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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

☐        REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

☒        ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

OR

☐        TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934

OR

☐        SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report:

For the transition period from                              to

Commission file number: 001-39124

Centogene N.V.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

The Netherlands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Am Strande 7

18055 Rostock, Germany

(+49) 381 80113 500

(Address of principal executive offices)

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Andrin Oswald,

Chief Executive Officer

Tel: (+49) 381 80113 500

Email: andrin.oswald@centogene.com

Am Strande 7

18055 Rostock, Germany

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

None

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Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

The number of outstanding common shares as of December 31, 2020 was:

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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☐                   No ☒

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ☐                     No ☒

Note—Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒                     No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☒                     No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.

Yes ☐                     No ☒

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

☐          U.S. GAAP

☒          International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board

☐          Other

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

☐ Item 17             ☐ Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ☐                   No ☒

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CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Except otherwise indicated and except where the context otherwise requires, references in this Annual Report on Form 20-F to:

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PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

We report under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (the “IASB”). We present our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this Annual Report. Accordingly, numerical figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them.

Our financial statements included in this Annual Report are presented in euro and, unless otherwise specified, all monetary amounts are in euro. All references in this Annual Report to “$”, “U.S. dollars” and “dollars” means U.S. dollars and all references to “€”, “EUR” and “euro” mean euro, unless otherwise noted.

In this Annual Report, unless otherwise indicated, some euro amounts as of December 31, 2020 have been translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of $1.2271 to €1.00, the official exchange rate quoted by the European Central Bank. For information related to our initial public offering, which closed on November 8, 2019, some euro amounts have been translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of $1.1129 to €1.00, the official exchange rate quoted as of October 17, 2019 by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank. For information related to the follow-on equity offering, which closed on July 24, 2020, some euro amounts have been translated into U.S. dollars at the rate of $1.1340 to €1.00. For information on the exchange rate used for the Group’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and for the three years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, included in this Annual Report, please see “Note 5(a)—Foreign currency and currency translations” to such financial statements.

We have historically conducted our business through Centogene AG (which is now known as Centogene GmbH), and therefore our historical financial statements present the results of operations and financial condition of Centogene AG and its controlled subsidiaries. In connection with our initial public offering, Centogene AG was acquired by Centogene B.V., which subsequently converted into Centogene N.V., on November 7, 2019, as part of our corporate reorganization in connection with our initial public offering, and the historical consolidated financial statements of Centogene AG included in this Annual Report became the historical consolidated financial statements of Centogene N.V. On March 5, 2020, the Company resolved that Centogene AG shall be converted into a German limited liability company and renamed Centogene GmbH. Such conversion became effective upon the registration in the German commercial register on June 29, 2020, and was therefore completed in the financial year ending December 31, 2020.

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USE OF TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES AND SERVICE MARKS

CENTOGENE™ is our main trademark. The trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this Annual Report are property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this Annual Report are referred to without the symbols ^® and ™, but such references should not be construed as any indication that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.

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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions contained in this Annual Report, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is designed to,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “objective,” “should,” or the negative of these and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in this Annual Report. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating to:

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You should refer to the section of this Annual Report titled “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this Annual Report will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame or at all. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS

We are organized and existing under the laws of the Netherlands, and, as such, under Dutch private international law rules the rights of our shareholders and the civil liability of our directors and executive officers are governed in certain respects by the laws of the Netherlands. The ability of our shareholders in certain countries other than the Netherlands to bring actions against us, our directors and executive officers may be limited under applicable law. In addition, substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States.

As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our directors and executive officers or to enforce against them or us in U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, it is not clear whether a Dutch court would impose civil liability on us or any of our directors and executive officers in an original action based solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Netherlands.

As of the date of this Annual Report, the United States and the Netherlands do not have a treaty providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, other than arbitration awards, in civil and commercial matters. With respect to choice of court agreements in civil or commercial matters, it is noted that the Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements entered into force for the Netherlands, but has not entered into force for the United States. Accordingly, a judgment rendered by a court in the United States, whether or not predicated solely upon U.S. securities laws, would not automatically be recognized and enforced by the competent Dutch courts. However, if a person has obtained a judgment rendered by a court in the United States that is enforceable under the laws of the United States and files a claim with the competent Dutch court, the Dutch court will in principle give binding effect to a foreign judgment if (i) the jurisdiction of the foreign court was based on a ground of jurisdiction that is generally acceptable according to international standards, (ii) the judgment by the foreign court was rendered in legal proceedings that comply with the Dutch standards of proper administration of justice including sufficient safeguards (behoorlijke rechtspleging), (iii) binding effect of such foreign judgment is not contrary to Dutch public order (openbare orde) and (iv) the judgment by the foreign court is not incompatible with a decision rendered between the same parties by a Dutch court, or with a previous decision rendered between the same parties by a foreign court in a dispute that concerns the same subject and is based on the same cause, provided that the previous decision qualifies for recognition in the Netherlands. Even if such a foreign judgment is given binding effect, a claim based thereon may, however, still be rejected if the foreign judgment is not or no longer formally enforceable.

Based on the lack of a treaty as described above, U.S. investors may not be able to enforce against us or our directors, representatives or certain experts named herein who are residents of the Netherlands or countries other than the United States any judgments obtained in U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters, including judgments under the U.S. federal securities laws.

The United States and Germany currently do not have a treaty providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, in civil and commercial matters. Consequently, a final judgment for payment or declaratory judgments given by a court in the United States, whether or not predicated solely upon U.S. securities laws, would not automatically be recognized or enforceable in Germany. German courts may deny the recognition and enforcement of a judgment rendered by a U.S. court if they consider the U.S. court not to be competent or the decision to be in violation of German public policy principles. For example, judgments awarding punitive damages are generally not enforceable in Germany. A German court may reduce the amount of damages granted by a U.S. court and recognize damages only to the extent that they are necessary to compensate actual losses or damages.

In addition, actions brought in a German court against us, our management board and supervisory board and the experts named herein to enforce liabilities based on U.S. federal securities laws may be subject to certain restrictions. In particular, German courts generally do not award punitive damages. Litigation in Germany is also subject to rules of procedure that differ from the U.S. rules, including with respect to the taking and admissibility of evidence, the conduct of the proceedings and the allocation of costs. German procedural law does not provide for pre-trial discovery of documents, nor does Germany support pre-trial discovery of

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documents under the 1970 Hague Evidence Convention. Proceedings in Germany would have to be conducted in the German language and all documents submitted to the court would, in principle, have to be translated into German. For these reasons, it may be difficult for a U.S. investor to bring an original action in a German court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us, our management board and supervisory board and the experts named in this Annual Report.

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PART ONE

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

Not applicable

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Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not applicable

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Item 3. Key Information

A.Selected Financial Data

The following selected consolidated statements of financial position as of December 31, 2019 and 2020, and the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020 are derived from the consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report, which have been audited by Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (“Ernst & Young”). The selected consolidated statements of financial position as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018 and the selected consolidated statements of comprehensive loss for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017 are derived from audited consolidated financial statements not included in this Annual Report. As an emerging growth company, the presentation of selected historic financial data is limited to periods for which audited financial statements have been presented in connection with our first registration statement, filed on Form F-1 (File No. 333-234177), that became effective under the Securities Act.

Financial information presented in the consolidated financial statements of Centogene N.V. for periods prior to the completion of our corporate reorganization is that of Centogene AG (which is now known as Centogene GmbH), our wholly-owned subsidiary. The consolidated financial statements of Centogene N.V. are a continuation of the historical consolidated financial statements of Centogene AG.

The information presented below is qualified by the more detailed historical consolidated financial statements set forth in this Annual Report, and should be read in conjunction with those consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto and the discussion under “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

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We maintain our books and records in euros, and we prepare our financial statements under IFRS as issued by the IASB.

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(1)              Basic and diluted loss per share is calculated by dividing loss for the year attributable to our equity holders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the same period, adjusted for the effect of the corporate reorganization and is represented in euros per share.

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B.Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable

C.Reason for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable

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D.Risk Factors

Summary Risk Factors

In the course of conducting our business operations, we are exposed to a variety of risks, some of which are inherent in our industry and others of which are more specific to our own businesses. The discussion below addresses the material factors, of which we are currently aware, that could affect our businesses, results of operations and financial condition and make an investment in the Company speculative or risky.

Some of these risks include:

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Additional factors discussed below could affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties and all of the other information in this Annual Report before making any investment decision. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if any of these risks occurs, and as a result, the market price of our common shares could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks described below are those that we currently believe may materially affect us. We may face additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial.

Certain Factors Relating to Our Business and Strategy

We may fail to generate sufficient revenue from our relationships with our clients or pharmaceutical partners to achieve and maintain profitability.

We believe our commercial success is dependent upon our ability to successfully market and sell our products and solutions to clients and pharmaceutical partners, to continue to sell our suite of diagnostic tests, to continue to expand our current relationships and to develop new relationships with pharmaceutical partners. The demand for our existing services may decrease or may not continue at historical rates for a number of reasons, including, among others, the development by competitors of new products or solutions that we are not able to commercialize, and increased competition from companies that offer similar products and solutions. In addition to reducing our revenue, if our pharmaceutical partners or clients decide to decrease or discontinue their partnerships or relationships with us, and their use of our knowledge and interpretation-based solutions, this may reduce our access to research and patient data that facilitates the incorporation of newly developed information about rare diseases into our data repository. Our business model and strategy depend on the continued input of new data into our repository, and any such reduction in access to research and patient data could affect our ability to offer the same quality and scope of solutions to our pharmaceutical partners and other clients, which could adversely affect or business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

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We are currently not profitable. Even if we succeed in increasing adoption of our existing solutions by pharmaceutical partners or tests by our clients or pharmaceutical partners, we may fail to generate sufficient revenue to achieve and maintain profitability.

The COVID-19 pandemic could adversely impact our business and results of operations.

In December 2019, the COVID-19 virus, commonly known as “coronavirus”, surfaced in Wuhan, China. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. The COVID-19 disease has spread from China to many other countries including the U.S., the UK and the EU, with the number of reported cases and related deaths increasing daily and, in many countries, at a very rapid pace.

Many governments, including in the United States and Germany, have imposed increasingly stringent restrictions to seek to mitigate, or slow down, the spread of COVID-19, including restrictions on international and local travel, public gatherings and participation in business meetings, as well as closures of workplaces, schools, and other sites, and are requesting “social distancing.” In addition to those government measures, we have also taken a series of actions aimed at safeguarding the Company’s employees and business associates, including implementing a work-from-home policy and regular weekly tests for employees except for those related to our laboratory operations. The duration of such measures is highly uncertain, but could be prolonged, and even stricter measures may be put in place.

During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a sharp material decline in the oil price, caused financial markets globally to experience material declines and very elevated volatility, which had an adverse impact on GDP and broader economic conditions, including in Germany and the United States. There is no assurance that the responses from central banks (which include reductions in interest rates and liquidity support) and financial support and fiscal spending by certain governments will be sufficient to support the U.S. or other economies or that financial markets will return to normal. The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global economies and financial markets could trigger a recession or slowdown.

Commencing in the fourth quarter of 2020, there has been a significant widespread increase or “second wave” in reported infections including in Europe, the United States and Canada, as well as the emergence and rapid spread of new, more contagious variants of the COVID-19 virus. In response, various countries including in Europe have announced the re-imposition of restrictions on social, business, travel and other activities. In several countries such restrictions are at or near the level of lockdown restrictions imposed earlier in 2020. Although multiple COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for full use, vaccine distribution has taken longer than expected due to logistics, lack of resources, scheduling, staffing issues and vaccine resistance, and availability is expected to remain scarce for the next several months as new variants of COVID-19 circulate worldwide.

There is significant uncertainty relating to the potential effect of the COVID-19 virus on our business. Any of the factors above could result in significant volatility in, and have a material adverse effect on, our business, financial condition, rating and results of operations. In particular, they could result in increased costs of execution with regards to operational plans. In addition, COVID-19 may disrupt our supply chain, particularly as it relates to the United States (from where a significant proportion of our sequencing products are sourced) as well other countries in which we operate and from where we receive tests, and otherwise adversely affect international trade and business activities. The COVID-19 pandemic may also result in the loss of our significant client relationships. The magnitude of the impact on us will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including, among other things, the duration and spread of the outbreak, its severity and strain mutations, counter-measures and the development and availability of effective treatments and vaccines. The effects of COVID-19 on us, and on the environment in which we operate, has resulted, and may continue to result, in significant volatility of the trading price of our common shares. Although we are taking a number of measures aimed at minimizing disruptions to our business and operations, and while the provision of testing for the COVID-19 virus is anticipated to generate additional revenues for us, the full extent to which the global COVID-19 pandemic may impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, such as the duration of the pandemic, the availability of vaccines, the probability of the occurrence of further outbreaks and the ultimate impact on the financial markets and the global economy, and could result in an unforeseen negative impact on our business and our future results of operations.

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To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described under “—We may face restrictions or delays in the receipt of patient samples to our laboratories for diagnostic testing” and “—We may be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic, political or social conditions and the effects of these conditions on our pharmaceutical partners’ and diagnostics clients’ businesses and levels of business activity.”

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have swiftly ramped up our molecular testing for the diagnosis of COVID-19. The demand for such tests may shrink rapidly, and we may be unable to recoup the significant expenses incurred and investments made in testing capabilities.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we took a series of measures aimed at minimizing the disruptions to our business and operations, including by adding COVID-19 molecular testing to our product mix. To support the rapid rollout of our COVID-19 testing offering, we have incurred significant expenses and made significant investments, including the acquisition of laboratory facilities, walk-in testing facilities, and mobile test centers, as well as related equipment and inventory. Our COVID-19 testing business has grown significantly since the second quarter of 2020 and, as a result, we started managing and reporting it as a separate reportable business segment in the third quarter of 2020 (during which quarter the COVID-19 testing segment generated revenues of €27.4 million, which increased to €59.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2020).

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created an opportunity for our business and helped us offset the pandemic-related slowdown in our Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical businesses, and we presently expect our COVID-19 testing business to continue contributing significantly to our revenue for 2021 and potentially beyond, the demand for our COVID-19 tests may not be sustainable and the recent increase in our revenues from COVID-19 testing may not be indicative of future revenues. Such demand, and the revenues of our COVID-19 testing segment, may shrink rapidly in the future, for instance:

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in each case in particular in the regions where we offer our COVID-19 testing services. As a result, we may be unable to recoup the significant expenses we incurred in connection with our COVID-19 testing business. In addition, while we are depreciating all of the investments made in our COVID-19 testing business on an accelerated timetable, we may be required to write-down some or all of our investments in, and working capital related to, our COVID-19 testing business. Any of the foregoing developments and events could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

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We may fail to maintain our current relationships with pharmaceutical companies, or enter into new relationships on a similar scale.

Our success in the future depends in part on our ability to maintain relationships and to enter into new relationships with pharmaceutical partners. Partnerships are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. Whether we reach a definitive agreement for a partnership will depend on a number of factors, including, among other things, upon our partners’ assessment of our industry knowledge, data repository, logistical resources and expertise, the terms and conditions of the proposed partnership, and our partners’ evaluation of the potential value added from our rare disease knowledge and insights. If we are unable to do so, we may have to curtail our research on a particular rare disease or increase our expenditures and undertake research and development activities at our own expense. Further, there have been a significant number of recent business combinations among large pharmaceutical companies that have resulted in a reduced number of potential future partners.

Our ability to maintain our current relationships with our pharmaceutical partners, or enter into new relationships, can be difficult due to several factors, including that:

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Additionally, some of our pharmaceutical partners have contracted with us to provide testing for large numbers of samples or to focus our research on a particular rare disease, which could restrict our ability to perform tests for other clients or pharmaceutical partners or limit our ability to expand our data repository outside of a specified patient population or rare disease. If we fail to maintain our current relationships with our pharmaceutical partners, or enter into new partnerships, our business could suffer.

Because the identified patient populations for rare diseases are relatively small, it may be difficult to successfully identify patients for our pharmaceutical partners.

Our inability to identify a sufficient number of patients for our partners’ clinical trials could result in significant delays and could require our partners to abandon one or more clinical trials altogether. Enrollment delays in our partners’ clinical trials may result in increased development costs for our partners’ drug candidates, which would cause the value of the solutions which we offer to our pharmaceutical partners to decline. If we are unable to identify patients with a specified driver of disease or applicable genomic alteration, this could compromise our ability to add value to our partners’ clinical trials by accelerating clinical development and regulatory timelines. In addition, our projections of both the number of people who have these diseases, as well as the subset of people with these diseases who have the potential to benefit from treatment with our partners’ existing treatments or drug candidates, are based on our internal estimates derived from data in our repository. These estimates may prove to be incorrect, and new studies may reduce the estimated incidence or prevalence of these diseases. The number of patients in the United States, European Union and elsewhere may turn out to be lower than expected, may not be otherwise amenable to treatment with our partners’ drug candidates or patients may be difficult to identify and access, all of which would adversely affect our business, prospects and ability to achieve or sustain profitability.

We may fail to generate sufficient volumes of data from our diagnostic tests for inclusion in our data repository.

Our business model assumes that we will be able to continue to generate significant diagnostic test volume in order to maintain the generation of data that feeds into our data repository, which is necessary for the development of new products and solutions for our pharmaceutical partners and clients. We may not succeed in continuing to drive clinical adoption of our tests to achieve sufficient volumes. Inasmuch as detailed genetic or other data from our tests have only recently become available at relatively affordable prices, the pace and degree of clinical acceptance of the utility of such testing is uncertain. Specifically, it is uncertain how much genetic or other data will be accepted as necessary or useful, as well as how detailed that data should be, particularly since medical practitioners may have become accustomed to genetic or other testing that is specific to one or a few genes. To generate demand for our tests, we will need to continue to make our diagnostics clients, as well as physicians and key opinion leaders, aware of the benefits of our tests, including the price, the breadth of our testing options, and the benefits of having additional genetic or other data available from which to make treatment decisions. In addition, physicians in other areas of medicine may not adopt genetic or other testing for certain rare diseases as readily as it has been adopted for some more well-known rare diseases and our efforts to sell our tests to physicians outside of a set number of rare diseases may not be successful. A lack of or delay in increased clinical acceptance of our diagnostic tests would negatively impact sales and market acceptance of our tests and limit our ability to expand on the scope and quality of knowledge and interpretation-based solutions offered to our pharmaceutical partners, which could in turn impact our revenue growth and potential profitability.

In addition, genetic or other testing is still relatively expensive and many potential pharmaceutical partners and clients may be sensitive to pricing concerns. Potential pharmaceutical partners or clients may not adopt our tests if adequate reimbursement is unavailable, or if we are not able to maintain low prices in the future relative to our competitors. If we are not able to generate demand for our tests at sufficient volume, or if it takes significantly more time to generate this demand than we anticipate, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be materially harmed.

We derive a large proportion of our revenues from agreements with a limited number of pharmaceutical partners and clients.

We have historically earned a large proportion of our revenue from a limited number of pharmaceutical partners and diagnostic testing clients. In the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, our top five pharmaceutical partners, in the aggregate, accounted for 12.6% (41.4% excluding COVID-19 revenues) and 39.3% of our revenues, respectively. The loss of, or material

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reduction in, revenues from any one of our major pharmaceutical partners or clients could materially reduce our total revenues, harm our reputation in the industry and/or reduce our ability to accurately predict our revenue, net income and cash flow. The loss of, or material reduction, in revenue from any one of our major pharmaceutical partners or clients could also adversely affect our gross profit and utilization as we seek to redeploy resources previously dedicated to that partner. We cannot assure you that revenue from our major pharmaceutical partners or clients will not be significantly reduced in the future. We also may not be able to maintain our relationships with our major pharmaceutical partners or clients on existing or on continued favorable terms and our major pharmaceutical partners or clients may not renew their agreements with us, in which case our business, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.

In particular, during the year ended December 31, 2020, our collaboration with Shire International GmbH (“Shire”), now a subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, represented 8.6% (28.2% excluding COVID-19 revenues) of our total revenues (2019: 24.3%). We expect that our collaboration with Shire will continue to account for a material portion of our revenue in 2021. The revenue attributable to Shire may fluctuate in the future, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, changes in the terms of our agreements with Shire, or a modification or termination of our relationship with Shire, could result in delays in the receipt of revenue by us, or a temporary or permanent loss of revenue to us. In addition, certain pharmaceutical companies, including those with which we currently have agreements, may choose not to do business with us or may seek out other partners for genetic rare disease information due to our strategic collaboration with Shire, particularly if they are actual or potential competitors with Shire. If we are unable to continue to grow our business with other pharmaceutical companies, our business and results of operations would be adversely affected.

Our client concentration may also subject us to perceived or actual leverage that our pharmaceutical partners or clients may have, given their relative size and importance to us. If our pharmaceutical partners or clients seek to negotiate their agreements on terms less favorable to us and we accept such unfavorable terms, this may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Accordingly, unless and until we diversify and expand our client base, our future success will significantly depend upon the timing and volume of business from our largest pharmaceutical partners and clients and the financial and operational success of these pharmaceutical partners and clients.

We may be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic, political or social conditions and the effects of these conditions on our pharmaceutical partners’ and diagnostics clients’ businesses and levels of business activity.

Global economic conditions affect our pharmaceutical partners’ and diagnostic clients’ businesses and the markets they serve, and volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions may have an adverse effect on our revenue growth and profitability. Volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions in our significant markets, in particular in our North America, Middle East or European regions, where we generated 15.0%, 9.8% and 73.3%, respectively, of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020, could undermine business confidence, both in those markets and other markets, and cause our pharmaceutical partners or clients to reduce or defer their spending on new technologies or initiatives or terminate existing contracts, which would negatively affect our business. Growth in the markets we serve could be at a slow rate, or could stagnate, for an extended period of time. Differing economic conditions and patterns of economic growth and contraction in the geographical regions in which we operate and the industries we serve may affect demand for our products and solutions. Weakening in these markets as a result of high government deficits, credit downgrades or otherwise could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Ongoing economic volatility and uncertainty affects our business in a number of other ways, including making it more difficult to accurately forecast partner demand beyond the short term and effectively build our revenue and resource plans, particularly given the iterative nature of the negotiation of new contracts with our pharmaceutical partners. This could result, for example, in us not having the level of appropriate personnel where they are needed, and could have a significant negative impact on our results of operations.

