S. 1414

Official summary (Congressional Research Service, Reported to Senate): Expedited Access to Biosimilars Act

This bill modifies statutory requirements for demonstrating that a proposed biological product (e.g., a drug or vaccine) is biosimilar to a reference (brand-name) product. Specifically, the bill eliminates the need for a clinical efficacy study unless the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines such a study is necessary.

Under current law, applicants seeking FDA approval of a proposed biosimilar must submit certain studies and assessments, including a clinical efficacy study demonstrating the safety, purity, and potency of the proposed biosimilar in relevant conditions of use. However, the FDA has discretion not to require studies and assessments it deems unnecessary. (For example, the FDA released draft guidance in October 2025 indicating that clinical efficacy studies may be unnecessary for a class of proposed biosimilars, known as therapeutic protein products, in some circumstances.)

The bill generally eliminates the requirement that a biosimilar applicant submit a clinical efficacy study but authorizes the FDA to require such a study if necessary. If requiring a clinical efficacy study, the FDA must provide a written determination of necessity to the applicant within a specified period.

Separately, the bill eliminates a requirement that a biosimilar application be reviewed by the same FDA division responsible for review of the reference application.