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H.R. 6485
U.S. House•In House Committee
Summary
H.R. 6485, the Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act, was introduced in the House on Dec 5, 2025 by Rep. Ben Cline (R) with 6 co-sponsors. It was referred to Judiciary, and last saw action on Dec 5, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Record
Text
H.R. 6485 has 6 co-sponsors.
hb6485/introduced-in-house.txt119 HR 6485 IH: Skinny Labels, Big Savings ActU.S. House of Representatives2025-12-05text/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 6485 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 5, 2025 Mr. Cline (for himself and Ms. Lofgren ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILLTo amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for a safe harbor from infringement of a method of use patent relating to drugs or biological products.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act .2.Safe harbor from infringement of a method of use patent(a)In generalSection 271 of title 35, United States Code, is amended—(1)by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and(2)by inserting after subsection (g) the following:(h)(1)The following shall not be acts of direct, induced, or contributory infringement of a method of use claim in a patent included in the list described in section 505(j)(7) or section 512(n)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(j)(7) , 360b(n)(4)) in an action or counterclaim under this section:(A)Submitting or seeking approval of an application under section 505(j) or section 512(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(j) , 360b(b)(2)), or submitting or seeking approval of an application described in section 505(b)(2) of such Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(b)(2) ), provided that such application includes a statement under, as applicable, section 505(j)(2)(A)(viii), section 512(n)(1)(I), or section 505(b)(2)(B) of such Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(j)(2)(A)(viii) , 360b(n)(1)(I), 355(b)(2)(B)) for the method of use claims in the patent with the labeling proposed in such application.(B)Promoting or commercially marketing a drug product with the labeling approved in an application described in subparagraph (A).(C)Describing a drug product approved in an application submitted under section 505(j) or section 512(b)(2) of such Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(j) , 360b(b)(2)) or approved in an application described in section 505(b)(2) of such Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(b)(2) ) as a generic of, or therapeutically equivalent to, the listed drug referenced in such application, as applicable.(2)Subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1) shall apply only if the labeling, promotion, or commercial marketing does not reference the condition or conditions of use claimed in the patent that was identified by the patent owner or assignee to the Secretary under section 314.53 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation) and that was subject to the statement under section 505(j)(2)(A)(viii), section 512(n)(1)(I), or section 505(b)(2)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 355(j)(2)(A)(viii) , 360b(n)(1)(I), 355(b)(2)(B)), as applicable.(i)(1)The following shall not be acts of direct, induced, or contributory infringement of a patent claim covering a method of using the reference product in an action or counterclaim under this section:(A)Submitting or seeking approval of an application under section 351(k) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 262(k) ).(B)Describing a biological product approved in an application described in subparagraph (A) as biosimilar to, or interchangeable with, the reference product, as applicable, with the labeling approved in such application, when the biological product has not been approved for the patented condition or conditions of use.(C)Promoting or commercially marketing a biological product with the labeling approved in an application described in subparagraph (A).(2)Subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1) shall apply only if the labeling, promotion, or commercial marketing does not reference the condition or conditions of use claimed in the patent and specifically reflected in the prescribing information.(j)As used in this section:(1)The terms biological product , biosimilar , interchangeable , and reference product have the meanings given such terms in section 351(i) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 262(i) ).(2)The term commercial marketing has the meaning given such term in section 314.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).(3)The term labeling has the meaning given such term in section 201(m) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ( 21 U.S.C. 321(m) ).(4)The term promoting —(A)is within the meaning of the term used in section 202.1 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation); and(B)includes the use of promotional labeling and advertising, as described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 202.1(l) of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations)..(b)ApplicationThis Act and the amendments made by this Act shall apply to—(1)conduct that occurs before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act; and(2)all judicial or other proceedings pending as of such date of enactment.
Tracker
The tracker indicates the progress of this legislation as it moves through the legislative process.
- Introduced2025-12-05
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Conference
- To President
- Became Law
CRS Summary
The summaries are the Congressional Research Service’s, one per stage. Read them in full.
Introduced in House Dec 5, 2025
hb6485/introduced-in-house.mdShown Here:
Introduced in House (12/05/2025)
Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act
This bill provides a statutory safe harbor from patent infringement claims for generic or biosimilar manufacturers that seek or obtain approval for skinny labels of their drugs.
Under current law, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may approve generic and biosimilar drugs through a process known as skinny labeling, which allows a generic manufacturer to seek approval only for approved uses of the drug that are no longer protected by patents. However, in GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., a court held that a generic manufacturer may sometimes be liable for patent infringement when it markets skinny label generics.
The bill specifically lists the following as actions that are not considered infringement of a method of use claim in a patent under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act:
- submitting or seeking approval of a skinny label for a generic or biosimilar drug;
- promoting or commercially marketing a drug with skinny labeling approved by the FDA; or
- describing a drug product approved by the FDA as a generic of, or therapeutically equivalent to, the branded drug.
The bill also applies the safe harbor to similar actions under the Public Health Service Act.
Sponsors
Rep. Ben Cline (R) sponsors H.R. 6485, and 6 members have co-sponsored it, 1 of them from the day it was introduced.