Moreover, acts of terrorist violence, political unrest, armed regional and international hostilities and international responses to these hostilities, natural disasters, global health risks or pandemics or the threat of or perceived potential for these events could have a negative impact on us. These events could adversely affect our pharmaceutical partners’ levels of business activity and precipitate sudden significant changes in regional and global economic conditions and cycles. These events also pose significant risks to our people and to physical facilities and operations around the world, whether the facilities are ours or those of our distributors, pharmaceutical partners or physicians that utilize our diagnostic testing services. By disrupting communications and travel and increasing the difficulty of obtaining and retaining highly skilled and qualified personnel, these events could make it difficult or impossible for us to deliver products and solutions to our clients and pharmaceutical partners. Extended disruptions of electricity, other public utilities or network services at our facilities, as well as system failures at, or security breaches in, our facilities or systems, could also adversely affect our ability to serve our clients and pharmaceutical partners. We might be unable to protect our people, facilities and systems against all such occurrences. We generally do not have insurance for losses and interruptions caused by terrorist

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attacks, conflicts and wars. If these disruptions prevent us from effectively serving our clients and pharmaceutical partners, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

We may face restrictions or delays in the receipt of patient samples to our laboratories for diagnostic testing.

Our business depends on our ability to quickly and reliably receive samples from physicians. Our CentoCard product is typically sent from locations worldwide to our laboratory in Rostock, Germany as well as our Cambridge, Massachusetts facility. Disruptions in delivery, whether due to factors beyond our control such as natural disasters, terrorist threats, political instability, governmental policies, failures by physicians to properly label or package the samples, failure by postage services, labor disruptions, bad weather or other factors could adversely affect the receipt by us of samples or specimen integrity and could impact our ability to process samples in a timely manner and to provide our services to our clients and pharmaceutical partners. In particular, there is a general trend in certain countries, for example in China and certain countries in South America, where policies have been introduced that restrict the processing of genetic or other testing outside the country in which the patient is located. This could disrupt the transportation of samples to our testing facilities in Germany and the United States from such countries, and could adversely impact our current business operations or prevent us from expanding into certain new regions.

In addition, the majority of our samples are delivered to us via regular postal services worldwide. If such services are disrupted, or if we are unable to continue to obtain expedited delivery services or specialized delivery services for certain products, such as our prenatal algorithmic test, on commercially reasonable terms, our operating results may be adversely affected.

We may become subject to substantial product liability or professional liability claims that could exceed our resources.

The marketing, sale and use of our products and solutions could lead to the filing of product liability claims if someone were to allege that our products and solutions identified inaccurate or incomplete information regarding the diagnostic information of the rare disease indication analyzed, reported inaccurate or incomplete information concerning the available treatments for a certain type of rare disease or otherwise failed to perform as designed. For example, we have been subject to a claim from a client that our prenatal diagnostic test conducted at their request failed to identify a specific mutation present in a patient. See “Item 4. Information On The Company—B. Business Overview—Legal Proceedings” and “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.” We may also be subject to liability for errors in, a misunderstanding of, or inappropriate reliance upon, the information we provide in the ordinary course of our business activities. A product liability or professional liability claim could result in substantial damages and be costly and time-consuming for us to defend.

Our service and professional liability insurance may not fully protect us from the financial impact of defending against product liability or professional liability claims. Any product liability or professional liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our insurance rates or prevent us from securing insurance coverage in the future. Additionally, any product liability lawsuit could damage our reputation or cause current clients or pharmaceutical partners to terminate existing agreements and potential clients or pharmaceutical partners to seek other partners, any of which could impact our results of operations.

If the validity of a consent from a patient was challenged, we could be forced to stop using certain of our data resources, which would impede our rare disease information development efforts.

We provide diagnostic testing services to patients of our pharmaceutical partners and diagnostics clients worldwide. We also provide products and solutions, including biomarker development and testing, to our pharmaceutical partners. Such products and solutions involve the aggregation of data obtained from patients in our existing data repository and data obtained from new tests conducted both on patients whose samples remain in our biobank or new patients from whom we collect samples.

To a large extent, we also rely upon our pharmaceutical partners, our clients and, in some cases, third-party laboratories to collect the subject’s informed consent and comply with applicable local laws and international regulations. Although we maintain policies and procedures designed to monitor the collection of consents by both ourselves and such third parties, we or third parties may not obtain the required consents in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, consents that we have obtained or will obtain may not meet the existing or future standards required by relevant governmental authorities.

The collection of data and samples in many different countries results in complex legal questions regarding the adequacy of consent and the status of genetic material under a large number of different legal systems. In some jurisdictions, samples that contain a person’s DNA might irrevocably qualify as personal data, as in theory such samples can never be completely anonymized. Legitimate interests of the donor might cause a “revival” of his or her personal rights in the future and limit our rights of utilization. The subject’s

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consent obtained in any particular country could be withdrawn or challenged in the future, and those consents could prove invalid, unlawful, or otherwise inadequate for our purposes. Furthermore, we may face disputes with patients should their data be used in a manner which they did not expect or if the consent was recorded incorrectly or obtained fraudulently. Any findings against us, or our pharmaceutical partners, clients or distributors, could deny us access to or force us to stop using certain of our clinical data or samples, which would impede our genetic or other information solution development efforts. We could become involved in legal challenges, which could consume our management and financial resources.

If access to our highly specialized laboratory facilities, storage facilities or equipment is interrupted or damaged, our business could be negatively impacted.

Our diagnostic testing products and pharmaceutical solutions are rendered at our laboratory facilities. We currently run the majority of our core diagnostic testing at our laboratory in Rostock, Germany, and we also commenced operations at our laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts in August 2018. If one or more of our laboratories, and particularly our facility in Rostock, become inoperable or some or all of our key equipment ceases to function even for a short period of time, we may be unable to perform our genetic or other tests or develop solutions in a timely manner or at all, which may result in the loss of clients and pharmaceutical partners or harm to our reputation, and we may be unable to regain those clients and pharmaceutical partners or repair our reputation in the future. Our facilities and equipment could be harmed or rendered inoperable by natural or man-made disasters, including war, fire, earthquake, flood, power loss, communications or internet failure or interruption, or terrorism, which may render it difficult or impossible for us to operate our genetic rare disease information platform for some period of time.

In particular, the biomaterials that are stored in our biobank are located in our Rostock facility. Should the biomaterials that we store there be damaged or destroyed, we would lose part or all of our existing biomaterials and as a result we would not be able to retest this material for future research and development uses.

Furthermore, our facilities and the equipment we use to perform our research and development work could be unavailable or costly and time-consuming to repair or replace. It would be difficult, time-consuming, and expensive to rebuild any of our facilities or license or transfer our proprietary technology to a third party, particularly in light of the licensure and accreditation requirements and specific equipment needed for laboratories like ours. Even in the unlikely event we are able to find a third party with such qualifications to enable us to perform our genetic or other tests or develop our solutions, we may be unable to negotiate commercially reasonable terms with such third parties. Any interruption of our laboratory operations could harm relationships with our clients and pharmaceutical partners or regulatory authorities, which could adversely affect our ability to generate revenue or maintain compliance with regulatory standards.

While we carry insurance for damage to our property and laboratory and the disruption of our business, such insurance may not cover all of the risks associated with damage to our property or laboratory or disruption to our business, may not provide coverage in amounts sufficient to cover our potential losses, may be challenged by insurers underwriting the coverage, and may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.

We depend upon our information technology systems, and any failure of these systems could harm our business.

We depend on information technology and telecommunications systems for significant elements of our operations, including our repository, our CentoMD database, our CentoPortal client-facing platform, our COVID-19 Test Portal, our laboratory information management system, our third-party datacenter solutions, our broadband connections and our client relationship management system. We have installed a number of enterprise software systems that affect a broad range of business processes and functional areas, including, for example, systems handling human resources, financial controls and reporting, contract management and other infrastructure operations. These information technology systems support a variety of functions, including laboratory operations, test validation, sample tracking, quality control, customer service support, billing and reimbursement, research and development activities, scientific and medical curation, and general administrative activities. In addition, our system is backed up by two offsite data centers that offer a disaster recovery system for our database in separate locations near Frankfurt. Any technical problems that may arise in connection with third-party data center hosting facilities could result in interruptions in our service.

Our information technology systems are vulnerable to damage from a variety of sources, including network failures, malicious human acts, and natural disasters. Our business will also be harmed if our laboratory partners and potential laboratory partners believe our service is unreliable. Moreover, despite network security and back-up measures, some of our servers are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, malicious computer software (malware), and similar disruptive problems. Failures or significant downtime of our information technology systems, or those used by our third-party service providers, could

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prevent us from conducting our comprehensive genomic analyses, preparing and providing reports and data to partners and physicians, billing payors, processing reimbursement appeals, handling patient or physician inquiries, conducting research and development activities, and managing the administrative aspects of our business. Additionally, to the extent that any disruption or security breach results in a loss or damage to our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we may incur significant liability. Any disruption or loss of information technology or telecommunications systems on which critical aspects of our operations depend could have an adverse effect on our business.

We rely on a limited number of suppliers, or, in some cases, a sole supplier, for some of our laboratory equipment and may not be able to find replacements or immediately transition to alternative suppliers.

We believe that there are only a few equipment manufacturers that are currently capable of supplying and servicing the sequencing equipment necessary for our laboratory operations. For example, we rely on a key supplier, Illumina, for certain sequencing equipment used for our processes. We may not be able to obtain acceptable substitute equipment from another supplier on the same basis or at all. Even if we are able to obtain acceptable substitutes from replacement suppliers, their use could require us to significantly alter our laboratory operations. An interruption in our laboratory operations could occur if we encounter delays or difficulties in securing or maintaining the proper function of this laboratory equipment. Any such interruption could negatively impact research and development and launches of new products or solutions, and significantly affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and reputation.

The loss or transition of any member of our senior management team, or our inability to attract and retain new talent, could adversely affect our business.

Our success depends on the skills, experience, and performance of key members of our senior management team. The individual and collective efforts of these employees will be important as we continue to develop our rare disease genetic information platform and additional products and solutions, and as we expand our commercial activities. The loss or incapacity of existing members of our senior management team could adversely affect our operations if we experience difficulties in hiring qualified successors.

The complexity inherent in integrating a new key member of the senior management team with existing senior management may limit the effectiveness of any such successor or otherwise adversely affect our business. Leadership transitions can be inherently difficult to manage and may cause uncertainty or a disruption to our business or may increase the likelihood of turnover of other key officers and employees. Specifically, a leadership transition in the commercial team may cause uncertainty about or a disruption to our commercial organization, which may impact our ability to achieve sales and revenue targets.

Our research and development programs and laboratory operations depend on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled scientists and technicians. We may not be able to attract or retain qualified scientists and technicians in the future due to the intense competition for qualified personnel among life science businesses globally. We also face competition from universities and public and private research institutions in recruiting and retaining highly qualified scientific personnel. We may have difficulties locating, recruiting, or retaining qualified sales people. Recruitment and retention difficulties can limit our ability to support our research and development and sales programs.

International expansion of our business exposes us to new and complex business, regulatory, political, operational, financial, and economic risks.

Our business strategy incorporates plans for significant expansion in the countries in which we currently operate and internationally. Doing business internationally involves a number of risks, including:

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Any of these factors could significantly harm our future international expansion and operations and, consequently, our revenue and results of operations. The difference in regulations under the laws of the countries in which we may expand and the laws of the countries in which we currently operate may be significant and, in order to comply with such new laws, we may have to implement global changes to our products and solutions or business practices. Such changes may result in additional expense to us and either reduce or delay development of our products and solutions, commercialization of our biomarkers and other solutions or expansion of our data repository and biobank. In addition, any failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could affect us in a variety of ways that include, but are not limited to, significant criminal, civil and administrative penalties and restrictions on certain business activities. Also, the failure to comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations could result in the disruption of our activities in these countries.

Failure to manage these and other risks may have a material adverse effect on our operations in any particular country and on our business as a whole.

Implementation of partnership agreements with our pharmaceutical partners may result in material unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities, competitive responses, loss of client relationships and diversion of management’s attention.

The negotiation of our existing partnership agreements, as well as any new partnership agreements that we enter into, take up significant management time and resources. Moreover, in part due to the complex nature of our partnership agreements, which typically provide for research and development collaboration as well as utilization of our patient screening processes, we may need to expend capital and dedicate manpower to meeting the requirements of our pharmaceutical partners. Any partnership agreements that we enter into in the future may contain restrictions on our ability to enter into potential collaborations with other third parties, or to otherwise provide products and solutions in connection with a particular rare disease indication. As a result of these and other factors, our partnership agreements may result in material unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities, competitive responses, loss of client relationships and diversion of management’s attention.

Many of these factors will be outside of our control, and any one of them could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues and diversion of management’s time and energy, which could materially impact our business, financial

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condition and results of operations. As a result, we cannot assure you that our relationship with any pharmaceutical partner will result in the realization of the anticipated benefits.

If our products and solutions do not perform as expected, we may fail to achieve or maintain sales of our products and solutions.

Our success depends on the market’s confidence that we can provide accurate diagnostic testing products and reliable, high-quality rare disease information solutions. Our partnerships with our pharmaceutical partners and clients are typically designed to provide results in respect of a particular rare disease, and our preliminary assessments or knowledge about such disease may necessarily be limited by the amount of information currently available. As a result, the work we undertake on behalf of our pharmaceutical partners and clients may not yield the results that our pharmaceutical partners and clients expect or anticipate. We believe that our pharmaceutical partners and clients are likely to be particularly sensitive to solution and testing service defects and errors, including if our products or services fail to detect genomic or other alterations with high accuracy from clinical specimens or if we fail to accurately develop a biomarker.

Moreover, we may fail to maintain the accuracy and reproducibility we have demonstrated to date with our genetic or other testing services, particularly for clinical samples, as our test volume increases. The sequencing process yields that we achieve depend on the design and operation of our sequencing process, which uses a number of complex and sophisticated biochemical, informatics, optical, and mechanical processes, many of which are highly sensitive to external factors. An operational or technological failure in one of these complex processes or fluctuations in external variables may result in sequencing processing yields that are lower than we anticipate or that vary between sequencing runs. In addition, we are regularly evaluating and refining our sequencing process. These refinements may initially result in unanticipated issues that further reduce our sequencing process yields or increase the variability of our sequencing process yields. Errors, including if our products or solutions fail to detect genomic variants with high accuracy, or mistakes, including if we fail to or incompletely or incorrectly identify the significance of gene variants, could have a significant adverse impact on our business.

Hundreds of genes can be implicated in some disorders, and overlapping networks of genes and symptoms can be implicated in multiple conditions. As a result, a substantial amount of judgment is required in order to interpret testing results for an individual patient and to develop an appropriate patient report. As a result, we may make errors in our interpretation of testing results, which could impair the results of our tests and (as such results are typically stored in our CentoMD database) adversely impact the quality of our overall knowledge base. The failure of our products or solutions to perform as expected would significantly impair our operating results and our reputation. We may also be subject to legal claims arising from, or loss of business as a result of, any defects or errors in our products and solutions.

We may fail to manage our future growth effectively, which could make it difficult to execute our business strategy.

We anticipate growth in our business operations. This future growth could create strain on our organizational, administrative and operational infrastructure, including laboratory operations, quality control, customer service, and sales force management. We may fail to maintain the quality or expected turnaround times of our products and services, or satisfy customer demand as it grows. Our ability to manage our growth properly will require us to continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls, as well as our reporting systems and procedures.

We also plan to expand our laboratory and technical operations as our business grows. In August 2018, we opened a new facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States and recently expanded our clinical studies team to support our U.S. operations, and in April 2020, in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, we acquired the laboratory facilities and equipment of a former cancer immunotherapy company and leased their former laboratory space in Hamburg, Germany. Furthermore, we opened a laboratory facility in Frankfurt and provide additional COVID-19 testing capacity through our custom-built CentoTruck, a mobile laboratory in a container designed to carry out COVID-19 analysis. These or other future expansion strategies and any future growth could create strain on our organizational, administrative and operational infrastructure, including laboratory operations, quality control, customer service and sales force management. We may not be able to maintain the quality or expected turnaround times of our testing services or satisfy client demand as our business grows. Our ability to manage our growth properly will require us to continue to improve our operational, financial, and managerial controls, as well as our reporting systems and procedures, and to obtain appropriate regulatory approvals and meet regulatory standards applicable for the operation of our business.

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The development of new products and solutions is a complex process, and we may be unable to successfully commercialize new products or solutions on a timely basis or at all.

New diagnostic test products and our interpretation-based solutions, including our biomarkers, take time to develop and commercialize. We may fail to develop and commercialize new diagnostic tests or solutions on a timely basis. Moreover, there can be no assurance that our products or solutions will be capable of meeting the needs of our clients and pharmaceutical partners, or that we will be able to commercialize them at all. Before we can commercialize any new products or solutions, we need to expend significant funds in order to:

The development of new products and solutions involves risk, and development efforts may fail for many reasons, including the failure of any product or solution to perform as expected, a lack of validation or reference data, failure to demonstrate utility of a test or solution, or, in the case of solutions for which we are seeking or have received the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), European Commission and European Medicines Agency (“EMA”), German Federal Institute for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (Bundesinstitut für Arzneimittel und Medizinprodukte), or comparable authorities’ or agencies’ approval, the inability to obtain such approval or the loss of such approval. In particular, our biomarker development and patent processes are subject to review by regulatory agencies and governing bodies. We cannot predict whether or when we will successfully complete development of each biomarker and if we will receive patent protection on any biomarkers that we develop.

As we develop new products and solutions, we will have to make significant investments in development, marketing, and selling resources. Any failure to develop or deliver adequate products or solutions to our clients and pharmaceutical partners on a timely basis or at all could significantly affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and reputation.

We have limited experience in marketing and selling our products and solutions and we may fail to expand our direct sales and marketing force to adequately address our pharmaceutical partners’ and clients’ needs.

We have limited experience in marketing and selling our products and solutions to pharmaceutical partners, and currently rely on a small sales force to sell our products and solutions. We may not be able to market, sell, or distribute our existing products and solutions or other services we may develop effectively enough to support our planned growth.

Our future sales and further business growth will depend in large part on our ability to develop, and expand, our sales force and to increase the scope of our marketing efforts, particularly in the United States. Our target market of pharmaceutical partners and clients is a diverse market with particular, individualized needs. As a result, we believe it is necessary to develop a sales force that includes sales representatives with specific rare disease technical backgrounds. We will also need to attract and develop marketing personnel with industry expertise. Competition for such employees is intense. We may not be able to attract and retain personnel or be able to build an efficient and effective sales and marketing force, which could negatively impact sales and market acceptance of our products or solutions and limit our revenue growth and potential profitability. Our expected future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including the need to identify, recruit, maintain, and integrate additional employees. Our future financial performance will depend in part on our ability to manage this potential future growth effectively, without compromising quality.

If we believe a significant market opportunity for our products or solutions exists in a particular jurisdiction in which we do not have direct access through one of our existing offices, from time to time we may enlist distribution partners and local laboratories to assist with sales, distribution, and client support. We may not be successful in finding, attracting, and retaining distribution partners or laboratories, or we may not be able to enter into such arrangements on favorable terms. Sales practices utilized by our distribution partners that are locally acceptable may not comply with sales practices standards required under German, Dutch, United States or

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other laws that apply to us, which could create additional compliance risk. If these additional sales and marketing efforts are not successful, we may not achieve significant market acceptance for our solutions in these markets, which could harm our business.

The knowledge and interpretation-based solutions we provide to our pharmaceutical partners may not achieve significant commercial market acceptance.

Our knowledge and interpretation-based solutions may not gain significant acceptance in the orphan drug development market and, therefore, may not generate substantial revenue or profits for us. Our ability to achieve increased commercial market acceptance for our existing knowledge and interpretation-based solutions will depend on several factors, including:

We believe that the successful completion of clinical trials by partners that use our solutions, publication of scientific and medical results based on the information gained from our repository in peer-reviewed journals, and presentations at leading conferences are critical to the broad adoption of our solutions. Publication in leading medical journals is subject to a peer-review process, and peer reviewers may not consider the results of studies involving our solutions sufficiently novel or worthy of publication.

The failure to be listed in physician guidelines or the failure of our solutions to produce favorable results for our partners or to be published in peer-reviewed journals could limit the adoption of our solutions. Failure to achieve widespread market acceptance of our solutions would materially harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Failure to keep pace with the rapidly evolving industry in which we operate could make us obsolete.

Our business relies on commercial activities in the rare disease genetic or other testing and diagnosis field. In recent years, there have been numerous advances in methods used to analyze very large amounts of genomic information and the role of genetics and gene variants in rare diseases and treatments, including through the development of biomarkers. Our industry has and will continue to be characterized by rapid technological change, increasingly larger amounts of data, frequent new testing service introductions and evolving industry standards. Our future success will also depend on our ability to keep pace with the evolving needs of our clients and pharmaceutical partners on a timely and cost-effective basis and to pursue new market opportunities that develop as a result of technological and scientific advances. Our current products and solutions could become obsolete unless we continually update our offerings to reflect new scientific knowledge about genes and genetic variations and their role in rare diseases and treatments. If we fail to anticipate or respond adequately to technological developments, demand for our products and solutions will not grow and may decline, and our business, revenue, financial condition and operating results could suffer materially.

Moreover, many companies in this market are offering, or may soon offer, products and solutions that compete with our products and solutions, in some cases at a lower cost than ours. We cannot assure you that research and discoveries by other companies will not render our existing or potential products and solutions uneconomical or result in tests superior to our existing tests and those we may develop. We also cannot assure you that any of our existing products and solutions, or those that we develop in the future, will be preferred by our clients, pharmaceutical partners, physicians or other payors to any existing or newly developed technologies or tests. If we fail to maintain competitive test products, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We may fail to successfully respond to increasing demand for our products and solutions.

