Grassley, Durbin, Tillis, Coons Introduce Legislation to Improve Coordination between Patent Office and FDA

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is partnering with Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) to introduce bipartisan legislation that would establish a task force between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve communication and coordination in implementing each agency’s activities related to patents. Currently, there is limited collaboration between USPTO and FDA, despite both agencies playing a role related to patents and competition. This legislation passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the 117^th Congress by voice vote.

 

“When government agencies fail to coordinate effectively, taxpayers are the ones who pay the price. The USPTO and the FDA would benefit from improved communication and cooperation. Our proposed task force will encourage enhanced collaboration between the agencies, in turn helping taxpayers by increasing competition and trimming bureaucratic red tape,” Grassley said.

 

“Establishing clear avenues for collaboration between USPTO and FDA is essential for both agencies to operate smoothly and do their jobs effectively,” Durbin said. “By incentivizing coordination, we can empower patent examiners and in turn boost competition, including for prescription drugs. Our government operates best when we work together, and I thank Senators Tillis, Coons, and Grassley for joining me in this bipartisan effort.”  

“By improving coordination between the USPTO and FDA, Congress will ensure that patent examiners have access to all of the relevant information that they need to help them make a sound determination regarding patentability,” Tillis said. “This bill is a simple good-government measure that will protect the strength of the patent system, improve patent quality, and cut down on unnecessary bureaucracy.”

“Improving communication between the FDA and the USPTO will help incentivize innovation and ensure our continued leadership on the global stage,” Coons said. “Fostering efficiency and reducing bureaucracy among these agencies will benefit consumers and manufacturers alike, and I’m proud to join a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in this effort. “

Given the shared interaction and overlapping jurisdiction between USPTO and FDA, this legislation promotes efficiency and good governance by fostering communication between the two agencies, while respecting their distinct purviews. Specifically, the task force created by this legislation would: enhance information sharing on each agency’s processes, standards, and methods; improve dialogue on new technologies and scientific trends; and enable confidential reciprocal access to information, if requested and only as needed, related to prior art, accurate representations by companies between the two agencies, and accuracy of patent listings.

 

This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by AARP and Patients for Affordable Drugs Now.