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# Bill Introduced to Reduce Biologic Exclusivity to 7 Years
- URL: https://www.fdaweb.com/bill-introduced-to-reduce-biologic-exclusivity-to-7-years/
- Published: 2016-06-24T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-14T21:11:49.000Z
- Author: David McFarland
- Tags: Biologics, #legacy-id-D5136042

Rep. **Jan Schakowsky** (D-IL) and Sens. **Sherrod Brow**n (D-OH) and **John McCain** (R-AZ) have introduced the “[Price Relief, Innovation and Competition for Essential Drugs (PRICED) Act](https://schakowsky.house.gov/press-releases/schakowsky-brown-mccain-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-lower-costs-of-lifesaving-drugs/?ref=fdaweb.com)” that they say would foster competition and provide opportunity for more biologics to enter the marketplace and drive down costs. “In the same way the entrance of generics helped increase competition and boost access to more affordable prescription drugs, an increased number of biologics and equally effective ‘biosimilars’ will provide additional competition in the marketplace and make life-saving drugs more affordable for consumers,” they say. The t[wo-page bill](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5573?ref=fdaweb.com) essentially would reduce the exclusivity period for biologics from 12 years to seven.

“Across the country the American people are struggling to deal with astronomical prescription drug costs for life-saving medicines,” says Schakowsky. “Nowhere are those costs more excessive than for biologic drugs. These drugs already come to market at very high prices, yet the manufacturers often increase the prices every year. In fact, Gleevec, that is used to treat cancer, came to market at a cost of $26,400 in 2001, but today it has an annual price tag of $120,000.” According to HHS, reducing the exclusivity period would save taxpayers nearly $7 billion over the next 10 years, Schakowsky says.