As our sales volume grows, we will need to continue to increase our infrastructure for sample intake, customer service, billing and general process improvements, expand our internal quality assurance program, and extend our platform to support comprehensive genomic and other analyses at a larger scale within expected turnaround times. We will need additional certified laboratory scientists and other scientific and technical personnel to process higher volumes of our products and solutions. Portions of our process cannot be fully automated and will require additional personnel to scale. We will also need to purchase additional

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equipment, some of which can take a long time to procure, set up, and validate, and increase our software and computing capacity to meet increased demand.

We may fail to successfully implement any of these increases in scale, expansion of personnel, equipment, software and computing capacities, or process enhancements and we may have inadequate space in our laboratory facilities to accommodate such required expansion.

As additional products and solutions are commercialized, we will need to incorporate new equipment, implement new technology systems and laboratory processes, and hire new personnel with different qualifications. Failure to manage this growth or transition could result in turnaround time delays, higher product costs, declining product quality, deteriorating customer service, and slower responses to competitive challenges. A failure in any one of these areas could make it difficult or impossible for us to meet market expectations for our products and solutions, and could damage our reputation and the prospects for our business.

We may fail to obtain favorable pricing for our products and solutions and to meet our profitability expectations.

If we are not able to obtain favorable pricing for our products and solutions to enable us to meet our profitability expectations, our revenues and profitability could materially suffer. The rates we are able to charge for our products and solutions are affected by a number of factors, including:

The competitive environment in our industry affects our ability to obtain favorable pricing in a number of ways, all of which could have a material negative impact on our results of operations. The less we are able to clearly convey the value of our products and solutions or differentiate our products and solutions, the more risk we have that they will be seen as commodities, with price being the driving factor in selecting us as a partner. Competitors may be willing, at times, to price contracts or products lower than we do in an effort to enter the market or increase market share. Further, if competitors develop and implement methodologies that yield greater efficiency or efficacy, they may be able to offer products and solutions similar to ours at lower prices.

Ethical, legal and social concerns related to the use of genomic or other diagnostic information could reduce demand for our rare disease knowledge and interpretation-based products and solutions.

Genomic testing, like that conducted for our pharmaceutical partners and clients using our genetic rare disease information platform, has raised ethical, legal and social issues regarding privacy and the appropriate uses of the resulting information. Governmental authorities could, for social or other purposes, limit or regulate the use of genomic information or genomic testing or prohibit testing for genetic predisposition to certain conditions, particularly for those that have no known cure. Similarly, these concerns may lead patients to refuse to use genomic tests even if permissible.

Ethical and social concerns may also influence United States and foreign patent offices and courts with regard to patent protection for technology relevant to our business. These and other ethical, legal and social concerns may limit market acceptance of our products and solutions or reduce the potential markets for products and solutions enabled by our genetic rare disease information platform, either of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

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We have limited resources to be expended on research and development programs. Our resource allocation decisions may lead us to focus on research and development programs that are not commercially viable, and as a result we may be unable to recover the costs incurred under these efforts.

Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we focus on research and development programs that we identify for rare diseases in collaboration with our pharmaceutical partners, or based on our assessment of the market needs. As a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other orphan drug candidates or for other indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial drugs or profitable market opportunities. Our spending on current and future research and development programs for specific diseases may not yield any relevant results that are helpful to our existing programs or assist in the creation of any commercially viable drugs. If we do not accurately evaluate the commercial potential or target market for a particular drug candidate, we may relinquish valuable rights to that drug candidate through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements.

If we fail to compete successfully with our competitors, including new entrants in the market, we may be unable to increase or sustain our revenue or achieve and sustain profitability.

While personalized genomic diagnostics is a relatively new area of science, we face competition from companies that offer tests or have conducted research to profile genes and gene expression in various rare diseases. Our principal competition comes from diagnostic companies that offer diagnostic tests that capture genetic, phenotypic and epidemiological data, as well as laboratories and academic research centers. Many hospitals and academic medical centers may also seek to perform the type of genetic or other testing and knowledge and interpretation-based solutions we offer at their own facilities or using their own research capabilities.

Some of our present and potential competitors may have substantially greater financial, marketing, technical or manufacturing resources than we do. Our competitors may also be able to respond more quickly to new technologies or processes and changes in client demands. They may also be able to devote greater resources towards the development, promotion and sale of their products or solutions for pharmaceutical partners than we can. As competition in our market increases, we may also be subject to increased litigation risk, including in connection with patents as well as our marketing practices and other promotional activities. In addition, our current and potential competitors may make strategic acquisitions or establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties that increase their ability to address the needs of our physicians or partners. If we fail to compete successfully against current or future competitors, our business will be harmed.

Because our genetic or other testing and knowledge and interpretation-based solutions and products, in particular our CentoMD database, have limited patent protection, new and existing companies worldwide could seek to develop genetic or other tests or similar products and solutions that compete with ours. These competitors could have technological, financial, and market access advantages that are not currently available to us and they could develop and commercialize competing products and solutions faster than we are able to do so. Increased competition, including price competition, could have a material adverse impact on our net revenues and profitability.

If our pharmaceutical partners experience any of a number of possible unforeseen events in connection with their clinical trials, our ability to commercialize future solutions or improvements to existing solutions could be delayed or prevented.

Our pharmaceutical partners may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, clinical trials that could delay or prevent their ability to continue or conduct further clinical trials or obtain regulatory approval of or commercialize future orphan drugs. Unforeseen events that could delay or prevent our pharmaceutical partners’ ability to conduct or support clinical trials, obtain regulatory approval of or commercialize future orphan drugs include:

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If our pharmaceutical partners choose not to conduct clinical trials for treatments in the rare disease space due to the above factors or otherwise, they may have less need of our products and solutions and may therefore choose not to partner with us. Our ability to continually expand our existing data repository depends on our ability to maintain partnerships with our pharmaceutical clients. Should our partners delay or cancel their ongoing existing trials or choose not to begin new trials for treatments in the rare disease industry, our ability to commercialize future solutions or improvements to existing solutions could be delayed or prevented.

Our employees, principal investigators, consultants, and commercial partners may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including non-compliance with regulatory standards and requirements and insider trading.

We are exposed to the risk of fraud or other misconduct by our employees, principal investigators, consultants, and commercial partners, including our distributors in our diagnostics business and pharmaceutical partners in our pharmaceutical business. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional failures to comply with the regulations of applicable regulatory authorities (including the FDA and the European Commission and EMA), comply with healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations, report financial information or data accurately, or disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing, and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, misconduct, bribery, kickbacks, self-dealing, and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, client incentive programs, and other business arrangements. Such misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical studies, which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. We currently have an insider trading policy as well as a code of conduct applicable to all of our employees and conduct a background check before entering into any new contracts with third party distributors, but it is not always possible to identify and deter employee or third party misconduct, and our insider trading policy and code of conduct, due diligence and the other precautions we take to detect and prevent such misconduct may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses, or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could result in the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions, which could have a significant impact on our business. Whether or not we are successful in defending against such actions or investigations, we could incur substantial costs, including legal fees, and divert the attention of management in defending ourselves against any of these actions or investigations.

We may lose the support of key thought leaders and fail to establish our products and solutions as a standard of care for patients with rare diseases, which may limit our revenue growth and ability to achieve future profitability.

We have established relationships with leading rare disease thought leaders at premier institutions and rare disease networks. If we suffer harm to our reputation, whether due to actions outside of our control or otherwise, our relationships with these persons may suffer which could adversely impact our business, including our key pharmaceutical partnerships and diagnostic client relationships. Moreover, if these key thought leaders determine that our platform (including CentoMD), our existing products or solutions or other new products or solutions that we develop are not useful to our partners’ development of treatments for rare diseases, that alternative technologies are more effective, or if they elect to use internally developed products or solutions, we could encounter significant difficulty validating our testing platform, driving adoption, or establishing our genetic knowledge and

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interpretation-based solutions and tests as a standard of care, which would limit our revenue growth and our ability to achieve profitability.

Security breaches, loss of data, and other disruptions could compromise sensitive information related to our business or prevent us from accessing critical information and expose us to liability, which could adversely affect our business and our reputation.

In the ordinary course of our business, we collect and store sensitive data, including legally protected health information, personally identifiable information, intellectual property, and proprietary business information owned or controlled by us or physicians, pharmaceutical partners and other clients. We manage and maintain our applications and data utilizing a combination of on-site systems, managed data center systems, and cloud-based data center systems. We also communicate, and facilitate the exchange of, sensitive patient data to and between ourselves and physicians of the patients for whom we conduct diagnostic tests through an online client-facing portal, CentoPortal. These applications and related data encompass a wide variety of business-critical information including legally protected health information, personally identifiable information, research and development information, commercial information, and business and financial information. We face a number of key risks related to the protection of this information, including: unauthorized access risk; inappropriate or unauthorized disclosure risk; inappropriate modification risk; and the risk of our being unable to adequately monitor our controls.

The secure processing, storage, maintenance, and transmission of this critical information is vital to our operations and business strategy. Our information technology and infrastructure, and that of our third-party disaster recovery back-up providers, may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or malicious software or breached due to personnel error, unauthorized access, malfeasance, or other disruptions. Any such breach or interruption could compromise the security or integrity of our networks, and the information stored there could be accessed by unauthorized parties, publicly or incorrectly disclosed, corrupted, lost, or stolen. Any such access, disclosure, corruption, other loss, or theft of information could result in governmental investigations, class action legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, such as but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), the General Data Protection Regulation (EU 2016/679) (“GDPR”) and regulatory penalties. Although we have implemented security measures and a formal, dedicated enterprise security program to prevent unauthorized access to patient data, applications such as our online client-facing portals are currently accessible through public web portals and may, in the future, be accessible through dedicated mobile applications, and there is no guarantee we can absolutely protect our online portals or our mobile applications from breach. Unauthorized access to, or loss or dissemination of, the data embedded in or transferred via these applications could also disrupt our operations, including our ability to conduct our analyses, provide test results, bill our pharmaceutical or other partners, provide client assistance solutions, conduct research and development activities, collect, process, and prepare company financial information, provide information about our products and solutions and other pharmaceutical partner and physician education and outreach efforts through our website, manage the administrative aspects of our business, and damage our reputation, any of which could adversely affect our business.

We are a “covered entity” as defined under HIPAA, and the United States Office of Civil Rights may impose penalties on a covered entity for a failure to comply with a requirement of HIPAA. Penalties will vary significantly depending on factors such as the date of the violation, whether the covered entity knew or should have known of the failure to comply, or whether the covered entity’s failure to comply was due to willful neglect. A person who knowingly obtains or discloses individually identifiable health information in violation of HIPAA may face a criminal penalty of up to $50,000 and imprisonment up to one year. The criminal penalties increase to $100,000 and up to five years’ imprisonment if the wrongful conduct involves false pretenses, and to $250,000 and up to 10 years’ imprisonment if the wrongful conduct involves the intent to sell, transfer, or use identifiable health information for commercial advantage, personal gain, or malicious harm. The United States Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) is responsible for criminal prosecutions under HIPAA. Furthermore, in the event of a breach as defined by HIPAA, the covered entity has specific reporting requirements under HIPAA regulations. In the event of a significant breach, the reporting requirements could include notification to the general public.

In addition, the interpretation and application of consumer, health-related, and data protection laws in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere are often uncertain, contradictory, and in flux. It is possible that these laws may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our practices. If so, this could result in government-imposed fines or orders requiring that we change our practices, which could adversely affect our business. In addition, these privacy regulations may differ from country to country, and may vary based on whether testing is performed in the United States or in the local country. Our operations or business practices may not comply with these regulations in each country, and complying with these various laws could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices and compliance procedures in a manner adverse to our business.

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We are subject to significant foreign currency exchange controls in certain countries in which we operate.

We are in some countries, and could become elsewhere, subject to strict restrictions on the movement of cash and the exchange of foreign currencies, which limits our ability to use this cash across our global operations. We also face risks related to the collection of payments due to us from our major pharmaceutical partners or clients that are located in certain geographical regions with foreign currency or international monetary controls. This risk could increase as we continue our geographic expansion. In particular, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 we derived 28.9% and 9.8%, respectively, of our total revenues from our Middle East region. Certain Middle East economies have adopted or been subject to international restrictions on the ability to transfer funds out of the country and convert local currencies into euros. This may increase our costs and limit our ability to convert local currency into euros and transfer funds out of certain countries. Any shortages or restrictions may impede our ability to convert these currencies into euros and to transfer funds, including for the payment of dividends or interest or principal on our outstanding debt.

We may acquire assets or other businesses that could negatively affect our operating results, dilute our shareholders’ ownership or increase our debt.

In addition to organic growth, we may pursue growth through the acquisition of assets or other businesses that may enable us to enhance our technologies and capabilities, expand our geographic market, add experienced management personnel or add new or improve our existing products and solutions. We also may pursue strategic alliances and joint ventures that leverage our technical platform and industry knowledge to expand our products and solutions. Negotiating these transactions and the formation of strategic alliances or joint ventures can be time-consuming and expensive, and may be subject to third-party approvals as well as approvals from governmental authorities, which are beyond our control. In addition, some third parties may choose not to enter into partnership or collaboration agreements with us because of our existing relationships with other pharmaceutical partners. Consequently, we may not be able to complete any contemplated transactions on favorable terms or at all, and we can make no assurance that such transactions, once undertaken and announced, will close.

An acquisition or investment may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures, including in integrating businesses, products and solutions, personnel, operations, and financial, accounting and other controls and systems, and retaining key employees, with the assumption of unknown liabilities or known liabilities that prove greater than anticipated, and in retaining the clients of any acquired business. Any such difficulties could disrupt our ongoing operations or require management resources that we would otherwise focus on developing our existing business. Future acquisitions could result in the use of our available cash and marketable securities, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities, or impairment expenses related to goodwill, and impairment or amortization expenses related to other intangible assets, which could harm our financial condition. As a result, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, technology license, strategic alliance, or joint venture. These challenges related to acquisitions or investments could adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Certain Factors Relating to Our Industry

Regulatory Risks

Our global operations expose us to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements, and violation of these requirements could harm our business.

We are subject to numerous, and sometimes conflicting, legal regimes in the countries in which we operate, including on matters as diverse as health and safety standards, marketing and promotional activities, anticorruption, import/export controls, content requirements, trade restrictions, tariffs, taxation, sanctions, immigration, internal and disclosure control obligations, securities regulation, anti-competition, data privacy and labor relations. This includes in emerging markets where legal systems may be less developed or familiar to us. We strive to abide by and maintain compliance with these laws and regulations. Compliance with diverse legal requirements is costly, time-consuming and requires significant resources. Violations of one or more of these regulations in the conduct of our business could result in significant fines, criminal sanctions against us or our supervisory board or officers, prohibitions on doing business and damage to our reputation. Violations of these regulations in connection with the performance of our obligations to our clients or pharmaceutical partners also could result in liability for significant monetary damages, fines and/or criminal prosecution, unfavorable publicity and other reputational damage, restrictions on our ability to process information and allegations by our clients or pharmaceutical partners that we have not performed our contractual obligations. Due to the varying degrees of development of the legal systems of the countries in which we operate, local laws might be insufficient to protect our rights.

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The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union (“Brexit”) and ratified an agreement on the future trading relationship between the parties (the “UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement” or “TCA”). The TCA is subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before it comes into effect and has been applied provisionally since January 1, 2021. Because the agreement merely sets forth a framework in many respects and will require complex additional bilateral negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union as both parties continue to work on the rules for implementation, significant uncertainty remains about how the precise terms of the relationship between the parties will differ from the terms before withdrawal. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) was appointed as the United Kingdom’s standalone medicines and medical devices regulator (responsible for designating Review Bodies), effective January 1, 2021, and new legislation has been introduced in the United Kingdom, the provisions of which remain to be clarified. Further MHRA guidance is anticipated in the coming months.

Our international operations could be affected by changes in laws, trade regulations, labor and employment regulations, and procedures and actions affecting approval, products and solutions, pricing, reimbursement and marketing of our products and solutions, as well as by inter-governmental disputes. Any of these changes could adversely affect our business. The imposition of new laws or regulations, including potential trade barriers, may increase our operating costs, impose restrictions on our operations or require us to spend additional funds to gain compliance with the new rules, if possible, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition.

Current and future legislation, in particular legislation related to orphan drugs, may impact overall investment and activity in the rare disease space or our ability to obtain regulatory approvals.

In the United States, the European Union, its member states and some other foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system. These changes could affect our ability to sell profitably any products for which we require approvals. Among policy makers and payors in the United States and elsewhere, there is significant interest in promoting changes in healthcare systems with the stated goals of containing healthcare costs, improving quality and/or expanding access to healthcare.

Specifically, regulatory authorities in some jurisdictions, including the United States and the European Union, may designate drugs for relatively small patient populations as orphan drugs. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a drug as an orphan drug if it is a drug intended to treat a rare disease or condition, which is generally defined as a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals annually in the United States, or a patient population of greater than 200,000 in the United States where there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing the drug will be recovered from sales in the United States. In the United States, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax advantages and user-fee waivers.

Similarly, in the European Union, the European Commission grants orphan drug designation after receiving the opinion of the EMA’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products on an orphan drug designation application. Orphan drug designation is intended to promote the development of drugs that are intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of life-threatening or chronically debilitating conditions affecting not more than five in 10,000 persons in the European Union and for which no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention, or treatment has been authorized (or the product would be a significant benefit to those affected). In addition, designation is granted for drugs intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a life-threatening, seriously debilitating or serious and chronic condition and when, without incentives, it is unlikely that sales of the drug in the European Union would be sufficient to justify the necessary investment in developing the drug. In the European Union, orphan drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives, such as reduction of fees or fee waivers, and a ten-year market exclusivity once the drug is on the market.

These legislative initiatives have led to an increase in investment and activity in the rare disease drug development space. If these and other legislative initiatives were to change to become less favorable to orphan drug developers and researchers, it could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may fail to comply with the complex federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations that apply to our business and become subject to severe financial and other consequences.

Our laboratory in the United States is subject to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1998 (“CLIA”), a United States federal law that regulates all clinical diagnostic laboratories that perform testing on specimens derived from humans for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease. CLIA regulations mandate specific standards in the areas of personnel qualifications, administration, participation in proficiency testing, patient test management, quality

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control, quality assurance, and inspections. Our laboratory facilities located in Rostock, Germany and Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States each have a current certificate of accreditation under CLIA to conduct all genetic and biochemical analyses offered through our accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (“CAP”). To renew the CLIA certificates, we are subject to survey and inspection every two years. Moreover, CLIA inspectors may make unannounced inspections of our clinical laboratories at any time.

Any sanction imposed under CLIA, its implementing regulations, or state or foreign laws or regulations governing licensure, or our failure to renew a CLIA certificate, a state or foreign license, or accreditation, could have a material adverse effect on our business. Most CLIA deficiencies are not classified as “condition-level” deficiencies, and there are no adverse effects upon the laboratory operations as long as the deficiencies are corrected. Remediation of these deficiencies are routine matters, with corrections occurring within several hours or weeks. More serious CLIA deficiencies could rise to the level of “condition-level” deficiencies, and CMS has the authority to impose a wide range of sanctions, including revocation of the CLIA certification along with a bar on the ownership or operation of a CLIA certified laboratory by any owners or operators of the deficient laboratory. There is an administrative hearing procedure that can be pursued by the laboratory in the event of imposition of such sanctions, during which the sanctions are stayed, but the process can take a number of years to complete. If we were to lose our CLIA certification or CAP accreditation, we would not be able to operate our clinical laboratories and perform our genetic or other tests, which would result in material harm to our business and results of operations.

We are also required to maintain a license for our Cambridge laboratory facility to perform testing in Massachusetts. Massachusetts laws establish standards for day-to-day operation of our clinical laboratory, including the training and skills required of personnel and quality control over and above that required by CLIA. We are also licensed to perform testing in our Cambridge laboratory facility by the states of California, Pennsylvania and Maryland. We are in the process of obtaining a New York State license to perform testing and deliver the related test report for specimens originating from New York.

For samples tested in the U.S., we are also subject to HIPAA, under which the Department of Health and Human Services established comprehensive federal standards with respect to the privacy and security of protected health information and requirements for the use of certain standardized electronic transactions; certain of our services, including our online client-facing portals for reporting and research, are subject to these standards and requirements. Amendments to HIPAA under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “HITECH Act”), and related regulatory amendments, which strengthen and expand HIPAA privacy and security standards, increase penalties for violators, extend enforcement authority to state attorneys general, and impose requirements for breach notification.

We furnish to pharmaceutical partners genomic information that has been de-identified in accordance with HIPAA or anonymized in accordance with GDPR and relevant international health information privacy regulations. The laws of certain states and countries may require specific consent from the individual either to retain or utilize certain genetic or other information for research or other purposes even if such information has been de-identified, or may require that we obtain a waiver of such consent from an ethical or privacy review board. Even where we furnish to pharmaceutical partners and academic researchers genomic information that has been de-identified or anonymized in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, pharmaceutical partners or academic researchers may use technology or other methods to link that de-identified or anonymized genomic information to the patient from whom it was obtained in contravention of one or more applicable laws and regulations. Similarly, as we expand our decision support applications and offerings, we may encounter greater regulatory risk, such as compliance with HIPAA, GDPR and other regulations governing the use of protected health information and the promotion of FDA approved drugs. A finding that we have failed to comply with any such laws and any remedial activities required to ensure compliance with such laws could cause us to incur substantial costs, to be subject to unfavorable publicity or public opinion, to change our business practices, or to limit the retention or use of genetic or other information in a manner that, individually or collectively, could be adverse to our business.

In the European Union, various regulations apply to genetic or other testing and the use of genomic information. In Germany, the Genetic Diagnosis Act (Gendiagnostikgesetz) (the “GenDG”) and guidelines and written opinions on novel genetic screenings developed by the Commission on Genetic Testing, an interdisciplinary independent commission established in 2009 in accordance with the GenDG, apply to such testing. The GenDG prohibits us from communicating results of genetic or other tests directly to a patient located within Germany. Instead, the results may only be provided to a physician who is a qualified genetic counsellor under applicable rules.

