WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced two bipartisan bills supported by P4ADNow that would increase competition and help lower prescription drug costs:
- The Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act (H.R. 5526), which would codify existing FDA guidance on interchangeability and remove requirements for separate “switching studies” to prove interchangeability — cutting unnecessary regulatory red tape that delays lower-cost biosimilars from coming to market.
- The Stop GAMES Act (H.R. 8908), which would curb pharmaceutical companies’ abuse of citizen petitions by allowing the FDA to reject petitions filed solely with the purpose of delaying competition and keeping lower-cost alternatives off the market.
Both bills were added to the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 9393), which the committee unanimously passed during today’s markup. Last month, the Senate version of the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act also advanced through the Senate HELP Committee.
In response, P4ADNow CEO Merith Basey released the following statement:
“Drug companies systematically game the patent system to delay lower-cost alternatives from coming to market, keeping prices high for patients. Today’s bipartisan vote is an important step toward increasing competition in the marketplace. We’re especially encouraged to see the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act advance through committee in both chambers, bringing this bipartisan reform one step closer to becoming law.
We urge Congress to swiftly pass these reforms so patients can benefit from lower-cost competition.”
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Patients For Affordable Drugs Now is the only national, patient advocacy organization focused exclusively on policies to lower drug prices. We empower and mobilize patients and allies, hold accountable those in power, and fight to shape and achieve system-changing policies that make prescription drugs affordable for all people in the United States. P4ADNow is bipartisan and does not accept funding from organizations that profit from the development or distribution of prescription drugs. To learn more, visit: PatientsForAffordableDrugsNOW.org