 13, 2023): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Policy area: Health · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Jul 13, 2023
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.