The record

LegislationLegislation· Jul 2026
S 1041 Passed Senate — in House

Sponsored by John Cornyn (R)

Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act

Limits patents drug makers can assert against biosimilar competitors to 20 total, with 10 cap after four years.

Tradeoff

Makes it cheaper to challenge brand-name biologic drugs with generic alternatives. Reduces patent leverage for the original drug maker in infringement lawsuits.

What's in it

See official bill text

Passed the Senate by on July 21, 2026 — now in the House.

  1. Senate

    Introduced

    (Mar 13, 2025)

  2. Senate

    Committee on the Judiciary(Mar 13, 2025)

  3. Senate

    The Committee on the Judiciary voted to send it to the floor

    Reported(Apr 3, 2025)

  4. Senate

    Passage of the bill

    Passed by (Jul 21, 2026)

    No individual votes were recorded.

  5. House

    Received from the Senate

    Received(Jul 21, 2026)