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Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act

Star Print ordered on S. 623.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 15, 2007

Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a process for the approval of an abbreviated biological product application for products that contain the same or similar active ingredients as a previously licensed biological product (the reference product). Allows a person to file an abbreviated biological product application with the Secretary of Health and Human Services that includes: (1) data demonstrating that the product is comparable to or interchangeable with the reference product; (2) information to show that the conditions or conditions of use prescribed, recommended, or suggested in the labeling proposed for the biological product have been previously approved for the reference product; and (3) information to show that the route of administration, the dosage form, and the strength of the biological product are the same as those of the reference product.

Sets forth conditions for approval of such an application by the Secretary.

Allows an applicant to request that the Secretary make a determination as to the interchangeability of a comparable product and the reference product based on whether a product can be expected to produce the same clinical result as the reference product in any given patient. Provides market exclusivity to such an interchangeable product. Requires the Secretary to defer issuing a determination of interchangeability for a subsequent comparable biological product during the period of market exclusivity for a prior interchangeable comparable biological product.

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Requires the Secretary to establish requirements for the efficient review, approval, suspension, and revocation of comparable biological product applications.

Sets forth provisions governing patent infringement claims against an applicant or prospective applicant for a comparable biological product license.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
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Who introduced it

Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] · D–NY

Committees

  • Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
7 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Star Print ordered on S. 623.

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2054-2058)

  3. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2053-2054)

  4. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.623 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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