Rep. · R–VA-6 · Sponsor
Introduced Dec 5, 2025

Rep. · D–CA-18 · Co-sponsor
Joined Dec 5, 2025 · Original

Rep. · R–VA-2 · Co-sponsor
Joined Apr 20, 2026

Rep. · D–NY-3 · Co-sponsor
Joined Apr 20, 2026

Rep. · R–TX-11 · Co-sponsor
Joined May 19, 2026

Rep. · R–WI-6 · Co-sponsor
Joined Jun 15, 2026

Rep. · D–MN-2 · Co-sponsor
Joined Jun 23, 2026
Committees
H.R. 6485 went before 1 committee: Judiciary.
Actions
H.R. 6485 has taken 2 actions since Dec 5, 2025.
| Chamber | Action | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec 5, 2025 | House | Introduced in House | ||
Dec 5, 2025 | House | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.Judiciary Committee |
Votes
H.R. 6485 has not gone to a roll call.
Related bills
1 bill is related to H.R. 6485, as Identical bill.
Titles
H.R. 6485 goes by 3 titles, 1 of them short titles.
- Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act — Display Title
- Skinny Labels, Big Savings Act — Short Title(s) as Introduced
- To amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for a safe harbor from infringement of a method of use patent relating to drugs or biological products. — Official Title as Introduced
Lobbying
18 clients hired 18 firms and 126 registered lobbyists who named H.R. 6485 in 34 quarterly filings, 2025 to 2026. Reported under the Lobbying Disclosure Act; a filing’s income covers everything its registrant worked that quarter, so the amounts below are the filings’, not this bill’s.
Filed under Copyright/Patent/Trademark, Medicare/Medicaid, Health Issues, Trade (domestic/foreign), Pharmacy, Budget/Appropriations, Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs.
Clients
Who paid to be heard, by how many filings named the bill.
Firms
Registrants who filed on the bill, by filings.
Lobbyists
Named on the filings that cite the bill. The 20 named most often, of 126.
| Lobbyist | Firms | Clients | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIKEN HACKETT | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| AMBER MANKO | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| BAILEY MCCUE | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| BART FORSYTH | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| BRENTON FISK | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| CATHERINE DOUGLAS | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| CHAD PETTIT | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| CHASE THOMAS | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| CHRIS JONES | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| DAVID KORN | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| DAVID LACHMANN | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| ELENORA CONNORS | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| ELISABETH FOX | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| EMILY ACKER | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| EMILY WHEELER | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| ERIK KOMENDANT | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| FABIAN LUCERO | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| GREGORY PORTNER | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| HARMEET DHILLON | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| HELEN RHEE | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Filings
The documents themselves, on the Senate’s Lobbying Disclosure site, largest reported first.
| Client | Registrant | Period | Reported | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA | PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA | 2026 first_quarter | $12.2M | 1st Quarter - Report |
| PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA | PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA | 2025 fourth_quarter | $8.4M | 4th Quarter - Report |
| PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA | PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA | 2026 second_quarter | $7.4M | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| AMGEN INC | AMGEN, INC. | 2025 fourth_quarter | $3.6M | 4th Quarter - Report |
| AMGEN INC | AMGEN, INC. | 2026 first_quarter | $2.6M | 1st Quarter - Report |
| AMGEN INC | AMGEN, INC. | 2026 second_quarter | $2.4M | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION | BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION | 2026 second_quarter | $2.4M | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| GSK (FKA GLAXOSMITHKLINE INC.) | GSK (FKA GLAXOSMITHKLINE INC.) | 2026 first_quarter | $1.6M | 1st Quarter - Report |
| BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION | BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION | 2026 first_quarter | $1.6M | 1st Quarter - Report |
| BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION | BIOTECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ORGANIZATION | 2025 fourth_quarter | $1.5M | 4th Quarter - Report |
| ASSOCIATION FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES | ASSOCIATION FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES | 2025 fourth_quarter | $1.2M | 4th Quarter - Report |
| BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION | BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION | 2026 second_quarter | $990K | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| GSK (FKA GLAXOSMITHKLINE INC.) | GSK (FKA GLAXOSMITHKLINE INC.) | 2026 second_quarter | $890K | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| ASSOCIATION FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES | ASSOCIATION FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES | 2026 second_quarter | $870K | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| ASSOCIATION FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES | ASSOCIATION FOR ACCESSIBLE MEDICINES | 2026 first_quarter | $840K | 1st Quarter - Report |
| GSK (FKA GLAXOSMITHKLINE INC.) | GSK (FKA GLAXOSMITHKLINE INC.) | 2025 fourth_quarter | $810K | 4th Quarter - Report |
| APOTEX CORP. | APOTEX CORP. | 2026 second_quarter | $730K | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| APOTEX CORP. | APOTEX CORP. | 2026 first_quarter | $730K | 1st Quarter - Report |
| BLOOD CANCER UNITED (FKA THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY) | BLOOD CANCER UNITED (FKA THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY) | 2026 second_quarter | $590K | 2nd Quarter - Report |
| PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH & MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA INC | COVINGTON & BURLING LLP | 2026 first_quarter | $450K | 1st Quarter - Report |
Classification
The Congressional Research Service files H.R. 6485 under Commerce, one of its 31 policy areas.
CRS Subjects
CRS assigns every bill one policy area from its 31; H.R. 6485’s is Commerce.
hr6485/policy-areas.txtConstitutional authority
The clause the sponsor cites as Congress’s power to enact H.R. 6485, as entered in the Congressional Record.
[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 204 (Friday, December 5, 2025)][House]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. CLINE:H.R. 6485.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.[Page H5057]
Source: congress.gov · legiscan.com
