A Republican bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 18 cosponsors
Last activity — Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H535-536)
Introduced, nothing more yet
Formally proposed, and not yet handed to a committee.
Nearly every bill is sent to a committee within days. Introduction alone is not a sign of support, of momentum, or of any likelihood of passing — any member may introduce any bill.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "ORPHAN Cures Act," seeks to amend title XI of the Social Security Act. The primary goal is to expand and clarify how orphan drugs are excluded from the Drug Price Negotiation Program. It changes the definition of an orphan drug to include those used for one or more rare diseases or conditions. Additionally, it instructs the Secretary to exclude time from certain calculations if a drug was previously considered an orphan drug.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill benefits pharmaceutical companies by providing broader exclusions from price negotiations.
- Scored +2
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill's adjustments to the orphan drug status may encourage increased scientific focus on rare diseases.
- Scored +2
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Expanding the definition of orphan drugs may incentivize more research and availability for drugs treating multiple rare conditions.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -3
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?
The bill makes it harder to negotiate prices for drugs used for multiple rare diseases, which could keep costs higher.
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
By expanding the exclusion for orphan drugs from price negotiations, the bill limits the government's ability to negotiate lower prices for those drugs.
- Scored -2
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The expansion of orphan drug exclusions from the negotiation program reduces the leverage used to lower drug prices for consumers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Definition of Orphan Drugs: By changing the language to include "one or more rare diseases or conditions," the bill provides a broader definition for drugs used to treat rare conditions (Section 2, paragraph (2)(A)).
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Clarification of Time Calculations: The bill ensures that when calculating how much time has elapsed since a drug's approval, any period where the drug was an orphan drug is not taken into account (Section 2, paragraph (1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The expansion of orphan drug exclusions from the negotiation program reduces the leverage used to lower drug prices for consumers. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — By expanding the exclusion for orphan drugs from price negotiations, the bill limits the government's ability to negotiate lower prices for those drugs.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill's adjustments to the orphan drug status may encourage increased scientific focus on rare diseases.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill benefits pharmaceutical companies by providing broader exclusions from price negotiations. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Limiting the scope of price negotiations could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs for essential medications. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The exclusion of more drugs from price negotiations could contribute to higher healthcare costs for middle-income families.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Expanding the definition of orphan drugs may incentivize more research and availability for drugs treating multiple rare conditions. Does this put more money into medical research? — Broadening the orphan drug definition may encourage pharmaceutical investment in treating multiple rare diseases. Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — The bill makes it harder to negotiate prices for drugs used for multiple rare diseases, which could keep costs higher.
- 9/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/12/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/20/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 4/7/2025
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- 2/6/2025
- Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H535-536)
- 2/4/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
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.
Gus BilirakisRepublican · Florida
Janelle BynumDemocrat · Oregon
Robert BresnahanRepublican · Pennsylvania
Dan CrenshawRepublican · Texas
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Neal DunnRepublican · Florida
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Adam GrayDemocrat · California
Richard HudsonRepublican · North Carolina
Kevin HernRepublican · Oklahoma
William KeatingDemocrat · Massachusetts
Thomas KeanRepublican · New Jersey
Mariannette Miller-MeeksRepublican · Iowa
Scott PetersDemocrat · California
Lloyd SmuckerRepublican · Pennsylvania
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan