GeneDx Holdings Corp

Except for as set forth below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our 2023 Form 10-K and in Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of each of our Quarterly Reports for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2024, and June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on July 30, 2024, which sections are incorporated by reference herein.

Changes in FDA enforcement discretion for laboratory developed tests (“LDTs”) could subject our operations to much more significant regulatory requirements.

We currently offer an LDT version of certain tests. Historically, the FDA has exercised a policy of enforcement discretion with respect to most LDTs, whereby the FDA did not actively enforce its medical device regulatory requirements for such tests. However, at various points in recent years, FDA has indicated that it intends to end enforcement discretion for many tests offered as LDTs, and to require such tests to comply with certain FDA regulatory requirements. The FDA Commissioner and the Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (“CDRH”) have expressed significant concerns regarding performance disparities between some LDTs and in vitro diagnostics that have been reviewed, cleared, authorized or approved by the FDA.

Most recently, on April 29, 2024, the FDA published a final rule on LDTs, in which FDA outlines its plans to end enforcement discretion for many LDTs in five stages over a four-year period. In Phase 1 (effective May 6, 2025), clinical laboratories would be required to comply with medical device (adverse event) reporting, correction/removal reporting, and certain quality systems complaint handling requirements. In Phase 2 (effective May 6, 2026), clinical laboratories would be required to comply with all other device requirements (e.g., registration/listing, labeling, investigational use), except for remaining quality systems requirements and premarket review. In Phase 3 (effective May 6, 2027), clinical laboratories would be required to comply with all remaining applicable quality systems requirements. In Phase 4 (effective November 6, 2027), clinical laboratories would be required to comply with premarket submission requirements for high-risk tests (i.e., tests subject to premarket approval (PMA) requirement). Finally, in Phase 5 (effective May 6, 2028), clinical laboratories would be required comply with premarket submission requirements for moderate- and low-risk tests (i.e., tests subject to de novo or 510(k) requirement). The final rule potentially extends enforcement discretion for certain tests – e.g., LDTs approved by the New York State Department of Health, and LDTs first marketed prior to May 6, 2024 which are not modified or are modified in certain limited ways – from certain FDA regulatory requirements, provided certain important limitations have been met. We are actively reviewing the final rule to evaluate its applicability to our operations, and the extent to which we may be required to modify our operations to comply with its requirements.

Multiple lawsuits have been filed challenging the FDA’s authority to regulate LDTs as medical devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The outcome of these lawsuits is uncertain at this time.

If the FDA were to determine that certain tests offered by us as LDTs are no longer eligible for enforcement discretion for any reason, including new rules, policies or guidance, or due to changes in statute, our tests may become subject to extensive FDA requirements or our business may otherwise be adversely affected. If the FDA were to actively regulate our LDTs, we could experience reduced revenue or increased costs, which could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. If required, the regulatory marketing authorization process required to bring our current or future LDTs into compliance may involve, among other things, successfully completing additional clinical validations and submitting to and obtaining clearance from the FDA for a premarket clearance (510(k)) submission or authorization for a de novo submission or approval of a premarket approval application. Furthermore, pending legislative proposals, if enacted, such as the VALID Act, could create new or different regulatory and compliance burdens on us and could have a negative effect on our ability to keep products on the market or develop new products, which could have a material effect on our business. In the event that the FDA requires marketing authorization of our LDTs in the future, the FDA may not ultimately grant any clearance, authorization or approval requested by us in a timely manner, may limit our indication in a way that is not commercially desirable, or refuse to provide such authorization at all. In addition, if the FDA inspects our laboratory in relation to the marketing of any FDA-authorized test, any enforcement action the FDA takes might not be limited to the FDA-authorized test carried by us and could encompass our other testing services.

Complying with numerous statutes and regulations pertaining to our business is an expensive and time-consuming process, and any failure to comply could result in substantial penalties.

In addition to the risks set out under this heading in our 2023 Form 10-K, the U.S. Supreme Court recently reversed its longstanding approach under the Chevron doctrine, which provided for judicial deference to regulatory agencies. As a result of this decision, we cannot be sure whether there will be increased challenges to existing agency regulations or how lower courts will apply the decision in the context of other regulatory schemes without more specific guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court. For example, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision could significantly impact healthcare, privacy, artificial intelligence and anti-corruption practices and other regulatory regimes with which we are required to comply. Any such regulatory developments could result in uncertainty about and changes in the ways such regulations apply to us, and may require additional resources to ensure our continued compliance.