To address patent thickets.

This bill limits the number of patents that can be asserted in a single infringement action against certain drug and biological product applicants or makers. It amends patent law to restrict patent holders to asserting no more than one patent per Patent Group in such actions, and bars them from bringing additional actions asserting other patents from the same Patent Group against the same party.

Section 1, Addressing patent thickets: The bill adds a new paragraph to patent law stating that a person suing for patent infringement against a party that submitted an application for a drug under FDA section 505(b)(2) or (j), or for a biological product under Public Health Service Act section 351(k), or that makes or sells such approved drugs or licensed biological products, may assert no more than one patent per Patent Group in that action. The same person cannot bring any other infringement action asserting a patent from the same Patent Group against that party. A Patent Group is defined as two or more commonly owned patents or applications that are linked by disclaimers filed to avoid obviousness-type double patenting.