In addition to CLIA, GDPR, HIPAA and the GenDG, our operations are subject to other extensive federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations, all of which are subject to change. Our failure to comply with any such laws and regulations could lead to civil or criminal penalties, exclusion from participation in government healthcare programs, or prohibitions or restrictions on our

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ability to conduct commercial activities. We believe that we are in material compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, but there is a risk that one or more government agencies could take a contrary position. These laws and regulations are complex and are subject to interpretation by the courts and by government agencies. If one or more such agencies allege that we may be in violation of any of these requirements, regardless of the outcome, it could damage our reputation and adversely affect important business relationships with third parties.

We may fail to comply with evolving European and other privacy laws.

On May 25, 2018, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 27, 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (the “GDPR”) went into effect. The GDPR imposes a broad range of strict requirements on companies subject to the GDPR, such as us, including requirements relating to having legal bases for processing personal data relating to identifiable individuals and transferring such information outside the European Economic Area (the “EEA”), including to the United States, providing details to those individuals regarding the processing of their personal data, keeping personal data secure, having data processing agreements with third parties who process personal data as processor, responding to individuals’ requests to exercise their rights in respect of their personal data, reporting security breaches involving personal data to the competent national data protection authority and affected individuals, appointing data protection officers, conducting data protection impact assessments, and record-keeping. The GDPR increases substantially the penalties to which we could be subject in the event of any non-compliance, including fines of up to the higher of 10,000,000 Euros and 2% of our total worldwide annual turnover for the preceding financial year for certain comparatively minor offenses, or up to the higher of 20,000,000 Euros and 4% of our total worldwide annual turnover for the preceding financial year for more serious offenses. Given the new law, we face uncertainty as to the exact interpretation of the new requirements and we may be unsuccessful in implementing all measures required by data protection authorities or courts in interpretation of the new law.

In particular, national laws of member states of the European Union are still in the process of being adapted to the requirements under the GDPR, thereby implementing national laws which may partially deviate from the GDPR and impose different obligations from country to country, so that we do not expect to operate in a uniform legal landscape in the European Union. Also, in the field of handling genetic and health data, the GDPR specifically allows national laws to impose additional and more specific requirements or restrictions, and European laws have historically differed quite substantially in this field, leading to additional uncertainty. Following Brexit, we are also required to comply with GDPR as implemented in the United Kingdom, including through the Data Protection Act 2018. The relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union in relation to certain aspects of data protection law remains unclear, including the treatment of data transfers between European Union member states and the United Kingdom. These changes may lead to additional compliance costs and could increase our overall risk.

We must also ensure that we maintain adequate safeguards to enable the transfer of personal data outside of the EEA, in particular to the United States, in compliance with European data protection laws. In this regard, the July 2020 ruling by the Court of Justice of the EU (the “CJEU”) in the case referred to as Schrems II is significant. The CJEU held that businesses can use European Commission endorsed standard contractual clauses (“SCCs”), which are widely relied on, for data transfers to jurisdictions outside of the EEA. However, it emphasized the need for due diligence by businesses if they wish to use SCCs, and called into question whether businesses can use SCCs to facilitate data transfers to certain jurisdictions with invasive surveillance regimes in a way which complies with the GDPR. The CJEU also invalidated the EU-US Privacy Shield for transferring personal data from the EEA to the US. The European Commission is expected to adopt a new set of SCCs in 2021, which may require businesses to transition existing agreements that rely on the current SCCs to the new SCCs. Such a transition exercise is likely to prove both costly and time consuming. We expect that we will continue to face uncertainty as to whether our efforts to comply with our obligations under European privacy laws will be sufficient. If we are investigated by a European data protection authority, we may face fines and other penalties. Any such investigation or charges by European data protection authorities could have a negative effect on our existing business and on our ability to attract and retain new clients or pharmaceutical partners. We may also experience hesitancy, reluctance, or refusal by European or multinational clients or pharmaceutical partners to continue to use our products and solutions due to the potential risk exposure as a result of the current (and, in particular, future) data protection obligations imposed on them by certain data protection authorities in interpretation of current law, including the GDPR. Such clients or pharmaceutical partners may also view any alternative approaches to compliance as being too costly, too burdensome, too legally uncertain, or otherwise objectionable and therefore decide not to do business with us. Any of the foregoing could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

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We could be adversely affected by violations of worldwide anti-bribery laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

We are subject to a variety of anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate. In particular, we are subject to Germany’s Anti-Bribery Act of 2015 (Gesetz zur Bekämpfung der Korruption im Gesundheitswesen), which implements EU anti-corruption laws and the European legislation and the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption of the Council of Europe into German law, and the FCPA, which prohibits companies and their intermediaries from making payments in violation of law to non-United States government officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or securing any other improper advantage. We are also subject to similar anti-bribery laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the United Kingdom’s Bribery Act of 2010, which prohibits commercial bribery and makes it a crime for companies to fail to prevent bribery.

We use third-party collaborators, strategic partners, law firms and other representatives for patent registration and other purposes in a variety of countries, including those that are known to present a high corruption risk. We also use third-party distributors worldwide as part of our diagnostics business. Our reliance on third parties to sell our products and solutions internationally demands a high degree of vigilance because we can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these third-party collaborators, or their or our employees, representatives, contractors, partners, and agents, even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities. In addition, although we have implemented policies and procedures to ensure compliance with anti-corruption and related laws and maintain a code of conduct, there can be no assurance that all of our employees, representatives, contractors, partners, or agents will comply with these laws at all times. Other United States companies in the medical device and pharmaceutical fields have faced criminal penalties under the FCPA for allowing their agents to deviate from appropriate practices in doing business with these individuals.

These laws are complex and far-reaching in nature, and, as a result, we cannot assure you that we would not be required in the future to alter one or more of our practices to be in compliance with these laws, any changes in these laws, or the interpretation thereof. Non-compliance with these and other relevant laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, investigations, sanctions, settlements, prosecution, other enforcement actions, disgorgement of profits, significant fines, damages, other civil and criminal penalties or injunctions, suspension and debarment from contracting with certain governments or other persons, the loss of export privileges, reputational harm, adverse media coverage, and other collateral consequences. If any subpoenas or investigations are launched, or governmental or other sanctions are imposed, or if we do not prevail in any possible civil or criminal litigation, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be materially harmed. In addition, responding to any action will likely result in a materially significant diversion of management’s attention and resources and significant defense costs and other professional fees. Enforcement actions and sanctions could further harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Transactions involving Iran or other countries or parties that are targets of U.S. or other economic sanctions could expose us to certain risks and may lead some potential customers and investors to avoid doing business with us or investing in our securities.

U.S. law generally prohibits U.S. persons, and in some cases non-U.S. entities owned or controlled by U.S. persons, from doing business with countries, territories, individuals and entities that are the target of sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, including Iran. Other countries also maintain certain economic sanctions targeting certain counties, territories and parties. The United States has also implemented certain sanctions targeting non-U.S. persons for activities conducted outside the United States “secondary sanctions” that involve specific sanctions targets or certain activities, including, among other things, certain transactions related to Iran. Further, certain countries maintain and enforce export controls regulating trade in items that originate in, incorporate content from, or are produced on the basis of technology developed in such country “export controls.”

Centogene GmbH, which is not a U.S. person and is not owned or controlled by U.S. persons, has contracts with several laboratories and one distributor in Iran through which it provides diagnostic tests to patients in Iran, primarily non-invasive prenatal testing (“NIPT”) for pregnant women. To our knowledge, neither we nor our distributor have entered into any arrangements with or sold any products to persons included on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control. During the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, revenues from Iran amounted to €2,950 thousand, €1,277 thousand and €13 thousand, respectively. Our assets receivable from or attributable to our contacts in Iran as of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020 amounted to €1,351 thousand, € 1,471 thousand and €1,430 thousand, respectively. We had no liabilities due from or attributable to our contacts in Iran for these periods. Centogene believes that its business with Iranian parties is conducted in compliance with all applicable sanctions and export controls and that such activities, which involve providing genetic or other testing services to patients, are not sanctionable under U.S. secondary sanctions targeting Iran. However, U.S. sanctions are subject to change and if we were then determined to have engaged in activities targeted by certain

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U.S. sanctions, we could be exposed to the possible imposition of sanctions on us. We may also face reputational damage due to our sales to Iran. The above circumstances could have an adverse effect on our business or results of operations.

We may fail to adhere to regulations of promotional claims and activities regarding our products and solutions.

Once a patient has been identified and diagnosed through our diagnostics testing, we provide each patient’s physician with a diagnostic report. If a positive diagnosis is confirmed, we provide the physician with information on relevant treatment options, although the physician is responsible for ultimately making clinically relevant decisions for the treatment of his or her patient.

In the United States, the FDA and other regulatory agencies strictly regulate the promotional claims that may be made about prescription drugs and devices. In particular, a device may not be promoted for uses or indications beyond those contained in the device’s approved labeling, or “off-label” uses. Similar laws and regulations exist in other jurisdictions where we promote our products. If the FDA determines that we have promoted our products for off-label use, it could request that we modify those promotional materials or take regulatory or enforcement actions, including the issuance of an untitled letter, warning letter, injunction, seizure, civil fine and criminal penalties. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities may take action if they consider our promotional or training materials to constitute promotion of an unapproved use. If not successfully defended, enforcement actions related to off-label promotion could result in significant fines or penalties. The U.S. government has levied large civil and criminal fines against companies for alleged improper promotion and has entered into corporate integrity agreements and deferred prosecution agreements with companies that engaged in off-label promotion. The FDA has also requested that such companies enter into consent decrees and has taken other enforcement action. If the DOJ or FDA determines that we have engaged in off-label promotion in our test reports, we may be subject to civil or criminal fines. Although our policy is to refrain from statements that could be considered off-label promotion of third parties, the regulatory standards regarding off-label promotion are ambiguous, and the FDA or another regulatory agency could conclude that we have engaged in off-label promotion.

In addition to promoting our devices in a manner consistent with their approved indications, we must have adequate substantiation for the claims we make for our products or solutions. If any of our claims are determined to be false, misleading or deceptive, our products or solutions could be considered to be misbranded under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the “FDC Act”) or to violate the Federal Trade Commission Act. We could also face lawsuits from our competitors under the Lanham Act, alleging that our marketing materials are false or misleading. Such lawsuits, whether with or without merit, are typically time-consuming, costly to defend, and could harm our reputation.

Federal and state legislation regulate interactions between medical device manufacturers and healthcare professionals. We are subject to federal and state laws targeting fraud and abuse in healthcare, including anti-kickback laws, false claims laws, and other laws constraining or otherwise related to financial arrangements manufacturers may enter into with healthcare professionals. For example, the Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires device manufacturers to report and disclose payments or other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals. Violations of these laws can result in criminal or civil sanctions, including fines, imprisonment, and exclusion from government reimbursement programs, all of which could materially harm our business.

In addition, incentives exist under applicable laws that encourage competitors, employees, and physicians to report violations of law governing promotional activities for pharmaceutical products and solutions. These incentives could lead to so-called whistleblower lawsuits as part of which such persons seek to collect a portion of monies allegedly overbilled to government agencies due to, for example, promotion of pharmaceutical products and solutions beyond labeled claims. These incentives could also lead to lawsuits that claim we have mischaracterized a competitor’s service in the marketplace and, as a result, we could be sued for alleged damages to our competitors. Such lawsuits, whether with or without merit, are typically time-consuming and costly to defend. Such lawsuits may also result in related shareholder lawsuits, which may also be costly to defend.

Changes in the way that the FDA and the European Union regulate laboratory developed tests, manufactured, validated, and performed by laboratories like ours could result in additional expense in offering our current and any future products and solutions or even possibly delay or suspend development, manufacture, or commercialization of such products and solutions.

The FDA does not currently regulate most laboratory developed tests (“LDTs”). We believe that the tests we currently offer meet the definition of LDTs, as they have been designed, developed and validated for use in a single CLIA-certified laboratory. If our tests are qualified as LDTs, they are currently not subject to FDA regulation as medical devices. Since the early 1990s, the FDA has taken the position that, although LDTs are medical devices, it would exercise enforcement discretion by not requiring compliance with the FDC Act, or its regulations for LDTs. That remains the guidance of the FDA today. However, the FDA has taken certain actions in the past that, if renewed by the FDA, could result in a new regulatory approach for LDTs. In October 2014, the FDA published two

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draft guidance documents that, if finalized, would implement a regulatory approach for most LDTs. The draft guidance documents proposed to impose a risk-based, phased-in approach for LDTs similar to the existing framework for in vitro diagnostic devices. In January 2017, the FDA released a discussion paper synthesizing public comments on the 2014 draft guidance documents and outlining an updated possible approach to regulation of LDTs. Although the discussion paper has no legal status and does not represent a final version of the LDT draft guidance documents, it proposes a risk-based framework that would require most LDTs to comply with most of the FDA’s regulatory requirements for medical devices. In March 2017, a discussion draft of the Diagnostic Accuracy and Innovation Act (“DAIA”) was circulated, which, if enacted, would implement a regulatory scheme for all diagnostic tests, including both in vitro diagnostic devices and LDTs. Under DAIA, CMS would have jurisdiction over laboratory operations under an amended CLIA, and the FDA would regulate the design, development and validation of diagnostic tests under an amended FDC Act. We cannot predict whether this bill or any other any other legislative proposal will be enacted into law or the impact such new legal requirements would have on our business. We also cannot predict whether the FDA will take action to regulate LDTs or what approach the FDA will seek to take.

In addition, in November 2013, the FDA finalized guidance regarding the sale and use of products labeled for research or investigational use only. Among other things, the guidance states that the FDA continues to be concerned about distribution of research- or investigational-use only products intended for clinical diagnostic use. The guidance states that the FDA will assess whether a manufacturer of such research- or investigational-use only products intends that its products be used for clinical diagnostic purposes by examining the totality of circumstances, including advertising, instructions for clinical interpretation, presentations that describe clinical use, and specialized technical support such as assistance performing clinical validation, surrounding the distribution of the product in question. The FDA has advised that if evidence demonstrates that a product is inappropriately labeled for research- or investigational-use only, the device could be deemed misbranded and adulterated within the meaning of the FDC Act. If the FDA were to undertake enforcement actions, some of our suppliers may cease selling research-use only (“RUO”) products to us, and any failure to obtain an acceptable substitute could significantly and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In the European Union LDTs are similarly exempt from the regulations that govern medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics (“IVDs”) under certain conditions. The European Union and German legislation on in-vitro diagnostic medical devices (“IVD-MDD”) applies. According to the recitals of the Council Directive 98/79/EC on IVD-MDD, reagents which are produced within “health-institution laboratories” for use in that environment and which are not subject to commercial transactions are not covered by the Directive. However, the legal framework for applying the exemption clauses for LDTs is not entirely clear as the IVD-MDD lacks an explicit definition and there is no related case law. On May 26, 2022, when the new Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on in-vitro diagnostic medical devices (“IVD-MDR”) becomes applicable, the general safety and performance requirements set out in Annex I of the IVD-MDR are applicable also to devices manufactured and used only within health institutions. Overall the exemptions for LDTs will be narrowed, as even in relation to LDTs, health institutions—among others—have to provide information upon request on the use of such devices to their competent authority and each health institution will have to draw up a declaration which it will make publicly available. If these conditions are not met and/or diagnostic tests are manufactured and used only within health institutions but “on an industrial scale”, such tests will qualify as IVDs with the full applicability of the IVD-MDR. If we were not able to qualify for an exemption, we would be subject to regulation in the European Union. We also cannot predict whether the EU will amend or implement new laws which may impact our current operations.

For tests that are subject to FDA or EU regulation, we may not be able to obtain timely approvals for our tests or for modifications to our tests, which could delay or prevent us from commercializing our tests and harm our business.

The diagnostic tests we currently offer might meet the definition of LDTs, as they have been designed, developed and validated for use in a single CLIA-certified laboratory. If our tests are LDTs, they are currently not subject to FDA or EU regulation as an in-vitro-diagnostic. In May 2022 when the new IVD Regulation 2017/746/EU comes into force in the European Union, a qualification of our diagnostic tests as IVD-MDs becomes more likely as the manufacture of diagnostic tests “on an industrial scale” will not qualify as LDTs. If the FDA or EU takes action to finalize and implement a regulatory system for LDTs, or if legislation is enacted that subjects LDTs to FDA regulation, we would need to comply with the FDA regulatory requirements for our LDTs. If the FDA takes action to regulate LDTs as devices, we believe that our LDTs would likely be regulated as Class II devices.

In the EU, genetic or other tests on humans and prenatal tests for genetically caused disorders are regulated as Class C devices under the IVD Regulation. If our LDTs are subject to the IVD Regulation, our tests that qualify as Class C devices will be subject to conformity assessments performed by a notified body.

If services that are currently marketed as LDTs become subject to FDA requirements for in-vitro-diagnostics or are qualified as being subject to the European Union regulations on in vitro diagnostic medical devices, including requirements for premarket

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clearance or approval, we may not be able to obtain such clearance or approvals on a timely basis, or at all. Our business could be negatively impacted if we are required to stop selling genetic rare disease knowledge and interpretation-based products and solutions pending their clearance or approval, or the launch of any new products and solutions that we develop could be delayed. Likewise, for tests that are regulated as medical devices, we may not be able to obtain clearance or approval of new devices or modifications to marketed devices on a timely basis, or at all, which could delay or prevent us from commercializing our tests and harm our business.

Class II medical devices must obtain FDA clearance of a premarket notification, or 510(k), prior to marketing, unless the FDA has exempted the device from this requirement. Under the 510(k) process, we must demonstrate that our test is substantially equivalent in technological characteristics and intended use to a legally marketed predicate device. The FDA’s review and clearance of a 510(k) usually takes from four to twelve months, but it can take longer. Any modifications to an FDA-cleared device that could significantly affect its safety or effectiveness or that would constitute a major change in its intended use would require a new 510(k) clearance or, if the modified device is not substantially equivalent, possibly a de novo classification request or a premarket approval application (“PMA”).

If we are unable to identify an appropriate predicate that is substantially equivalent to our device, we would be required to submit a PMA application or a de novo reclassification request, because devices that have not been classified are automatically categorized as Class III. Under the de novo process, we may request that the FDA classify a new low or moderate risk device that lacks an appropriate predicate as a Class I or Class II device. The de novo process typically requires the development of clinical data and usually takes between six to twelve months from the time of submission of the de novo application, but it can take longer.

For tests that are subject to FDA or EU regulation, if we do not comply with FDA or EMA regulatory requirements, we may be subject to enforcement action, with severe consequences for our business.

After approval, devices subject to FDA or EMA regulation are required to comply with post-market requirements. Among the requirements, we and our suppliers must comply with the FDA’s Quality System Regulations (“QSRs”), which set forth requirements for the design and manufacture of devices, including the methods and documentation for the design, control testing, quality assurance, labeling, packaging, storage, and shipping of our devices. Our limited experience in complying with these requirements may lead to operational challenges as we increase the scale of our QSR-compliant operations in the United States and develop and refine our policies and procedures for evaluating and mitigating issues we encounter with our processes. Further, if there are any modifications made to the manufacturing of our PMA-approved marketed solutions, a PMA supplement may be required to be submitted to, and approved by, the FDA before the modified device may be marketed.

Other post-market requirements include the reporting of adverse events and malfunctions of which we become aware within the prescribed time frame to the FDA, post-approval studies, establishment registration and device listing, and restrictions on advertising and promotion. We may fail to meet these requirements, which could subject our business to further regulatory risks and costs.

The FDA enforces the post-market requirements of the FDC Act through announced and unannounced inspections. Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements could require us to expend time and resources to respond to the FDA’s observations and to implement corrective and preventive actions, as appropriate. If we cannot resolve such issues to the satisfaction of the FDA, we may be subject to enforcement actions, including untitled or warning letters, fines, injunctions, or civil or criminal penalties. In addition, we could be subject to a recall or seizure of current or future solutions, operating restrictions, a partial suspension, or a total shutdown of service. Any such enforcement action would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In the future, we may fail to achieve coverage or adequate reimbursement for our products and solutions by commercial third-party payors or government payors.

As we expand our operations globally, and in particular to the United States, sales of our existing and any future products and solutions we develop, in particular our diagnostic testing services, in the future may depend upon the availability of adequate reimbursement from third-party payors. These third-party payors include government healthcare programs and/or statutory health insurance schemes in various markets, such as Medicare and Medicaid in the United States and statutory health funds in Germany (the “GKV”), managed care providers, accountable care organizations, private health insurers, and other organizations. We believe that obtaining a positive Medicare Local Coverage Determination, or National Coverage Determination and a favorable Medicare reimbursement rate, and obtaining the agreement of established commercial third-party payors to provide coverage and adequate payment, for each of our existing diagnostic testing services, and any future products and solutions we develop, will be an important

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element in achieving material commercial success in the United States. Physicians may not order our products and solutions unless commercial third-party payors and government payors authorize coverage and pay for all, or a substantial portion, of the rates established for our products and solutions.

Commercial third-party payors and government payors internationally increasingly attempt to contain healthcare costs by lowering reimbursement rates, limiting coverage of diagnostic test services, and creating conditions of reimbursement, such as requiring participation in clinical evidence development involving research studies and the collection of physician decision impact and patient outcomes data. As a result of these cost-containment trends, commercial third-party payors and government payors that currently provide, or in the future may provide, reimbursement for one or more of our services may propose and/or actually reduce, suspend, revoke, or discontinue payments or coverage at any time. Payors may also create conditions for coverage or may contract with third-party vendors to manage laboratory benefits, in both cases creating administrative hurdles for ordering physicians and patients that may make our products and solutions more difficult to sell. The percentage of submitted claims that are ultimately paid, the length of time to receive payment on claims, and the average reimbursement of those paid claims is likely to vary from period to period.

