Bill · S. 1862· Senate(119-S-1862)
ORPHAN Cures Act
- Introduced
- 5/22/2025
- Last activity
- 5/22/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S3119)
- Sponsored by
- John Barrasso
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "ORPHAN Cures Act," aims to amend the Social Security Act regarding the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It specifically focuses on expanding and clarifying how orphan drugs are treated under the program. The legislation changes how time is calculated for drugs that were previously classified as orphan drugs. It also modifies the language regarding rare diseases or conditions to allow for more than one.
Yes
Would business owners be better off under this?+5
The bill provides increased clarity and protection for pharmaceutical companies developing orphan drugs.
The opposite
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?-3
By expanding exclusions for orphan drugs from price negotiations, the bill may slow the reduction of prescription drug costs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Extended protection for former orphan drugs: By ensuring the Secretary does not take into account the time a drug spent as an orphan drug when calculating elapsed time, this provision provides specific treatment for those products under Section 2, paragraph (1).
-
Expanded scope for rare diseases: The bill changes the language from "only one rare disease or condition" to "one or more rare diseases or conditions," which broadらs the definition under Section 2, paragraph (2)(A).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text: The provided document focuses on the expansion and clarification of exclusions rather than listing burdens or negative consequences.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+5
- Healthcare
- Reduces Prescription Drug Costs-3
- 5/22/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text: CR S3119)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico