HouseH.R. 9661119th Congress

Expedited Access to Biosimilars Act

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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9661 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9661

   To amend the Public Health Service Act to codify that the default 
expectation for licensure of biological products as biosimilar does not 
  include clinical studies assessing pharmacodynamics or comparative 
               clinical efficacy, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 14, 2026

 Mr. Langworthy (for himself and Ms. Schrier) introduced the following 
    bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To amend the Public Health Service Act to codify that the default 
expectation for licensure of biological products as biosimilar does not 
  include clinical studies assessing pharmacodynamics or comparative 
               clinical efficacy, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Expedited Access to Biosimilars 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACODYNAMICS OR EFFICACY IN CLINICAL STUDIES 
              REQUIRED FOR LICENSURE OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS AS 
              BIOSIMILAR.

    (a) In General.--Section 351(k)(2)(A) of the Public Health Service 
Act (42 U.S.C. 262(k)(2)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (i)(I)--
                    (A) in item (bb)--
                            (i) by striking ``item (aa) or (cc)'' and 
                        inserting ``item (aa), (cc), or (dd)''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``and'' at the end; and
                    (B) by striking item (cc) and inserting the 
                following:
                                            ``(cc) an assessment of 
                                        pharmacokinetics and 
                                        immunogenicity (which may rely 
                                        on, or consist of, a clinical 
                                        pharmacokinetics study or 
                                        studies or a study or studies 
                                        described in item (aa) or (dd), 
                                        as appropriate); and
                                            ``(dd) subject to clause 
                                        (iv), an additional clinical 
                                        study or studies in 1 or more 
                                        appropriate conditions of use 
                                        for which the reference product 
                                        is licensed and intended to be 
                                        used and for which licensure is 
                                        sought for the biological 
                                        product;''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iv) Limitation on requiring additional 
                        clinical study or studies.--The Secretary may 
                        only require an additional clinical study or 
                        studies described in clause (i)(I)(dd), 
                        including a study or studies that include an 
                        assessment of pharmacodynamics or efficacy, if 
                        the Secretary determines that such study or 
                        studies are necessary, in combination with the 
                        other studies described in clause (i)(I), to 
                        demonstrate biosimilarity and provides written 
                        notice of such determination to the sponsor of 
                        the proposed biosimilar biological product. 
                        Such written notice shall be provided not later 
                        than--
                                    ``(I) the date on which the 
                                Secretary grants a request for a 
                                biosimilar biological product 
                                development meeting from such sponsor, 
                                unless the Secretary describes in 
                                writing why an assessment of the need 
                                for such study or studies cannot be 
                                made at that time; or
                                    ``(II) if no request for a 
                                biosimilar biological product 
                                development meeting is submitted or if 
                                the Secretary was unable to make the 
                                assessment under subclause (I), the 
                                date that is 60 days after the date of 
                                the submission of an application under 
                                this subsection.''.
    (b) Repeal of Requirement Relating To Conduct of Reviews.--Section 
351(k)(5) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(k)(5)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraph (B); and
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B).
    (c) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply with respect to an application submitted under section 351(k) of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262(k)) on or after the date 
of enactment of this Act.
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