There is significant uncertainty surrounding whether the use of diagnostic tests that incorporate new technology will be eligible for coverage by commercial third-party payors and government payors or, if eligible for coverage, what the reimbursement rates will be for these services. In Germany, the majority of patients are insured via the GKV. The benefit catalogue defining which services in medical care are reimbursed by the GKV is specified by the directives of the Federal Joint Committee as the highest decision-making body of the joint self-government of physicians, dentists, hospitals and health insurance funds in Germany. The fact that a diagnostic test has been approved for reimbursement in the past, has received approval from the FDA or has been certified by a notified body, or has obtained coverage for any particular rare disease indication or in any particular jurisdiction, does not guarantee that such diagnostic service will remain covered and/or reimbursed or that similar or additional diagnostic tests and/or related rare disease types will be covered and/or reimbursed in the future.

As a result, if adequate third-party coverage and reimbursement are unavailable, we may not be able to maintain volume and price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on investment in our diagnostic testing services or to advance our research and development solutions for our pharmaceutical partners.

We cannot predict what future healthcare initiatives will be introduced or implemented in the jurisdictions in which we operate, or how any future legislation or regulation may affect us. Any taxes imposed by legislation, as well as changes to the reimbursement amounts paid by payors for our existing and future products and solutions, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Intellectual Property Risks Related to Our Business

If we are unable to obtain and maintain patent and other intellectual property protection for any products or solutions we develop and for our technology, or if the scope of intellectual property protection obtained is not sufficient, our competitors could develop and commercialize products and solutions similar or identical to ours, and our ability to successfully commercialize any products or solutions we may develop may be adversely affected.

Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain and maintain patent and other intellectual property protection in the United States and other countries for our biomarkers and other products and solutions. Patent law relating to the scope of claims in the fields in which we operate is complex and uncertain, so we cannot make any assurances that we will be able to obtain or maintain patent or other intellectual property rights, or that the patent and other intellectual property rights we may obtain will be valuable, provide an effective barrier to competitors or otherwise provide competitive advantages. In particular, our Lyso-Gb3 biomarker, which we use to support the diagnosis of Fabry disease, is not protected by any patents or included in any pending patent applications, and its successful commercialization by one of our competitors or by other third parties, which, in all probability, we would not be able to prevent, could materially harm our business or results of operations. Moreover, patent applications that we have made in the past have been subject to comment and revision by the relevant patent offices, which have resulted in our withdrawal of certain patent applications. If we are unable to obtain or maintain patent or other intellectual property protection with respect to our proprietary products and solutions, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects could be materially harmed.

The scope of patent protection is uncertain. Changes in either the patent laws or their interpretation in the United States and other countries may diminish our ability to protect our inventions, obtain, maintain, and enforce our intellectual property rights and, more generally, could affect the value of our intellectual property or narrow the scope of our patents. We cannot predict whether the

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patent applications we are currently pursuing will issue as patents in any particular jurisdiction or whether the claims of any issued patents will provide sufficient protection from competitors.

The patent prosecution process is expensive, time-consuming, and complex, and we may not be able to file, prosecute, maintain, enforce, or license all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output in time to obtain patent protection. Parties who have access to confidential or patentable aspects of our research and development output, such as our management and employees, advisors, and other third parties, and who are party to non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with us, may breach such agreements and disclose such output before a patent application is filed, thereby jeopardizing our ability to seek patent protection. In addition, publications of discoveries in the scientific literature often lag behind the actual discoveries, and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after filing, or in some cases not at all. Therefore, we cannot be certain that we were the first to make the inventions claimed in our patents or pending patent applications, or that we were the first to file for patent protection of such inventions.

The patent position of companies in our industry generally is unsettled, involves complex legal and factual questions, and has been the subject of much litigation in recent years. As a result, the issuance, scope, validity, enforceability, and commercial value of our patent rights are highly uncertain. Our pending and future patent applications may not result in patents being issued that protect our products or solutions or which effectively prevent others from commercializing competitive products and solutions.

Moreover, the coverage claimed in a patent application can be significantly reduced before the patent is issued, and its scope can be reinterpreted after issuance. Even if patent applications issue as patents, they may not issue in a form that will provide us with any meaningful protection, prevent competitors or other third parties from competing with us, or otherwise provide us with any competitive advantage. Any patents that we hold may be challenged, narrowed, circumvented, or invalidated by third parties. In particular, for more information regarding U.S. patent law decisions that negatively impact the patentability of biomarkers, diagnostic products and diagnostic methods, and the validity of granted U.S. patents covering such subject matter, see “—Developments in patent law could have a negative impact on our business” below. Consequently, we do not know whether any of our biomarkers or other products and solutions will be protectable or remain protected by valid and enforceable patents. Our competitors or other third parties may be able to circumvent our patents by developing similar or alternative products and solutions in a non-infringing manner. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets, know-how, and other confidential and proprietary information, our business and competitive position would be harmed.

In addition to seeking patent protection for our products and solutions, we also rely upon trade secret protection and non-disclosure agreements and invention assignment agreements with our management and employees, consultants and other third parties to protect our unpatented know-how, technology, and other confidential or proprietary information. For example, significant elements of our proprietary platform and some of our tests, including aspects of sample preparation, computational-biological algorithms, and related processes and software, are based on unpatented trade secrets and know-how that to our knowledge are not publicly disclosed. In addition to contractual measures, we try to protect the confidential nature of our proprietary information using physical and technological security measures. Such measures may not provide adequate protection for our proprietary information; for example, in the case of misappropriation of intellectual rights by a member of management, an employee, consultant, or other third party with authorized access.

Trade secrets and know-how can be difficult to protect. We cannot guarantee that we have entered into applicable non-disclosure agreements and invention assignment agreements with our management and employees, consultants and other third parties who have had access to our trade secrets or other proprietary information. Our security and contractual measures may not prevent a member of management, an employee, consultant, or other third party from misappropriating our trade secrets and providing them to a competitor, other third parties or to the public, and any recourse we take against such misconduct, including litigation, may not provide an adequate remedy to protect our interests fully. Enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated intellectual property can be difficult, expensive, and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Due to variation in the degree of protection afforded to intellectual property of this nature under the laws and regulations applicable to different international markets where our services are sold, our ability to pursue and obtain an adequate remedy may depend significantly on the jurisdiction in which the misconduct takes place and our ability to enforce a favorable judgment against the offending party in a jurisdiction in which such party has substantial assets. In addition, trade secrets may be independently developed by others in a manner that could prevent legal recourse by us. If any of our confidential or proprietary information, such as our trade secrets, were to be disclosed or misappropriated, or if any such information were independently developed by a competitor, our competitive position could be harmed.

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Patents covering our products or solutions could be found invalid or unenforceable if challenged

The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity, or enforceability, and our patents may be challenged in the courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad. Others have filed, and in the future are likely to file, patent applications or related intellectual property rights that are similar or identical to ours. To determine the priority of inventions, demonstrate that we did not derive our invention from another individual or entity, or defend third-party challenges or reservations of the granting authorities to the validity or enforceability of our patent rights, we may have to participate in opposition, derivation, revocation, reexamination, post-grant and inter partes review, or interference proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”) or similar offices or respective courts in Europe or other jurisdictions. For example, we are aware of an opposition proceeding filed in the European Patent Office (“EPO”) by Sanofi against EP Patent No. 2 718 725 B1 (the “725 Patent”), a European patent that we own relating to our biomarker for Gaucher disease. The EPO opposition proceeding challenges the patentability of the ‘725 Patent in its entirety. The EPO rejected the opposition in the first instance in the hearing held on February 4, 2020. Sanofi filed an appeal against the opposition decision to the Board of Appeal at the EPO and the ‘725 Patent may still be revoked or maintained in amended form, in whole or in part, if the Board of Appeal does not uphold the opposition decision. Revoking the ‘725 Patent may limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical products and solutions to ours, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our products and solutions. See “Item 4. Information On The Company—B. Business Overview—Legal Proceedings” and “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.” Sanofi or other third parties may file future oppositions or other challenges, in Europe or other jurisdictions, against other patents that we own and may also challenge or attack the validity of the national parts of the ‘725 Patent before national patent courts in parallel or after the proceedings before the EPO. An adverse determination in any such proceeding or litigation could reduce the scope of, or invalidate, our patent rights, allow third parties to commercialize our products or solutions and compete directly with us, without payment to us.

Moreover, we may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the USPTO to determine priority of invention or in post-grant challenge proceedings, such as oppositions in a foreign patent office or nullity or entitlement proceedings, that challenge priority of invention or other features of patentability. Such challenges may result in loss of patent rights, loss of exclusivity, or in patents being cancelled, narrowed, amended, invalidated, revoked or held unenforceable, in whole or in part, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical products and solutions, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our products and solutions. Such proceedings could also result in substantial costs in legal fees and require significant time from our management and employees, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to us. In the event of entitlement proceedings, purported co-inventors may bring claims for ownership, co-ownership, compensation and/or damages. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our common shares. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

In addition, if we initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering our products or solutions, the defendant could counterclaim that such patent is invalid or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness, or non-enablement. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. In other jurisdictions, defendants have and/or may have comparable grounds for defending against such claims, especially with regard to claims that a patent is invalid. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to the validity question, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art of which we and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution or that a court or office dealing with the invalidity will judge prior art known to us to be detrimental to novelty in a manner deviating from our opinion and/or the opinion of the granting authority, or will consider the invention to be obvious and thus not protectable on the basis of such prior art. Such challenges could result in the revocation of, cancellation of, or amendment to our patents in such a way that they no longer sufficiently cover our products and solutions. If a third party were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity or unenforceability, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on our products or solutions. Such a loss of patent protection would materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Litigation or other proceedings or third-party claims of intellectual property infringement could require us to spend significant time and money and could prevent us from selling our products and solutions or impact our share price.

Our commercial success depends upon our ability to develop and commercialize products and solutions and use our proprietary technologies without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property and proprietary rights of

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third parties. We could become party to, or threatened with, adversarial proceedings or litigation regarding intellectual property rights with respect to our technology and any products or solutions we may develop, including interference proceedings, post-grant review, inter partes review, and derivation proceedings before the USPTO and similar proceedings in foreign jurisdictions, such as oppositions before the EPO or nullity or entitlement proceedings. Third parties may assert infringement and other claims against us based on existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future, regardless of their merit, and we may assert infringement and other claims against third parties. As we continue to commercialize our genetic rare disease information solutions (including our biomarkers), launch new solutions and enter new markets, we expect that competitors will claim that our products or solutions infringe or otherwise violate their intellectual property rights, including as part of business strategies designed to impede our successful commercialization and entry into new markets. Third parties may have obtained, and may in the future obtain, patents under which such third parties may claim that the use of our technologies constitutes patent infringement. Third parties have in the past asserted and may in the future assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization, and we occasionally receive letters from third parties inviting us to take licenses under, or alleging that we infringe, their patents. Depending upon the circumstances, we may elect to remove a particular biomarker from one of our products or solutions.

Even if we believe that third-party intellectual property claims are without merit, there is no assurance that a court would find in our favor on questions of infringement, validity, enforceability, or priority. A court of competent jurisdiction could hold that these third-party patents are valid, enforceable, and infringed, which could materially and adversely affect our ability to commercialize any products or solutions we may develop or have developed. In order to successfully challenge the validity of any such U.S. patent in federal court or in courts in other jurisdictions, we would need to overcome a presumption of validity. As this burden is a high one, requiring us to present clear and convincing evidence as to the invalidity of any such U.S. patent claim, there is no assurance that a court of competent jurisdiction would invalidate the claims of any such U.S. patent. The same applies to other jurisdictions. Even if we were to find prior art that could justify the invalidation of the intellectual property right under which we are attacked, because of the bifurcated system dealing with infringement and validity before different courts in some jurisdictions (e.g. Germany), we may first be injuncted for infringement of the intellectual property right, which may be corrected only after subsequent invalidation of the intellectual property right. If we are found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, and we are unsuccessful in demonstrating that such patents are invalid or unenforceable, we could be required to obtain a license from such third party to continue commercializing our products or solutions. However, we may not be able to obtain any required license on commercially reasonable terms, or at all and therefore may be unable to develop, sell or otherwise commercialize our products or solutions. Even if we were able to obtain a license, it could be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors and other third parties access to the same technologies licensed to us, and it could require us to make substantial licensing, royalty and other payments. Furthermore, parties making claims against us may be able to obtain injunctive or other relief, which could block our ability to develop, commercialize, and sell our products and solutions, and could result in the award of substantial damages against us. In the event of a successful claim of infringement, misappropriation or other intellectual property violation against us, we may be required to render account for and pay damages and attorneys’ fees, recall or destroy stocks and obtain one or more licenses from third parties, or be prohibited from developing, commercializing and selling certain products or solutions. In addition, we could be found liable for significant monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees, if we are found to have willfully infringed a patent or other intellectual property right.

Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses and could distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions, or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a substantial adverse effect on the price of our shares. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing, or distribution activities. We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to conduct such litigation or proceedings adequately. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources and more mature and developed intellectual property portfolios. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during this type of litigation. We also could incur substantial costs and divert the attention of our management and other employees in participating in litigation or proceedings of this nature, and an adverse ruling or perception of an adverse ruling in could have a material adverse impact on our cash position and share price. Any of the foregoing could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

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Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment, and other requirements imposed by government patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

Obtaining and maintaining a patent portfolio entails significant expense and resources. Part of the expense includes periodic maintenance fees, renewal fees, annuity fees and various other governmental fees associated with patents and patent applications due in several stages over the lifetime of patents and patent applications. The USPTO and various non-U.S. government agencies require compliance with several procedural, documentary, fee payment, and other similar provisions during the patent application process. We may or may not choose to pursue or maintain protection for particular inventions. In addition, there are situations in which failure to make certain payments or noncompliance with certain requirements in the patent process can result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. If we choose to forego patent protection or allow a patent application or patent or other intellectual property right to lapse purposefully or inadvertently, our competitive position could suffer. In such an event, potential competitors might be able to enter the market with similar or identical products and solutions. If we fail to obtain, maintain, protect or enforce our intellectual property rights successfully, our competitive position could suffer. Any of the foregoing could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Our rights to develop and commercialize our technology, products and solutions may in the future be subject, in part, to the terms and conditions of licenses granted to us by others.

In connection with the development of new products and solutions we may license intellectual property from third parties in the future, or may deem it necessary to do so in order to commercialize our products or solutions. We may be unable to obtain these licenses at a reasonable cost, or at all. We could, therefore, incur substantial costs related to royalty payments or other payments for licenses obtained from third parties. We may also be unable to obtain exclusive rights to use such intellectual property or technology in all relevant fields of use and in all territories in which we may wish to develop or commercialize our products and solutions in the future and, as a result, we may not be able to prevent competitors from developing and commercializing competitive products or solutions. Moreover, we could encounter delays in introducing new products or solutions while we attempt to develop alternative products and solutions, and the defense of any lawsuit or failure to obtain any of these licenses on favorable terms could prevent us from commercializing our products and solutions, which would materially affect our ability to grow.

Our licensors might conclude that we have materially breached our license agreements and might therefore terminate the license agreements, thereby removing our ability to develop and commercialize products and solutions covered by such agreements. License agreements could also be time-limited or terminated when possible. If these in-licenses are terminated, or if the underlying patents fail to provide the intended exclusivity, competitors might have the freedom to market competing products and solutions identical or similar to ours. Disputes may arise regarding intellectual property subject to a licensing agreement, including:

In addition, agreements under which we license intellectual property or technology from third parties could be complex and turn out to be invalid in whole or in part. Certain provisions in such agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of any contract interpretation disagreement that may arise could narrow what we believe to be the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or increase what we believe to be our financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement. Moreover, if disputes over intellectual property or technology that we have licensed prevent or impair our ability to

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maintain other licensing arrangements on commercially acceptable terms, defending our position could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Developments in patent law could have a negative impact on our business.

Changes in either the patent laws or interpretation of patent laws could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of patent applications and the enforcement or defense of issued patents. From time to time, the United States Supreme Court (the “Supreme Court”), other federal courts, the U.S. Congress, the USPTO, or other foreign patent offices, courts or legislators may change the standards of patentability and any such changes could have a negative impact on our business. Assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, prior to March 2013, in the United States, the first to invent the claimed invention was entitled to the patent, while outside the United States, the first to file a patent application was entitled to the patent. After March 2013, under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (the “America Invents Act”), enacted in September 2011, the United States transitioned to a first inventor to file system in which, assuming that other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application will be entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether a third party was the first to invent the claimed invention. The America Invents Act also includes a number of significant changes that affect the way patent applications will be prosecuted and also may affect patent litigation. These include allowing third-party submission of prior art to the USPTO during patent prosecution and additional procedures to attack the validity of a patent by USPTO-administered post-grant proceedings, including post-grant review, inter partes review, and derivation proceedings. However, the America Invents Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects.

In addition, the patent positions of companies in our industry are particularly uncertain. Recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances and weakened the rights of patent owners in certain situations. For example, diagnostic method claims and “gene patents” were considered in two landmark Supreme Court cases, Mayo Collaborative v. Prometheus Laboratories (“Prometheus”), and Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics (“Myriad”). In Prometheus, a case involving patent claims over a medical testing method directed to optimizing the amount of drug administered to a specific patient, Prometheus’ claims failed to incorporate sufficient inventive content above and beyond merely describing underlying natural correlations to allow the claimed processes to qualify as patent-eligible processes that apply natural laws. In Myriad, a case brought by multiple plaintiffs challenging the validity of patent claims held by Myriad Genetics, Inc. relating to the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, the court held that isolated genomic DNA that exists in nature, such as the DNA constituting the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, is not patentable subject matter, but that cDNA, which is an artificial construct created from RNA transcripts of genes, may be patent eligible. The Federal Circuit has begun to apply the holdings in Prometheus and Myriad. In 2015, the Federal Circuit, in Ariosa v. Sequenom, applying Prometheus, found claims to a prenatal diagnostic method that relied on a natural product to be patent ineligible, and clarified that the absence of preemption of a natural phenomenon was not sufficient to demonstrate patent eligibility.

In response to the Supreme Court decisions in Prometheus, Myriad, and Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International (“Alice Corp.”), and others, the USPTO has updated the Manual of Patent Examination Procedure to provide guidance to USPTO personnel in determining the eligibility of patent claims reciting judicially recognized exceptions to patentable subject matter, including laws of nature, natural phenomena, or abstract ideas, for patent eligibility. The USPTO guidance indicates that claims reciting a judicial exception to patent-eligible subject matter must amount to significantly more than the judicial exception itself in order to be patent-eligible subject matter. We cannot assure you that our efforts to seek patent protection for our products and solutions will not be negatively impacted by this interim guidance issued by the USPTO, the decisions described above, rulings in other cases, or changes in guidance or procedures issued by the USPTO.

We cannot fully predict what impact the Supreme Court’s decisions in Prometheus, Myriad, Alice Corp., and other decisions may have on our ability or the ability of companies or other entities to obtain or enforce patents relating to DNA, genes, or genomic-related discoveries in the future. Despite the USPTO’s interim guidance and Federal Circuit cases described above, the contours of when claims reciting laws of nature, natural phenomena, or abstract ideas may meet the patent eligibility requirements are not clear and may take years to develop via interpretation at the USPTO and in the courts. There are many previously issued patents claiming nucleic acids and diagnostic methods based on natural correlations that issued before the recent Supreme Court decisions discussed, and although many of these patents may be invalid under the standards set forth in the Supreme Court’s recent decisions, until successfully challenged, these patents are presumed valid and enforceable, and certain third parties could allege that we infringe, or request that we obtain a license to, these patents. Whether based on patents issued prior to or after these Supreme Court decisions, we might have to defend ourselves against claims of patent infringement, or choose to license rights, if available, under patents

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claiming such methods. In particular, although the Supreme Court has held in Myriad that isolated genomic DNA is not patent-eligible subject matter, certain third parties could allege that activities that we may undertake infringe other classes of gene-related patent claims, and we could have to defend ourselves against these claims by asserting non-infringement and/or invalidity positions, or pay to obtain a license to these claims. In any of the foregoing or in other situations involving third-party intellectual property rights, if we are unsuccessful in defending against claims of patent infringement, we could be forced to pay damages or be subjected to an injunction that would prevent us from utilizing the patented subject matter in question if we are unable to obtain a license on reasonable terms or at all. Such outcomes could materially affect our ability to offer our products and solutions and have a material adverse impact on our business. Even if we are able to obtain a license or successfully defend against claims of patent infringement, the cost and distraction associated with the defense or settlement of these claims could have a material adverse impact on our business. Any of the foregoing could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

We may not be able to enforce our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, we may face an increased risk in these jurisdictions that unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain or use our patented technology, trademarks, formulations or other intellectual property. The laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of Germany or the United States. Specifically, the legal systems of some countries, particularly developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, especially those relating to biotechnology. This could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or other intellectual property rights and to prevent third parties from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and to the United States, Germany or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent or other protection to develop their own products and, further, may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection but enforcement is not as strong as that in Germany or the United States. These products may compete with our products and solutions, and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing. Additionally, many countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner must grant licenses to third parties or limit the enforceability of patents against third parties, including government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, patents may provide limited or no benefit. Patent protection must ultimately be sought on a country-by-country basis, which is an expensive and time-consuming process with uncertain outcomes. Accordingly, we may choose not to seek patent protection in certain countries, and we will not have the benefit of patent protection in such countries.

Monitoring infringement and misappropriation of intellectual property can be difficult and expensive, and we may not be able to detect every instance of infringement or misappropriation of our proprietary rights. Even if we do detect infringement or misappropriation of our proprietary rights, proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights could result in substantial costs, divert the efforts and attention of our employees and management from other aspects of our business, put our patents at risk of being invalidated or construed narrowly or provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property and proprietary rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop. In addition, changes in the law and legal decisions by courts in Germany, the United States and other jurisdictions may affect our ability to obtain adequate protection for our products and solutions and to enforce our intellectual property rights. Any of the foregoing could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Third parties may assert ownership or commercial rights to inventions we develop.

