S. 1214 · 118th Congress · Senate

RARE Act

Active· Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 109.
Introduced
Apr 19, 23
Passed Senate
Pending
Passed House
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Retaining Access and Restoring Exclusivity Act or the RARE Act

This bill specifies that the seven-year market exclusivity period for drugs for rare diseases or conditions (i.e., orphan drug exclusivity period) prohibits the approval of the same drug for the same approved use or indication with respect to the disease or condition.

Current law grants a seven-year period of market exclusivity for an approved orphan drug, during which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may not approve an application from another manufacturer for the same drug for the same disease or condition. The FDA's regulations provide that this exclusivity is specific to the same approved use or indication of the drug, rather than all uses or indications, for the disease or condition. However, in Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Becerra, a court held that exclusivity did extend to all uses or indications for the disease or condition.

The bill provides statutory authority for the FDA's regulations.

Previous Versions

00Apr 19, 2023

Retaining Access and Restoring Exclusivity Act or the RARE Act

This bill specifies that the seven-year market exclusivity period for drugs for rare diseases or conditions (i.e., orphan drug exclusivity period) prohibits the approval of the same drug for the same approved use or indication with respect to the disease or condition.

Current law grants a seven-year period of market exclusivity for an approved orphan drug, during which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may not approve an application from another manufacturer for the same drug for the same disease or condition. The FDA's regulations provide that this exclusivity is specific to the same approved use or indication of the drug, rather than all uses or indications, for the disease or condition. However, in Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Becerra, a court held that exclusivity did extend to all uses or indications for the disease or condition.

The bill provides statutory authority for the FDA's regulations.

Action Timeline

6
  1. JUN 22, 2023Committee

    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

    Reported by Senator Sanders without amendment. Without written report.

  2. JUN 22, 2023Committee

    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

    Reported by Senator Sanders without amendment. Without written report.

  3. JUN 22, 2023Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 109.

  4. MAY 11, 2023Committee

    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

    Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  5. APR 19, 2023IntroReferral

    Introduced in Senate

  6. APR 19, 2023IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Committees

3

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

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Referred: Jun 22, 2023

Active

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

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Referred: May 11, 2023

Active

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

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Referred: Apr 19, 2023

Active