Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act

Progress

Timeline

• Mar 19Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.

Summary

**Medication Affordability and Patent Integrity Act (S 2658)** This bill aims to lower prescription drug costs by addressing how pharmaceutical companies use patents to maintain high prices. **What it does:** - Prevents drug companies from filing multiple, overlapping patents on the same medication to extend their monopoly beyond the original patent period - Allows generic drug makers to challenge certain patents more easily - Creates penalties for pharmaceutical companies that abuse the patent system **Who it affects:** - Patients who need prescription medications - Generic drug manufacturers - Brand-name pharmaceutical companies - Health insurance companies and government health programs **What would change:** - Generic versions of medications could potentially reach the market sooner - Prescription drug prices could decrease due to increased competition - Pharmaceutical companies would have less ability to delay generic competition through patent manipulation The bill is currently under review in congressional committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.

How This Affects You