Third parties may in the future make claims challenging the inventorship or ownership of our intellectual property. For example, we rely on certain third parties to provide us with biological materials that we use to conduct our genomic analyses. We have written agreements with collaborators that provide for the ownership of intellectual property arising from our collaborations. These agreements provide that we must negotiate certain commercial rights with collaborators with respect to joint inventions or inventions made by our collaborators that arise from the results of the collaboration. In some instances, there may not be adequate written provisions to address clearly the resolution of intellectual property rights that may arise from a collaboration. If we cannot successfully negotiate sufficient ownership and commercial rights to the inventions that result from our use of a third-party collaborator’s materials where required, or if disputes otherwise arise with respect to the intellectual property developed with the use of a collaborator’s samples, we may be limited in our ability to capitalize on the market potential of these inventions. In addition, we may face claims that our agreements with our management, employees, contractors, or consultants obligating them to assign intellectual property to us are ineffective, or in conflict with prior or competing contractual obligations of assignment, which could result in ownership disputes regarding intellectual property we have developed or will develop and interfere with our ability to capture the commercial value of

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such inventions. Litigation may be necessary to resolve an ownership dispute, and if we are not successful, we may be precluded from using certain intellectual property, or may lose our exclusive rights in that intellectual property. Any of the foregoing could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Most of our employees and inventions are subject to German law.

Most of our personnel, including our directors, work in Germany and are subject to German employment law. Inventions which may be the subject of a patent or of protection as a utility model and which are or were made by personnel working in Germany (except for legal representatives of our respective legal entities, for example managing directors) are subject to the provisions of the German Act on Employees’ Inventions (Gesetz über Arbeitnehmererfindungen) (the “German Inventions Act”), which regulates the ownership of, and compensation for, inventions made by employees. We face the risk that disputes may occur between us and our current or past employees pertaining to the sufficiency of compensation paid by us, allocation of rights to inventions under this Act or alleged non-adherence to the provisions of this Act, any of which may be costly to resolve and take up our management’s time and efforts whether we prevail or fail in such dispute. In addition, under the German Inventions Act, certain employees retain rights to patents and/or utility models they invented or co-invented and disclosed to us prior to October 1, 2009. If we do not manage to have the respective third-party interests transferred to us or are unable to obtain an exclusive license to any such third-party co-owners’ or owners’ interest in such patents and/or utility models, such co-owners or owners may be able to transfer or license their rights to other third parties, including our competitors. In addition, we may need the cooperation of any such co-owners or owners to enforce any such patents and/or utility models against third parties, or to conclude license agreements regarding such patents and/or utility models with third parties, and such cooperation may not be provided to us. While we believe that all of our current and past German employee inventors have subsequently assigned to us their interest in inventions, patents and/or utility models they invented or co-invented, there can be no assurance that all such assignments are fully effective, which can lead to unexpected costs or economic disadvantages. Even if we lawfully own all inventions created by our employees who are subject to the German Inventions Act, we are required under German law to reasonably compensate such employees for the use of the inventions and intellectual property rights related thereto. If we are required to pay compensation or face other disputes under the German Inventions Act, our results of operations could be adversely affected. Legal representatives of legal entities, for example managing directors, whose contractual relationships with the respective entity are subject to German law and that are not subject to the German Inventions Act as well as consultants must assign and transfer their interest in inventions, patents and/or utility models they invent or co-invent to us in order for us to have any rights to such inventions, patents and/or utility models. While we believe that all assignments have been made, there can be no assurance that all such assignments are fully effective, which may harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

If any of our current or past employees, legal representatives of our legal entities or consultants obtain or retain ownership or co-ownership of any inventions or related intellectual property rights that we believe we own, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights and be required to acquire the respective third-party interests or to obtain and maintain licenses from such employees or legal representatives of legal entities or consultants to such inventions or intellectual property rights, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or may be non-exclusive. If we are unable to acquire the respective third-party interests or to obtain and maintain a license to any such employee’s, legal representative’s of legal entities or consultant’s interest in such inventions or intellectual property rights, we may need to cease the development, manufacture, and commercialization of one or more of the products or solutions we may develop or may have developed. In addition, any loss of exclusivity of our intellectual property rights could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical products and solutions. We may also face entitlement, compensation and/or damages claims from our current or past employees, legal representatives of our legal entities or consultants owning or co-owning any inventions or related intellectual property rights that we believe we own. Any of the foregoing events could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Third parties may assert that our employees or consultants have wrongfully used or disclosed confidential information or misappropriated trade secrets.

Many of our employees (including our management) and consultants are currently or were previously employed at universities or other diagnostic or biopharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Although we try to ensure that our employees and consultants do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these individuals have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information, of a current or former employer or other third parties. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management and other employees and/or consultants. Such claims could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and result of operations.

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In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees (including our management) and consultants who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who, in fact, conceives or develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. The assignment of intellectual property rights may not be self-executing, or the assignment agreements may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims that they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property. Such claims could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Intellectual property rights do not necessarily address all potential threats.

The degree of future protection afforded by our intellectual property rights is uncertain because intellectual property rights have limitations and may not adequately protect our business or permit us to maintain our competitive advantage. For example:

Should any of these events occur, they could materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Capital Requirements

We have a history of losses and we may incur losses in the future.

We have historically incurred losses, including total comprehensive losses of €21,426 thousand, €20,839 thousand and €11,346 thousand in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We expect our losses to continue as a result of ongoing research and development expenses and increased selling and marketing costs. These losses have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our working capital, total assets, and shareholders’ equity. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our inability to achieve and then maintain profitability would negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

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Failure to meet covenants under any loan facility may limit our liquidity and could result in the lenders accelerating amounts we owe to them under the facility.

We may enter into new debt facilities in the future. The breach of any covenants under these new facilities, if not remedied or waived in time, could result in a default on our obligations and/or cause the acceleration of our outstanding debt by our lenders, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the trading price of our securities. If we are not able to repay the loans, this may lead to the commencement of foreclosure or other enforcement actions against any of our assets securing such debt. Even if the bank would waive a covenant breach, we may be subject to an increase of interest rates or margins, respectively, as well as the payment of a waiver fine. Furthermore, the covenants as well as the breach of the covenants may impose restrictions on the way we can operate and may limit our ability to finance our future operations and capital needs and our ability to pursue business activities that may be in our interests.

We may need to raise additional capital to fund our existing operations, develop our genetic information platform, commercialize new products and solutions and expand our operations.

If our available cash balances and anticipated cash flow from operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, including because of lower demand for our products or solutions as a result of other risks described herein, we may seek to sell common or preferred equity or convertible debt securities, enter into another credit facility or another form of third-party funding, or seek other debt financing.

Our ongoing efforts to expand our business will require substantial cash resources. We may consider raising additional capital in the future to expand our business, to pursue strategic investments, to take advantage of financing opportunities, or for other reasons, including to:

Our present and future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including:

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If we raise funds by issuing debt securities, those debt securities would have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of holders of our common shares. The terms of debt securities issued or borrowings pursuant to a credit or similar agreement could impose significant restrictions on our operations. Such financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If additional funds are raised by issuing equity securities, existing shareholders may suffer significant dilution. If we raise funds through collaborations and licensing arrangements, we might be required to relinquish significant rights to our platform technologies or solutions, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us.

Additional equity or debt financing might not be available on reasonable terms or at all. Because of our potential long-term capital requirements, we may access the public or private equity or debt markets whenever conditions are favorable, even if we do not have an immediate need for additional capital at that time. If we cannot secure additional funding when needed, we may have to delay, reduce the scope of, or eliminate one or more research and development programs or sales and marketing initiatives. In addition, we may have to work with a partner on one or more of our development programs, which could lower the economic value of those programs to us. Lastly, if we are unable to obtain the requisite amount of financing needed to fund our planned operations, it could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial position.

We may be required to refund grants and subsidies.

We have received various grants and subsidies to fund our research and development programs from various funding organizations. However, the Company continues to engage in efforts to secure further grants and subsidies for the next development steps of its product candidates. Some of these grants and subsidies provide for certain requirements in respect of the utilization of proceeds generated as a result of the publicly sponsored projects. For example, we received grants from the European Regional Development Fund in order to fund our Rostock facility, which grants are limited in purpose to development and innovation in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. Other grants which we obtain may impose restrictions on our operations, and if we are in noncompliance with the restrictions and conditions of any grant or subsidy program, a partly or complete repayment cannot be excluded. This may also apply to grants and subsidies we may apply for in the future. If we are required to refund grants or subsidies, this could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and cash flow position and may negatively affect our business, prospects and financial conditions. In the year ended December 31, 2020, we have received a total of €773 thousand in grants for our activities.

We incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company and our management needs to devote substantial time to public company compliance programs.

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses due to our compliance with regulations and disclosure obligations applicable to us, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as rules implemented by the SEC, and the Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”). The SEC and other regulatory authorities have continued to adopt new rules and regulations and make additional changes to existing regulations that require our compliance. In July 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was enacted. There are significant corporate governance- and executive compensation-related provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act that have required the SEC to adopt additional rules and regulations in these areas. Shareholder activism, the current political environment, and the current high level of government intervention and regulatory reform may lead to substantial new regulations and disclosure obligations, which may lead to additional compliance costs and impact, in ways we cannot currently anticipate, and the manner in which we operate our business. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance programs and the monitoring of public company reporting obligations, and as a result of the new corporate governance- and executive compensation-related rules, regulations, and guidelines prompted by the Dodd-Frank Act, and further regulations and disclosure obligations expected in the future, we will likely need to devote additional time and costs to comply with such rules and regulations. These rules and regulations will cause us to incur significant legal and financial compliance costs and will make certain activities more time-consuming and costly.

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To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we may need to undertake various actions, including implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring new accounting or internal audit staff. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate, and additional material weaknesseses in our internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls could adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, which we may be required to include in the periodic reports we file with the SEC under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and could harm our operating results, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, or result in a restatement of our prior period financial statements. In the event that we are not able to demonstrate compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that our internal control over financial reporting is perceived as inadequate, or that we are unable to produce timely or accurate financial statements, investors may lose confidence in our operating results, and the price of our common shares could decline.

We are required to comply with certain of the SEC rules that implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires management to certify financial and other information in our annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, commencing with this, our second annual report. This assessment includes the disclosure of any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified by our management or our independent registered public accounting firm. During the evaluation and testing process, if we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting or if we are unable to complete our evaluation, testing, and any required remediation in a timely fashion, we will be unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. For further details, see “Item 15 – Controls and Procedures”.

Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until the first annual report required to be filed with the SEC following the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls in the future. If we are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could have a material adverse effect on the price of our common shares.

If we fail to implement effective internal controls over financial reporting, such failure could result in material misstatements in our financial statements, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other public information and have a negative effect on the trading price of our common shares.

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires management of public companies to develop and implement internal controls over financial reporting and evaluate the effectiveness thereof. If we fail to design and operate effective internal controls or remediate our existing material weakness, it could result in material misstatements in our financial statements, impair our ability to raise revenue, result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements and subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanctions, which in turn could harm the market value of our common shares.

We will be required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures and our management will be required to assess the effectiveness of these controls annually. However, for as long as we are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. We could be an “emerging growth company” for up to five years after our initial public offering. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal controls could lead to financial statement restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.

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We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and may identify additional material weaknesses in the future that may cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in material misstatements of our financial statements. If we fail to remediate our material weakness or if we fail to establish and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately or to prevent fraud.

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires management of public companies to develop and implement internal controls over financial reporting and evaluate the effectiveness thereof. A material weakness is a deficiency or a combination of deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

In connection with the preparation of our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine month period ended September 30, 2018, we identified a material weakness in our internal controls as of December 31, 2017, related to the lack of effectively designed review controls over judgmental and complex areas of the financial statement close process and a lack of effectively designed routine financial statement close process controls. The material weakness was not fully remediated as of December 31, 2020.

In response to such material weakness, management hired additional senior accounting and financial professionals with the experience and knowledge necessary to supervise the financial statement closing process and review the accounting records and necessary adjustments. An additional experienced professional was also engaged to begin establishing and implementing relevant internal control procedures to address the material weakness identified. At the end of 2019, we completed an optimization of our accounting system and we commenced automation of certain control activities and report functionality.

Further improvement of the internal control environment of our key accounting processes was limited during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in an increase in business activities that required our focus. During 2020, we performed risk assessments to identify relevant financial risks and are designing and implementing a formalized framework for internal control. We designed and formalized policies and procedures to ensure routine transactions and complex areas of the financial statement close process are sufficiently analyzed and assessed against the requirements of IFRS and our corporate governance standards. In the year ending December 31, 2021, we intend to finalize the design of the internal control framework, including the implementation and monitoring of effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure related to risk assessment, compliance, and oversight of our business. We are also considering further hires of senior staff members to support the additional reporting and compliance requirements that listed companies are subject to. Although we are working to remediate the material weakness as quickly and efficiently as possible, we cannot reliably estimate the duration that will be required to effectively remediate the material weakness.

If we are unable to successfully remediate our identified material weakness, if we discover additional material weaknesses or if we otherwise are unable to report our financial statements accurately or in a timely manner, we would be required to continue disclosing such material weaknesses in future filings with the SEC, which could adversely affect our business, investor confidence in our company and the market price of our common shares and could subject us to litigation or regulatory enforcement actions. As a result, shareholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the market value of our common shares.

Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our shareholders, restrict our operations or require us to relinquish rights to our technologies or drug candidates.

To the extent that we choose or need to raise additional capital through the sale of common shares or securities convertible or exchangeable into common shares, the ownership interest of our shareholders will be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that materially adversely affect the rights of our common shareholders. Debt financing, if available, would increase our fixed payment obligations and may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends.

If we raise funds through additional collaborations, strategic alliances or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our intellectual property, future revenue streams, research programs or drug candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when

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needed, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our drug development or future commercialization efforts or grant rights to develop and market drug candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves.

Our results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

Although we report our results of operations in euro, not all of our net revenues are denominated in the euro. Unfavorable fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Because our consolidated financial statements are presented in euro, we must translate revenues, expenses and income, as well as assets and liabilities, into euros at exchange rates in effect during or at the end of each reporting period. Therefore, changes in the value of the euro against other currencies will affect our net revenues, operating income and the value of balance-sheet items originally denominated in other currencies. These changes cause our growth in consolidated earnings stated in euro to be higher or lower than our growth in local currency when compared against other periods.

As we continue to leverage our global delivery model, more of our expenses are incurred in currencies other than those in which we bill for the related services. An increase in the value of certain currencies against the euro could increase costs for delivery of services at off-shore sites by increasing labor and other costs that are denominated in local currency. There can be no assurance that our contractual provisions will offset their impact, or that our currency hedging activities, which are designed to partially offset this impact, will be successful. In addition, our currency hedging activities are themselves subject to risk. These include risks related to counterparty performance under hedging contracts and risks related to currency fluctuations. We also face risks that extreme economic conditions, political instability or hostilities or disasters of the type described below could impact our underlying exposures, perhaps eliminating them. Such an event could lead to losses being recognized on the currency hedges then in place, not offset by anticipated changes in the underlying hedge exposure.

Certain Factors Relating to Our Common Shares

Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common shares to decline.

Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause a decline in the market price of our common shares. This could also impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our equity securities. Under our articles of association, we are authorized to issue up to 79,000,000 common shares, of which 22,117,643 common shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2020. If our existing shareholders sell substantial amounts of common shares in the public market, or the market perceives that such sales may occur, the market price of our common shares and our ability to raise capital through an issue of equity securities in the future could be adversely affected.

Moreover, we have entered into a registration rights agreement entitling certain of our existing shareholders to rights, subject to conditions, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other shareholders. In addition, we have registered on a Form S-8 registration statement all common shares that we may issue under our new long term equity incentive plan.

As a result, these shares can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates. If these additional shares are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our common shares could decline.

We have broad discretion in the use of our cash on hand and may invest or spend it in ways with which you do not agree and in ways that may not yield a return on your investment.

As of December 31, 2020, we had €48.2 million in cash and cash equivalents. Our management will have broad discretion in the use of such cash and could spend it in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common shares. You will not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use our cash on hand. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could harm our business, cause the price of our common shares to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending its use, we may invest our cash on hand in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

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Our transformation into a public company is causing an increase of our costs and may disrupt the regular operations of our business.

Our business historically operated as a privately owned company, and we have incurred and will continue to incur significant additional legal, accounting, reporting and other expenses as a result of being a publicly traded company. We have incurred and will continue to incur costs and expenses including, but not limited to, managing directors’ and supervisory board members’ fees, increased directors, and officers, insurance, investor relations, and various other costs of a public company.

We also expect to incur costs associated with corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as rules implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make some management and corporate governance activities more time-consuming and costly, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” These rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. This could have an adverse impact on our ability to retain, recruit and bring on a qualified management board and a qualified independent supervisory board. We expect that the additional costs we will incur as a public company, including costs associated with corporate governance requirements, will be considerable relative to our costs as a private company.

The additional demands associated with being a public company may disrupt regular operations of our business by diverting the attention of some of our senior management team away from revenue producing activities to management and administrative oversight, adversely affecting our ability to attract and complete business opportunities and increasing the difficulty in both retaining professionals and managing and growing our businesses. Any of these effects could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Furthermore, after the date we are no longer an emerging growth company, our independent registered public accounting firm will only be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting depending on our market capitalization. Even if our management concludes that our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, our independent registered public accounting firm may still decline to attest to our management’s assessment or may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, in connection with the implementation of the necessary procedures and practices related to internal control over financial reporting, we may identify deficiencies that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the deadline imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. Failure to comply with Section 404 could subject us to regulatory scrutiny and sanctions, impair our ability to raise revenue, cause investors to lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and negatively affect our share price.

We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our common shares less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we are taking advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.” For example, for as long as we are an “emerging growth company” under the recently enacted JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years. We cannot predict if investors will find our common shares less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common shares and our share price may be more volatile.

In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Given that we currently report and expect to continue to report under IFRS as issued by the IASB, we have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required by the IASB. Since IFRS makes no distinction between public and private companies for purposes of compliance with new or revised accounting standards, the requirements for our compliance as a private company and as a public company are the same.

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We are a foreign private issuer and, as a result, we are not subject to U.S. proxy rules and are subject to Exchange Act reporting obligations that, to some extent, are more lenient and less frequent than those of a U.S. domestic public company.

We report under the Exchange Act as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including (i) the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act, (ii) the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time and (iii) the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K, upon the occurrence of specified significant events. In addition, foreign private issuers are not required to file their annual report on Form 20-F until four months after the end of each fiscal year, while U.S. domestic issuers that are accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year. Foreign private issuers are also exempt from the Regulation Fair Disclosure, aimed at preventing issuers from making selective disclosures of material information. As a result of the above, you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are not foreign private issuers.

We may lose our foreign private issuer status, which would then require us to comply with the Exchange Act’s domestic reporting regime and cause us to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses.

We are a foreign private issuer and therefore we are not required to comply with all of the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. If in the future we are not a foreign private issuer as of the last day of the second fiscal quarter in any fiscal year, we would be required to comply with all of the periodic disclosure, current reporting requirements and proxy solicitation rules of the Exchange Act applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. In order to maintain our current status as a foreign private issuer, either (a) a majority of our common shares must be either directly or indirectly owned of record by non-residents of the United States or (b)(i) a majority of our managing directors, supervisory board members and executive officers may not be United States citizens or residents, (ii) more than 50% of our assets cannot be located in the United States and (iii) our business must be administered principally outside the United States. If we were to lose this status, we would be required to comply with the Exchange Act reporting and other requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, which are more detailed and extensive than the requirements for foreign private issuers. We may also be required to make changes in our corporate governance practices in accordance with various SEC and stock exchange rules. The regulatory and compliance costs to us if we are required to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly higher than the costs we would incur as a foreign private issuer. As a result, we expect that a loss of foreign private issuer status would increase our legal and financial compliance costs and would make some activities highly time consuming and costly. These rules and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified directors.

As a foreign private issuer and as permitted by the listing requirements of Nasdaq, we follow certain home country governance practices rather than the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq.

We are a foreign private issuer. As a result, in accordance with the listing requirements of Nasdaq, we are relying on home country governance requirements and certain exemptions thereunder rather than relying on the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq. In accordance with Dutch law and generally accepted business practices, our articles of association do not provide quorum requirements generally applicable to general meetings of shareholders. To this extent, our practice will vary from the requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(c), which requires an issuer to provide in its bylaws for a generally applicable quorum, and that such quorum may not be less than one-third of the outstanding voting shares. Although we must provide shareholders with an agenda and other relevant documents for the general meeting of shareholders, Dutch law does not have a regulatory regime for the solicitation of proxies and the solicitation of proxies is not a generally accepted business practice in the Netherlands, thus our practice varies from the requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5620(b). As permitted by the listing requirements of Nasdaq, we have also opted out of the requirements of (i) Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(d), which requires, among other things, an issuer to have a compensation committee that consists entirely of independent directors and makes determinations regarding the independence of any compensation consultants, (ii) Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(e), which requires independent director oversight of director nominations, and (iii) Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b), which requires an issuer to have a majority of independent directors on its board. In addition, we have opted out of shareholder approval requirements, as included in the Nasdaq Listing Rules, for the issuance of securities in connection with certain events such as the acquisition of shares or assets of another company, the establishment of or amendments to equity-based compensation plans for employees, a change of control of the Company and certain private placements. To this extent, our practice varies from the requirements of Nasdaq Rule 5635, which generally requires an issuer to obtain shareholder approval for the issuance

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of securities in connection with such events. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these Nasdaq rules.

Insiders continue to have substantial control over us and could limit your ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.

Our principal shareholders, including certain of our managing directors, supervisory board members and executive officers and entities affiliated with them, in the aggregate, continue to beneficially own approximately 66.6% of outstanding common shares. As a result, these shareholders, if acting together, are able to influence or control matters requiring approval by our general meeting of shareholders, including the election of managing directors and supervisory board members, changes to our articles of association and the approval of mergers or other extraordinary transactions. They may also have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and which may be adverse to your interests. The concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of our company, could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common shares as part of a sale of our company and might ultimately affect the market price of our common shares.

We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, for the foreseeable future, to repay indebtedness and to fund the development and growth of our business. We do not intend to pay any dividends to holders of our common shares. As a result, capital appreciation in the price of our common shares, if any, will be your only source of gain on an investment in our common shares.

