Legis Daily

RARE Act

USA119th CongressS-3716| Senate 
| Updated: 1/28/2026
Tammy Baldwin

Tammy Baldwin

Democratic Senator

Wisconsin

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to modify the exclusive approval or licensure period for drugs designated for rare diseases or conditions. Currently, orphan drug exclusivity prevents other drugs from being approved for the same rare disease or condition for a period of seven years. The proposed changes narrow this exclusivity to apply only to the specific approved use or indication within that rare disease or condition. This means that a drug would only have exclusive marketing rights for the particular use it was approved for, rather than blocking other drugs for different uses within the same rare disease. These amendments are intended to apply retroactively to all designated and approved orphan drugs, potentially fostering greater competition and access to treatments for various indications of rare diseases.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4185
RARE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1214
RARE Act
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jan 28, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4185
    RARE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1214
    RARE Act


  • January 28, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 28, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Related Bills

  • S 119-891: Bipartisan Health Care Act
  • HR 119-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act

RARE Act

USA119th CongressS-3716| Senate 
| Updated: 1/28/2026
This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to modify the exclusive approval or licensure period for drugs designated for rare diseases or conditions. Currently, orphan drug exclusivity prevents other drugs from being approved for the same rare disease or condition for a period of seven years. The proposed changes narrow this exclusivity to apply only to the specific approved use or indication within that rare disease or condition. This means that a drug would only have exclusive marketing rights for the particular use it was approved for, rather than blocking other drugs for different uses within the same rare disease. These amendments are intended to apply retroactively to all designated and approved orphan drugs, potentially fostering greater competition and access to treatments for various indications of rare diseases.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4185
RARE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-1214
RARE Act
Jan 28, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jan 28, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4185
    RARE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-1214
    RARE Act


  • January 28, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 28, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Tammy Baldwin

Tammy Baldwin

Democratic Senator

Wisconsin

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Related Bills

  • S 119-891: Bipartisan Health Care Act
  • HR 119-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted