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Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2019

Introduced: May 9, 2019 Introduced by: Cornyn, John Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 28, 2019
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 132.
Jun 28, 2019
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jun 27, 2019
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
May 9, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 9, 2019
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2019

This bill prohibits product hopping by drug manufacturers. Product hopping is presumed when a drug manufacturer engages is a hard switch or a soft switch. A hard switch occurs when, after a manufacturer receives notice of an application for a generic drugs, either, (1) the manufacturer obtains removal of a drug from the Food and Drug Administration’s approved drug list or the drug is moved to the discontinued products list, and the manufacturer markets or sells a follow-on product; or (2) a manufacturer announces the withdrawal or discontinuance of a listed drug, or the manufacturer destroys the inventory of a listed drug in a manner that impedes generic drug competitors, and the manufacturer markets or sells a follow-on product. A follow-on product is a changed, modified, or reformulated version of a manufacturer’s already-approved drug or biological product that still treats the same medical condition.

A soft switch occurs when a manufacturer receives notice of an application for a generic drugs, takes other actions that impede generic drug competitors, and the manufacturer markets or sells a follow-on product.

A drug manufacturer may rebut a presumption of product hopping by demonstrating that its conduct was not intended to limit competition.

This bill also limits the number of patents that may be included in infringement claims brought by approved biological product license holders against applicants for a biosimilar product license.

What's happening now June 28, 2019

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 132.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • HR 3991 Related bill Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Improvements to Patent Litigation Act of 2019
  • HR 4398 Related bill Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Promoting Competition Act of 2019
  • HR 5133 Related bill Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Through Promoting Competition Act of 2019
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 12
All 12 Democratic 5 Republican 5 Independent 1
R
Fischer, Deb
Nebraska · Nov 13, 2019
McSally, Martha
· Nov 13, 2019
 D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Sep 25, 2019
 D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Sep 12, 2019
 I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Jul 24, 2019
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jun 26, 2019
 R
Hawley, Josh
Missouri · Jun 4, 2019
 R
Kennedy, John
Louisiana · Jun 3, 2019
 R
Scott, Rick
Florida · Jun 3, 2019
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · May 22, 2019
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · May 15, 2019
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · May 9, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1416: Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1416/
MLA
"S. 1416: Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1416/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1416, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1416/.
Markdown link
[S. 1416: Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-1416/)
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