If we do pay dividends, we may need to withhold tax on such dividends payable to holders of our shares in both Germany and the Netherlands.

We do not intend to pay any dividends to holders of our common shares. However, if we do pay dividends, we may need to withhold tax on such dividends both in Germany and the Netherlands. As an entity incorporated under Dutch law, any dividends distributed by us are subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax on the basis of Dutch domestic law. However, on the basis of the 2012 Convention between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income (the “double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands”), the Netherlands will be restricted in imposing these taxes if we continue to be a tax resident of Germany and our place of effective management is located in Germany. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—We may become taxable in a jurisdiction other than Germany and this may increase the aggregate tax burden on us.” However, Dutch dividend withholding tax is still required to be withheld from dividends if and when paid to Dutch resident holders of our common shares (and non-Dutch resident holders of our common shares that have a permanent establishment in the Netherlands to which their shareholding is attributable). As a result, upon a payment of dividends, we will be required to identify our shareholders in order to assess whether there are Dutch residents (or non-Dutch residents with a permanent establishment in the Netherlands to which the common shares are attributable) in respect of which Dutch dividend tax has to be withheld. Such identification may not always be possible in practice. If the identity of our shareholders cannot be determined, withholding of both German and Dutch dividend tax may occur upon a payment of dividends.

Furthermore, the withholding tax restriction referred to above is based on the current reservation made by Germany under the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (the “MLI”) with respect to the tie-breaker provision included in Article 4(3) of the double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands (the “MLI tie-breaker reservation”). If Germany changes its MLI tie-breaker reservation, we will not be entitled to any benefits of the double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands, including the withholding tax restriction, as long as Germany and the Netherlands do not reach an agreement on our tax residency for purposes of the double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands, except to the extent and in such manner as may be agreed upon by the authorities. As a result, any dividends distributed by us during the period in which no such agreement has been reached between Germany and the Netherlands, may be subject to withholding tax both in Germany and the Netherlands.

Shareholders may not be able to exercise preemptive rights and, as a result, may experience substantial dilution upon future issuances of common shares

In the event of an issuance of common shares, subject to certain exceptions, each shareholder will have a pro rata preemptive right in proportion to the aggregate nominal value of the common shares held by such holder. These preemptive rights may be restricted or excluded by a resolution of the general meeting of shareholders or by another corporate body designated by the general meeting of shareholders. Our management board is authorized, until June 26, 2025, to issue shares or grant rights to subscribe for

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shares up to our authorized share capital from time to time and to limit or exclude preemptive rights in connection therewith. This could cause existing shareholders to experience substantial dilution of their interest in us.

If equity and industry research analysts publish negative evaluations of or downgrade our common shares, the price of our common shares could decline.

The trading market for our common shares relies in part on the research and reports that equity and industry research analysts publish about us or our business. We do not control these analysts. If one or more of the analysts covering our business downgrade their evaluations of our common shares, the price of our common shares could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover our common shares, we could lose visibility in the market for our common shares, which in turn could cause our common shares price to decline.

We may become taxable in a jurisdiction other than Germany and this may increase the aggregate tax burden on us.

Since our incorporation we have had, on a continuous basis, our place of “effective management” in Germany. Therefore, we believe that we qualify as a tax resident of Germany on the basis of German domestic law. As an entity incorporated under Dutch law, however, we also qualify as a tax resident of the Netherlands on the basis of Dutch domestic law. However, based on our current management structure and the current tax laws of the United States, Germany and the Netherlands, as well as applicable income tax treaties, and current interpretations thereof, we believe that we are tax resident solely in Germany for the purposes of the double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands due to the “effective management” tie-breaker. The test of “effective management” is largely a question of fact and degree based on all the circumstances, rather than a question of law. Nevertheless, the relevant case law and OECD guidance suggest that the Company is likely to be regarded as having become a German tax resident from incorporation and remaining so if, as the Company intends, (i) most meetings of its management board are held in Germany (and none are held in the Netherlands) with a majority of directors present in Germany for those meetings; (ii) at those meetings there are full discussions of, and decisions are made regarding, the key strategic issues affecting the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) those meetings are properly minuted; (iv) at least some of the directors of the Company, together with supporting staff, are based in Germany; and (v) the Company has permanent staffed office premises in Germany. We may, however, become subject to limited income tax liability in other countries with regard to the income generated in the respective other country, for example, due to the existence of a permanent establishment or a permanent representative in such other country.

The applicable tax laws, tax treaties or interpretations thereof may change. Furthermore, whether we have our place of effective management in Germany and are as such tax resident solely in Germany is largely a question of fact and degree based on all the circumstances, rather than a question of law, which facts and degree may also change. Changes to applicable tax laws, tax treaties or interpretations thereof and changes to applicable facts and circumstances (for example, a change of board members or the place where board meetings take place), or changes in the applicable tax treaties, including a change to the MLI tie-breaker reservation, may result in us also becoming a tax resident of the Netherlands or another jurisdiction (other than Germany), potentially also triggering an exit liability in Germany. As a consequence, our overall effective income tax rate and income tax expense could materially increase, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects, which could cause our share price and trading volume to decline. However, if there is a double tax treaty between Germany and the respective other country, the double taxation of income may be reduced or avoided entirely.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes may be limited.

Our ability to utilize our net operating losses (“NOLs”) is currently limited, and may be limited further, under Section 8c of the German Corporation Income Tax Act (Körperschaftsteuergesetz, the “KStG”) and Section 10a of the German Trade Tax Act (Gewerbesteuergesetz, the “GewStG”). These limitations apply if a qualified ownership change, as defined by Section 8c KStG, occurs and no exemption is applicable.

Generally, a qualified ownership change occurs if more than 50% of the share capital or the voting rights are directly or indirectly transferred to a shareholder or a group of shareholders within a period of five years. A qualified ownership change may also occur in case of a transaction comparable to a transfer of shares or voting rights or in case of an increase in capital leading to a respective change in the shareholding. In the case of such a qualified ownership change tax loss carryforwards expire in full. To the extent that the tax loss carryforwards do not exceed hidden reserves (stille Reserven) taxable in Germany, they may be further utilized despite a qualified ownership change. In case of a qualified ownership change within a group, tax loss carryforwards will be preserved if certain conditions are satisfied. In case of a qualified ownership change, tax loss carryforwards will be preserved (in the form of a

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“fortführungsgebundener Verlustvortrag”) if the business operations have not been changed and will not be changed within the meaning of Section 8d KStG.

According to another appeal filed by the fiscal court of Hamburg dated August 29, 2017, Section 8c, paragraph 1, sentence 1 KStG is not in line with the German constitution. The appeal is still pending. It is unclear when the Federal Constitutional Court will decide this case. According to statements in German legal literature, there are good reasons to believe that the Federal Constitutional Court may come to the conclusion that Section 8, paragraph 1, sentence 1 KStG is not in line with the German constitution.

As of December 31, 2020, we estimate unrecognized NOL carryforwards for German tax purposes of approximately €64.5 million available which have not yet been assessed. Future changes in share ownership may also trigger an ownership change and, consequently, a Section 8c KStG or a Section 10a GewStG limitation. Any limitation may result in the expiration of a portion or the complete tax operating loss carryforwards before they can be utilized. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards to reduce German income tax may be subject to limitations, which could potentially result in increased future cash tax liability to us.

Although we do not believe that we were a “passive foreign investment company,” or a PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes in 2020, we may be a PFIC in 2021 or one or more future taxable years. If we were a PFIC in any taxable year, U.S. shareholders may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.

Under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), we will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which, after the application of certain look-through rules with respect to our subsidiaries, either (i) 75% or more of our gross income consists of passive income or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. Passive income includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain non-active rents and royalties, and capital gains. Based on our current operations, income and assets, and certain estimates and projections, including as to the relative values of our assets, we do not believe that we were a PFIC for our 2020 taxable year. However, there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will agree with our conclusion. In addition, whether we will be a PFIC in 2021 or any future taxable year is uncertain because, among other things, (i) we currently own, and expect to continue to own, a substantial amount of passive assets, including cash, (ii) the value of our assets that generate non-passive income for PFIC purposes, including our intangible assets, is uncertain and may vary substantially over time and (iii) the composition of our income may vary substantially over time. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any taxable year.

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. investor holds our common shares, we would continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to that U.S. investor for all succeeding years during which the U.S. investor holds our common shares, even if we ceased to meet the threshold requirements for PFIC status, unless certain exceptions apply. Such a U.S. investor may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences, including (i) the treatment of all or a portion of any gain on disposition as ordinary income, (ii) the application of an additional tax effectively representing deferred interest charge on such gain and the receipt of certain dividends and (iii) compliance with certain reporting requirements. We do not intend to provide the information that would enable investors to make a qualified electing fund election (a “QEF Election”) that could mitigate the adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences should we be classified as a PFIC.

For further discussion, see “Item 8. Financial Information—E. Taxation—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders.”

We are a Dutch public company. The rights of our shareholders are different from the rights of shareholders in companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions and may not protect investors in a similar fashion afforded by incorporation in a U.S. jurisdiction.

We are a Dutch public company (naamloze vennootschap) organized under the laws of the Netherlands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our articles of association and by the laws governing companies incorporated in the Netherlands. However, there can be no assurance that Dutch law will not change in the future or that it will serve to protect investors in a similar fashion afforded under corporate law principles in the United States, which could adversely affect the rights of investors.

The rights of shareholders and the responsibilities of managing directors and supervisory board members may be different from the rights and obligations of shareholders and board members in companies governed by the laws of U.S. jurisdictions. In the performance of their duties, our managing directors and supervisory board members are required by Dutch law to consider the interests of our company, its shareholders, its employees and other stakeholders, in all cases with due observation of the principles of

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reasonableness and fairness. It is possible that some of these parties will have interests that are different from, or in addition to, your interests as a shareholder.

Provisions of our articles of association or Dutch corporate law might deter acquisition bids for us that might be considered favorable and prevent, delay or frustrate any attempt to replace or remove the members of our management board or supervisory board.

Under Dutch law, various protective measures are possible and permissible within the boundaries set by Dutch law and Dutch case law. In this respect, certain provisions of our articles of association may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us or effect a change in our management board and supervisory board. These include:

In addition, on March 23, 2021, a bill was enacted by the Dutch Senate which, will introduce a statutory cooling-off period of up to 250 days during which our general meeting of shareholders would not be able to dismiss, suspend or appoint members of our supervisory board (or amend the provisions in the articles of association dealing with such matters) unless such matters are proposed by our management board. As of the date of this annual report, the date on which this bill enters into force had not yet been announced. This cooling-off period could be invoked by our management board, subject to supervisory board approval, if:

The cooling-off period, if invoked, ends at the occurrence of the earliest of the following events:

​
In addition, our shareholders representing at least 3% of our issued share capital may request authorization from the Dutch Enterprise Chamber for early termination of the cooling-off period. The Dutch Enterprise Chamber must rule in favor of the request if our shareholders can demonstrate that:

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​

During the cooling-off period, if invoked, our management board must gather all relevant information necessary for a careful decision-making process. In this context, our management board must at least consult with our shareholders representing at least 3% of our issued share capital at the time the cooling-off period was invoked and with the Dutch works council (if applicable). Formal statements expressed by these stakeholders during such consultations must be published on our website to the extent these stakeholders have approved that publication.

Ultimately, one week following the last day of the cooling-off period, our management board must publish a report on our website in respect of our policy and conduct of affairs during the cooling-off period. This report must remain available for inspection by our shareholders and others with meeting rights under Dutch law at our office and must be tabled for discussion at our next General Meeting.

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We are not obligated to, and do not, comply with all best practice provisions of the Dutch Corporate Governance Code.

As a Dutch public company, we are subject to the DCGC. The DCGC contains both principles and best practice provisions that regulate relations between the management board, the supervisory board and the shareholders. The DCGC is based on a “comply or explain” principle. Accordingly, companies are required to disclose in their annual reports, filed in the Netherlands, whether they comply with the provisions of the DCGC. If they do not comply with those provisions (for example, because of a conflicting Nasdaq requirement), the company is required to give the reasons for such non-compliance. The DCGC applies to Dutch companies listed on a government-recognized stock exchange, whether in the Netherlands or elsewhere, including Nasdaq. We do not comply with all best practice provisions of the DCGC. This may affect your rights as a shareholder and you may not have the same level of protection as a shareholder in a Dutch company that fully complies with the DCGC.

Our share price might fluctuate, as a result of which you could lose a significant part of your investment.

The market price of our common shares may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

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In addition, the stock market in general has experienced substantial price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies affected. These broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our common shares, regardless of our operating performance. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of certain companies’ securities, securities class action litigation has been instituted against these companies. This litigation, if instituted against us, could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

Claims of U.S. civil liabilities may not be enforceable against us.

We are organized and existing under the laws of the Netherlands, and, as such, under Dutch private international law rules the rights of our shareholders and the civil liability of our directors and executive officers are governed in certain respects by the laws of the Netherlands. The ability of our shareholders in certain countries other than the Netherlands to bring actions against us, our directors and executive officers may be limited under applicable law. In addition, substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States.

As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our directors and executive officers or to enforce against them or us in U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, it is not clear whether a Dutch court would impose civil liability on us or any of our directors and executive officers in an original action based solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the Netherlands.

As of the date of this Annual Report, the United States and the Netherlands do not have a treaty providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, other than arbitration awards, in civil and commercial matters. With respect to choice of court agreements in civil or commercial matters, it is noted that the Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements entered into force for the Netherlands, but has not entered into force for the United States. Accordingly, a judgment rendered by a court in the United States, whether or not predicated solely upon U.S. securities laws, would not automatically be recognized and enforced by the competent Dutch courts. However, if a person has obtained a judgment rendered by a court in the United States that is enforceable under the laws of the United States and files a claim with the competent Dutch court, the Dutch court will in principle give binding effect to a foreign judgment if (i) the jurisdiction of the foreign court was based on a ground of jurisdiction that is generally acceptable according to international standards, (ii) the judgment by the foreign court was rendered in legal proceedings that comply with the Dutch standards of proper administration of justice including sufficient safeguards (behoorlijke rechtspleging), (iii) binding effect of such foreign judgment is not contrary to Dutch public order (openbare orde) and (iv) the judgment by the foreign court is not incompatible with a decision rendered between the same parties by a Dutch court, or with a previous decision rendered between the same parties by a foreign court in a dispute that concerns the same subject and is based on the same cause, provided that the previous decision qualifies for recognition in the Netherlands. Even if such a foreign judgment is given binding effect, a claim based thereon may, however, still be rejected if the foreign judgment is not or no longer formally enforceable.

Based on the lack of a treaty as described above, U.S. investors may not be able to enforce against us or our directors, representatives or certain experts named herein who are residents of the Netherlands or countries other than the United States any judgments obtained in U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters, including judgments under the U.S. federal securities laws.

The United States and Germany currently do not have a treaty providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, in civil and commercial matters. Consequently, a final judgment for payment or declaratory judgments given by a court in the United States, whether or not predicated solely upon U.S. securities laws, would not automatically be recognized or enforceable in Germany. German courts may deny the recognition and enforcement of a judgment rendered by a U.S. court if they consider the U.S. court not to be competent or the decision to be in violation of German public policy principles. For example, judgments awarding punitive damages are generally not enforceable in Germany. A German court may reduce the amount of damages granted by a U.S. court and recognize damages only to the extent that they are necessary to compensate actual losses or damages.

In addition, actions brought in a German court against us, our managing directors, our supervisory board members, our senior management and the experts named herein to enforce liabilities based on U.S. federal securities laws may be subject to certain restrictions. In particular, German courts generally do not award punitive damages. Litigation in Germany is also subject to rules of procedure that differ from the U.S. rules, including with respect to the taking and admissibility of evidence, the conduct of the proceedings and the allocation of costs. German procedural law does not provide for pre-trial discovery of documents, nor does Germany support pre-trial discovery of documents under the 1970 Hague Evidence Convention. Proceedings in Germany would have to be conducted in the German language and all documents submitted to the court would, in principle, have to be translated into German. For these reasons, it may be difficult for a U.S. investor to bring an original action in a German court predicated upon the

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civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us, our managing directors, our supervisory board members, our senior management and the experts named in this Annual Report.

Based on the foregoing, there can be no assurance that U.S. investors will be able to enforce against us or management board members, supervisory board members and executive officers or certain experts named herein who are residents of or possessing assets in the Netherlands, Germany, or other countries other than the United States any judgments obtained in U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters, including judgments under the U.S. federal securities.

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Item 4. Information on the Company

A.History and Development of the Company

Centogene was founded by our former CEO, Prof. Arndt Rolfs, in 2006 in Rostock, Germany. In connection with our initial public offering, which closed on November 12, 2019, we executed a corporate reorganization whereby Centogene B.V., which was incorporated on October 11, 2018, was converted into Centogene N.V. and Centogene N.V. became the holding company for Centogene AG, which remains our principal operating subsidiary. Centogene N.V. is a Dutch public company (naamloze vennootschap) organized under the laws of the Netherlands and our legal and commercial name is Centogene N.V.

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In July 2020, we completed a follow-on public offering of 3,500,000 common shares of the Company (the “Follow-on Equity Offering”), consisting of 2,000,000 common shares offered by the Company and 1,500,000 common shares offered by selling shareholders at a price to the public of $14.00 per common share (i.e., €12.71 per share). Aggregate offering proceeds, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and transaction costs, to the Company were €22 million. On March 5, 2020, the Company resolved that Centogene AG shall be converted into a German limited liability company and renamed Centogene GmbH. Such conversion became effective upon the registration in the German commercial register on June 29, 2020, and was therefore completed in the financial year ending December 31, 2020.

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Our principal executive offices are located at Am Strande 7, 18055 Rostock, Germany and our additional offices are in Berlin (Germany), Cambridge (Massachusetts, United States), Vienna (Austria), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Delhi (India) and Zug (Switzerland). Since November 7, 2019, our common shares have traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “CNTG.” Our agent for service of process in the United States is Cogency Global, located at 10 East 40^th Street, 10^th Floor, New York, NY 10016.

We are an emerging growth company and as such, we are eligible to, and intend to, take advantage, for up to five years, of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies that are not Emerging Growth Companies, such as not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of: (i) the last day of our fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least $1.07 billion; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the closing of our initial public offering; (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a Large Accelerated Filer under the Exchange Act, with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates.

Our capital expenditures for 2020, 2019 and 2018 amounted to €16,547 thousand, €7,576 thousand and €11,769 thousand, respectively. These expenditures were primarily for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. For further details see Item 4B below.

The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov. Our website can be found at www.centogene.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report, and you should not consider information contained on our website or any websites mentioned in this Annual Report to be part of this Annual Report.

B.Business Overview

We are a commercial-stage company focused on rare hereditary diseases that transforms real-world clinical and multi-omics data into superior insights to the diagnosis, drug discovery and treatment of rare disease patients. We are developing a global proprietary rare disease platform based on our real-world data and biological repository with over 3.9 billion weighted data points

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from approximately 600,000 patients representing over 120 different countries as of December 31, 2020, or an average of over 6,500 data points per patient. Our platform includes epidemiologic, phenotypic and genetic and multi-omics data that reflects a global population, and also a biobank of these patients’ biological samples. We believe this represents the only platform that comprehensively analyzes multi-level data to improve the understanding of rare hereditary diseases, which can aid in the identification of patients and improve our pharmaceutical partners’ ability to bring orphan drugs to the market. As of December 31, 2020, we collaborated with 33 pharmaceutical partners on projects targeting over 49 different rare diseases.

A rare disease, by definition in the United States, is a disease that affects 200,000 or fewer people. However, with over 7,000 currently identified rare diseases, they in aggregate affect more than 350 million people globally. Rare diseases can be severe and often take years to diagnosis - on average it takes six to eight years for a patient with a rare disease to be diagnosed. This underscores the significant unmet need for high-quality genetic or other information in the rare disease space for the early identification and effective treatment of patients. Despite legislative initiatives and continued investment in rare disease drug development, significant unmet need still exists. Of the 7,000 identified rare diseases, it is estimated that 80%, or 5,600, have a genetic origin and, of these rare hereditary diseases, only approximately 250 rare hereditary diseases, or less than 5%, have an FDA approved treatment. The introduction of new treatments and development of cost-effective drugs are constrained by a number of factors including: a lack of high-quality information regarding the clinical heterogeneity of medical symptoms, lack of comprehensive and curated medical data, difficulties in the early identification of patients, lack of biomarkers and difficulties in understanding market size and epidemiology.

Our business is comprised of solutions for both physicians and their patients, as well as pharmaceutical companies. Our diagnostics solution typically starts with specialist physicians requesting diagnostic information to identify or confirm a rare disease by sending us their patients’ blood samples on our proprietary dried blood spot collection kit that bears the CE Mark - the CentoCard. With highly advanced technology, our proprietary database and our team of medical experts, we then deliver reports back to the physicians that contain what we believe is critical information containing genetic, proteomic, metabolomic information, or some combination, depending on what is most salient for each case. We also input this data to our CentoMD platform, which enriches our understanding of rare diseases broadly.

For our pharmaceutical partners, we are able to provide various valuable information using our platform. For instance, with the access to the data in our repository and biomaterials in our biobank, we have successfully developed biomarkers by applying highly sophisticated tools, including mass spectrometry technologies, together with artificial intelligence capabilities in an efficient and cost effective manner. Biomarkers are important in orphan drug development as well as post commercialization monitoring, by demonstrating the efficacy of existing and new drugs, performing longitudinal monitoring and informing necessary titration for individual rare disease patients. Newly identified biomarkers may also have the potential to become validated disease modifiers, opening up opportunities for new therapeutic approaches. As of December 31, 2020, we have capabilities and technology in place to leverage the data in our repository and biomaterials in our biobank to support 59 biomarker discovery programs, of which 14 biomarkers covering eight rare diseases, including AADC deficiency, Cystic Fibrosis, Fabry disease, Faber disease, Gaucher disease, Hereditary Angioedema Disease (“HAE”), Niemann-Pick Type A/B and Niemann-Pick Type C diseases, are now validated as laboratory developed tests.

In December 2018, the FDA issued a statement that supports the use of real-world evidence to accelerate drug development and to monitor the safety of drugs after they have been commercialized. Moreover, in February 2019, the FDA also issued a revised draft guidance for drug discovery in rare diseases, including a discussion of the benefits of using biomarkers as surrogate endpoints (the outcomes of which can be measured against therapy effectiveness in clinical trials). We believe that this new guidance from FDA, acknowledging the benefits of the use of both real-world evidence and biomarkers, further validates the value of our global proprietary rare disease platform and our biomarkers.

We historically have offered solutions to our pharmaceutical parties and clients through two business segments. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in December 2019, resulted in our recognizing, as of the beginning of Q3 2020, a separate reportable segment comprising our COVID-19 diagnostics business. Our historical business segments – pharmaceutical and diagnostics – remain our core business segments. Our pharmaceutical segment provides a variety of products and services to our pharmaceutical partners, including target discovery, early patient recruitment and identification, epidemiological and patient population sizing insights, biomarker discovery and patient monitoring and follow-up. Our information platforms, our access to rare diseases patients and their biomaterials and our ability to develop proprietary technologies including biomarkers enable us to provide services to our pharmaceutical partners in all phases of the drug development process as well as post-commercialization. Revenues in our pharmaceutical segment are generated primarily from collaboration agreements with our pharmaceutical partners, which are structured on a fee per sample basis, milestone basis, fixed fee basis, royalty basis or a combination of these. For the year ended

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December 31, 2020, €16,951 thousand, or 13.2%, of our total revenues were derived from our pharmaceutical segment. For the year ended December 31, 2019, €21,522 thousand, or 44.1%, of our total revenues were derived from our pharmaceutical segment.

Our diagnostics segment provides targeted genetic sequencing and diagnostics services to patients through our distribution partners and clients, who are typically physicians, labs or hospitals. As of December 31, 2020, we believe we offer the broadest diagnostic testing portfolio for rare diseases, covering over 19,000 genes using over 10,000 different tests.

Revenues from our diagnostics segment are typically generated by set fees per diagnostic test or per bundle of diagnostic tests under contracts with our clients. For the year ended December 31, 2020, €22,108 thousand, or 17.2%, of our total revenues were derived from our diagnostics segment. For the year ended December 31, 2019, €27,258 thousand, or 55.9%, of our total revenues were derived from our diagnostics segment.

We continuously work on expanding our medical and genetic knowledge of rare genetic diseases. We work with renowned international scientific and academic institutions on a variety of groundbreaking research projects involving a significant number of rare genetic disease patients.

The test requests that we receive from our customers in our pharmaceutical segment, our diagnostics segment, as well as from research projects yield a rich collection of genetic and biochemical data which are used to map out phenotype-genotype correlations and continuously enrich and improve the quality of our database.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, we received over 115,100 test requests in total for both our pharmaceutical and diagnostics segments, as well as for our internal research projects, bringing the total number of test requests received in the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020 to approximately 519,000. Compared to the total number of patients in our repository as of December 31, 2020, this shows that approximately 87% of our data and biomaterials came from the last five years, which is an important factor when it comes to recruiting patients for clinical trials and clinical studies, considering the short average life expectancy of rare disease patients.

During 2020, we successfully set up eight walk-in COVID-19 test facilities and several mobile test centers across Germany while offering our testing kits, CentoKit-19, online. Revenues generated through the COVID-19 segment for the year ended December 31, 2020 represented 69.6% of the Group’s total revenues. To support the expansion of test offerings, the Company acquired laboratory facilities and equipment, developed a Corona Test Portal and leased laboratory space at several locations in Germany. Total investments in COVID-19 testing as of December 31, 2020 amounted to approximately €10.8 million, of which approximately €7.7 million and €1.4 million, respectively, are included in property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets. An amount of €1.7 million is included in intangible assets and relates to the development of the Corona Test Portal.

The graphic below shows the cumulative test requests for the diagnostics, pharmaceutical and COVID-19 segments, as well as test requests received for our internal research projects during the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020. The testing

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expenses relating to requests received for our internal research projects were included in Corporate as they did not generate any revenue and cannot be allocated to either of our three business segments.

For the majority of the pharmaceutical, diagnostics and corporate tests, we have express consent from the patients in our CentoMD, which offers the ability to retest their biomaterials in our biobank.

The graphic below shows the cumulative 176,400 test requests received from our diagnostics segment in the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020, split by different type of analysis.

“Standard genetic” testing includes our single gene, CNV and mutation quantification products.

From our inception in 2006, Centogene has been focused on changing the way patients with rare diseases are treated. Our laboratory at our headquarters in Rostock, Germany, as well as our Cambridge, Massachusetts facility, are equipped with the most

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advanced technologies from thirteen different diagnostic platforms and, as of December 31, 2020, together employ approximately 660 highly qualified personnel (including consultants) from over 55 nationalities. In addition to our laboratories, we have sales and administrative offices located in Berlin (Germany), Cambridge (Massachusetts, United States), Vienna (Austria), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Delhi (India) and Zug (Switzerland), allowing us to further expand our international footprint.

Strategy

Our strategic objective is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases by transforming real-world clinical and genetic and multi-omics data into actionable information for patients, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies, and unlocking critical knowledge that will guide and accelerate orphan drug development. To achieve this objective, our strategy is to:

Rare Disease Overview

Overview

The Rare Diseases Act of 2002 defines a rare disease as having a prevalence of fewer than 200,000 affected individuals in the United States. In the European Union, orphan drug designation is intended to promote the development of drugs for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of life-threatening or chronically debilitating conditions affecting not more than one in 2,000 persons in the

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European Union and for which no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention, or treatment has been authorized (or the product would be a significant benefit to those affected).

The National Institutes of Health lists more than 7,000 disorders that qualify as rare diseases. A wide range of conditions qualify as rare diseases and include, but are not limited to:

According to research published in the European Journal of Human Genetics in September 2019, a conservative, evidence-based estimate for the population prevalence of rare diseases is 3.5-5.9%, which equates to approximately 300 to 500 million people affected globally at any point in time. According to the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium, there were over 800 new rare diseases identified between 2010 and 2019.

Cause of Rare Diseases

While there are many causes of rare diseases, approximately 5,800 are due to genetic mutations which are hereditary and passed from one generation to the next. Genes direct the production of proteins, make up body structures like organs and tissue, as well as control chemical reactions and carry signals between cells. If a cell’s DNA is mutated, a dysfunctional protein may be produced, which can lead to a disease. Therefore, one way in which rare diseases can be diagnosed is by identifying the specific mutations in a patient’s DNA, even without the manifestation of physical symptoms. To date, there are estimated to be approximately 4,700 rare genetic diseases that can be diagnosed by diagnostic sequencing tools. Despite these advancements in science and availability of next-generation sequencing (“NGS”) technologies, rare diseases are complex and an underlying genetic cause for approximately 1,100 rare diseases is still unknown.

In addition, new genetic mutations associated with identified rare diseases are discovered every year, and as a result, rare genetic diseases that can be diagnosed need to be continuously updated with the new information, otherwise the diagnosis provided becomes inaccurate over time. From January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2020, there were over 4,000 new genetic mutations discovered and linked to rare diseases.

Manifestation and Diagnosis of Rare Diseases

Because of phenotypic heterogeneity, rare disease manifestations vary in onset and severity and many rare diseases exhibit a number of variations or sub-types. Almost 70% of the rare genetic diseases are pediatric onset, which means symptoms may be observed at birth or in childhood, as is the case with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, neurofibromatosis and chondrodysplasia. The remaining rare genetic diseases manifest symptoms during adulthood. Given the delayed onset and large variance in the symptoms that can manifest, the vast majority of these patients are misdiagnosed.

Given the multifaceted genetic and phenotypical nature of rare diseases, diagnosis is complex and requires specialist knowledge. It is often difficult for rare disease patients to find healthcare professionals with adequate experience. If diagnosis, treatment and management are not led by specialists, it may result in an incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatment, which can result in poorer patient outcomes. In addition, comprehensive phenotypical information on rare diseases is not always captured, and as a result, symptoms are often misinterpreted and patients are often not properly diagnosed, in particular when patients with such symptoms present to physicians who have never encountered rare diseases before. Even though genetic testing is the current accepted standard for making a diagnosis, there are still knowledge barriers that prevent the full interpretation of data obtained from such tests.

Delay to diagnosis is commonly experienced by patients and is due to poor awareness of rare diseases by health professionals and the small number of patients affected. This delay in diagnosis can be significant for many patients and may lead to irreversible progression of the patient’s condition, in particular when children are suffering from rare diseases. For example, in the United Kingdom and the United States, the average time to obtain a correct diagnosis for rare diseases was found to be five to seven years,

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and in this time there were two to three incorrect diagnoses for a given condition. Pediatric rare disease patients can experience an even more significant delay in diagnosis. Across both pediatric and adult patient populations, approximately 90% of rare disease patients are typically undiagnosed. For example, the National Fabry Disease Foundation estimates that there are approximately 50,000 Fabry disease patients in the United States, whereas only 4,000 to 5,000 are currently diagnosed. As a result of incorrect and delayed diagnosis, unnecessary tests and treatments are often carried out and in some cases treatment windows are missed entirely.

Regulatory Environment and Current Market

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in December 2019 in China and has spread worldwide, has caused many governments to implement measures to slow the spread of the outbreak through quarantines, travel restrictions, heightened border scrutiny and other measures. We have taken a series of actions aimed at safeguarding our employees and business associates, including implementing a work-from-home policy for employees except for those related to our laboratory operations. These disruptions could result in increased costs of execution of operational plans or may negatively impact our business due to its negative impact on the global economy.

For more information on the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business and financial results, please see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—The COVID-19 pandemic could adversely impact our business and results of operations.”

Orphan drug legislation in the United States has made significant improvements in encouraging the development of new drugs to treat rare diseases. Since the passage of the Orphan Drug Act and subsequent amendments to the orphan drug regulations, the FDA has granted over 5,000 orphan drug designations. Moreover, the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (“CDER”) approved 53 novel drugs in 2020, among which 58% were approved for treatment of orphan diseases, up from 44% in the previous year. During the year ended December 31, 2020, CDER has approved more than twice as many orphan drugs than in the previous 9 years, with a total of 195 novel orphan drugs approved from 2012 to 2020, as compared to 70 approvals for the period from 2003 to 2011.

The success of orphan drug legislation in the United States led to the adoption of similar legislation in other key markets, most notably in the European Union, where the European Commission grants orphan drug designation after receiving the opinion of the EMA committee, with over 2,200 orphan drug designations granted since 2000.

In the United States, orphan drug designation allows the drug sponsor to benefit from incentives for the development of these products up to marketing approval. The measures apply to all stages of drug development and include tax credits on clinical research, waiver of certain application fees and marketing exclusivity for seven years. In addition, more than $400 million was provided by the FDA’s Orphan Products Clinical Trials Grants Program over the last three decades and led to the approval of more than 60 different drugs for rare diseases. In the European Union, financial incentives including fee reductions or waivers are available and market exclusivity is granted for ten years.

Due to these legislative initiatives, there has been an increase in investment and activity in the rare disease drug development space. In 2017, over $45 billion is estimated to have been spent on discovery and development efforts in the U.S. for the treatment of rare diseases. This represents 10% of overall drug spending in 2017, up from 4% of overall drug spending in 1997. In addition, as of April 30, 2019, there were approximately 610 non-oncology orphan designated products being developed worldwide. These investments are expected to lead to the approval of new rare disease drugs, which, according to market research, are expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.3% from 2019 to 2024 to $242 billion, capturing approximately 20% of worldwide prescription sales.

Key Challenges in Rare Disease Drug Development

Despite the legislative initiatives to encourage orphan drug development and the consequent increase in investment and activity in the rare disease drug development space, significant unmet needs still exist. Of the 5,600 rare hereditary diseases, very few rare hereditary diseases have an FDA approved treatment. The limited number of treatments available for rare diseases is the greatest challenge for patient care and is based on the lack of research on rare diseases and barriers in developing and commercializing treatments.

We believe the following summarizes the key challenges clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry are facing today:

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Lack of high-quality medical data as a result of:

Difficulties in the early identification of patients. Identifying rare disease patients is difficult given the small patient population for each rare disease. In addition, the population for each of the rare diseases is typically also scattered and diverse, which makes it more difficult to gain access to patients and collect sufficient real-world data to perform meaningful analyses to obtain a better understanding of the rare diseases. The lack of sufficient understanding of the clinical manifestations of rare disease makes it even more challenging to derive accurate diagnoses. The ability to access relevant patients with a particular rare disease and to access appropriate expertise, a network and dataset via the biobank, improves the accuracy of disease identification and facilitates the development of new treatments and diagnostic procedures.

Lack of biomarkers. The small patient populations, phenotypic heterogeneity, homogenous datasets and lack of curated information for rare diseases all impede biomarker discovery. Without an identified biomarker, the ability to diagnose and ultimately treat a patient in a timely manner is diminished. Delayed diagnoses and limited knowledge of available treatments can lead to incorrect patient management, further disease progression and/or invasive or detrimental treatments. For example, patients suffering from Gaucher disease and Cystic Fibrosis can have average life expectancies of only eleven years and one year, respectively, if no treatments are available, leaving limited time for effective treatment if not diagnosed early. In addition, the lack of an identified biomarker can create hurdles in obtaining drug approval as biomarkers can be beneficial in clinical development, specifically in monitoring how effectively a patient is treated by a drug.

Difficulties in orphan drug development and commercialization as a result of:

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Our Vision

We have an integrated approach with a detailed, global understanding of the genetic basis and the clinical phenotype of rare hereditary diseases, which we believe will unlock the ability to target rare diseases and provide critical knowledge that will guide drug development and monitoring, and ultimately improve patient care. We perform analysis on the patients’ data that we receive from our pharmaceutical and diagnostics businesses as well as from our research projects using a multi-omics approach, which combines genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and phenomics. The combination of multi-omics provides deep insights in the pathogenesis of rare hereditary diseases. The value in such a holistic diagnostics process has resulted in a shift from data generation to interpretation-based diagnostics, whereby the development and use of biomarkers and tests is the central element to bring rationality to treatment decisions for rare disease patients. High-quality, standardized clinical information supporting medical interpretation is a crucial element of the diagnostic process and leads to greater knowledge of the causes and symptoms of rare diseases. We believe a combination of worldwide data and detailed access to phenotype, genotype, proteomics and metabolomics data will aid in the development of new treatments and reduce the costs associated with orphan drug development.

Our Platform—An Integrated, Knowledge-Based System

To deliver on this vision, we have developed a global real-world data based proprietary platform that we believe will improve methods for identifying and monitoring rare diseases and provide solutions that accelerate the development of orphan drugs.

At the core of our platform is our data repository, which included, as of December 31, 2020, epidemiologic, phenotypic and genetic data of approximately 600,000 patients representing over 120 countries, and allows us to assemble an extensive knowledge base in rare hereditary diseases. We collect this detailed level of data in our repository through our easy-to-use CentoCard, a CE-Marked dried blood spot collection kit, captures blood samples of potential rare disease patients with a low cost of distribution, accompanied by the patients’ medical histories and completed consent forms from the physicians. The data is then validated by professionals using a systematic and scientific approach prior to feeding it into our repository and our central CentoMD database, which we believe is the world’s largest curated database for rare disease variants. As of December 31, 2020, we had over 3.9 billion weighted data points, or an average of over 6,500 data points per patient, to draw upon for insights which includes CentoMD data, clinical data, analyses performed, biochemistry data and clinical study data.

This systematic and thorough process results in information-based services that are beneficial for our pharmaceutical partners. This includes the ability to derive diagnostic solutions to accurately identify rare disease patients and the ability to identify new biomarkers, which help streamline and accelerate the path to approval for new drugs. As we facilitate the development of new drugs and the identification of more patients, an increasing number of patients are involved in clinical trials, which leads to even more

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diagnostic information being added to our repository. This synergistic model allows us to continuously enhance our own expertise and support pharmaceutical knowledge in the rare disease field. A graphical description of our system is shown below:

The Strengths of Our Platform

Access to these insights and knowledge through our platform is intended to streamline and accelerate the development of treatments for rare diseases, and aids in the understanding of how to identify new rare disease patients and how to recognize and quantify market opportunities in patient populations. We believe we offer the following solutions for the rare disease industry:

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Based on the strengths of our platform, we are well placed to address the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. The following examples capture solutions that we have provided to our pharmaceutical partners covering epidemiological study, biomarker development and pharmaceutical diagnostics.

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biomarker, Lyso-SM509, is a feasible biomarker for Niemann-Pick Type C. As we further analyze the sensitivity and specificity of Lyso-SM509, we believe this biomarker has the potential to provide an earlier and more simplified diagnosis of patients with Niemann-Pick Type C. Our recent report in the Journal of Biochemical and Clinical Genetics demonstrated that our Lyso-SM509 is able to facilitate the genetic diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease by enabling classification of novel SMPD1 variants.

Our Core Business Commercialization Strategy

We are committed to improving the lives of rare disease patients by improving methods for identifying and monitoring rare diseases and providing solutions that accelerate the development of orphan drugs.

Our solutions from our core businesses are offered to our clients via two channels:

Pharmaceutical Solutions

We are committed to accelerating the orphan drug development process for our pharmaceutical partners by providing our unique insights into rare diseases. As of December 31, 2020, we collaborated with 33 pharmaceutical partners. In 2020, we entered into 16 new collaborations and completed 26 collaborations, resulting in a total of 66 active collaborations. Over 49 different rare diseases are covered by our current and historic collaborations. We provide information solutions and diagnostic services to our pharmaceutical partners in all phases of orphan drug development and treatment, including discovery, preclinical development and

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clinical development, as well as post-market care. The below chart demonstrates the scope of our pharmaceutical services to each stage of the drug development process:

In Vitro Molecular Screening

A full understanding of a given rare disease and the ability to identify and target the right molecules is essential for drug development. With access to our biological samples, we are able to aid in vitro molecular screening efforts which can accelerate drug discovery efforts. Combined with access to our biobank and our data repository, our pharmaceutical partners are able to gain novel insights into the natural history of rare diseases, the broad spectrum of the different clinical symptoms as well as the genotype-phenotype correlation. Moreover, in situations where several genes can cause the same clinical symptoms and therefore, potentially cloud an accurate diagnosis, we believe we are able to identify additional genes that aid in the accurate diagnosis with the knowledge gathered in our database.

Epidemiological Studies

The ability of pharmaceutical companies to identify patients early and to optimize their clinical trials is key to the development of treatments for rare diseases. We offer epidemiological studies that will provide our partners with a more accurate picture and understanding of the scope and size of a particular rare disease population. We can also target these studies to a specific country or region of interest. This detailed epidemiological data can then aid our partners’ clinical study enrollment efforts.

After a pharmaceutical partner specifies the rare disease for the clinical trial, we identify the available epidemiological data and enhance the data with genetic and phenotypic information from our repository and curated CentoMD database. From there, our pharmaceutical partner can create a defined list of specific conditions that patients must meet for a clinical study.

We then perform a patient selection and identification program. We start by identifying existing patients in our database who fit the defined criteria. If a patient sample is included in our sample repository but not yet tested to the level required for the trial, we run a diagnostics test to confirm if the patient meets the study criteria. If we need to find a larger cohort of patients than is currently included in our database or in our sample repository, we leverage our global network of partners, key opinion leaders, clinical labs and specialist physicians to help identify new patients who are at risk of developing, or have developed, the particular disease, in line with our pharmaceutical partners’ defined patient cohort criteria. As a result, we are able to help our pharmaceutical partners optimize their clinical trials by more effectively selecting relevant patient groups and by leveraging our detailed understanding of the epidemiological data of the specific disease.

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Biomarker Development

Biomarkers are key tools employed across the continuum of rare disease drug development. Namely, they are utilized to support diagnosis, serve as a companion diagnostic to demonstrate treatment efficacy, as well as monitor disease progression. Furthermore, biomarkers enable more efficient and economical patient diagnosis than genetic testing and allow mass screening programs for large patient cohorts.

In the development of a high-quality biomarker for a given rare disease, both heterogenous and homogeneous cohorts of patients with known phenotypic and genotypic aspects are needed to identify/validate the sensitivity and specificity of a biomarker for a given disease. We believe our CentoMD database is the largest curated mutation database for rare diseases as well as a vast source of healthy control individuals against whom we are able to identify the characteristics of unique biomarkers. Therefore, we believe we are ideally positioned to lead the market in rare disease biomarker development.

We have developed a suite of biomarkers, and we plan to further expand the development programs in 2021. As of December 31, 2020, we had 59 biomarker programs, of which 14 biomarkers covering eight rare diseases, including AADC deficiency, Cystic Fibrosis, Fabry disease, Faber disease, Gaucher disease, Hereditary Angioedema Disease (“HAE”), Niemann-Pick Type A/B and Niemann-Pick Type C diseases, have completed their development

With proprietary biomarkers, we can also qualitatively measure a patient’s response to approved drugs and to drugs in clinical trials, and using this data helps to determine the optimum treatment dosage for each patient. This not only helps to accelerate the development of orphan drugs by demonstrating the efficacy of the drugs in clinical trials, but also allows patients, physicians and reimbursement agencies to better understand the impact of the drugs. The below graphs demonstrate how Lyso-Gb1, our first commercialized biomarker, can be used for patient screening and monitoring in the context of Gaucher disease:

*                Based on a combination of our biomarker and a genetic confirmatory test

(Rolfs et. al., 2013.)

The left graph demonstrates the sensitivity and specificity of our Lyso-Gb1 biomarker for Gaucher disease. According to a 2017 study, patients who are not suffering from Gaucher disease present with a Lyso-Gb1 level of less than 12 nanograms per ml, whereas patients with Gaucher disease display elevated levels of Lyso-Gb1. Based on the definition of the cut-off of 12ng/ml Lyso-Gb1, we can demonstrate a 100% sensitivity and close to 100% specificity, which means our Lyso-Gb1 biomarker, when combined with a confirmatory genetic test, can provide 100% accuracy in identifying patients suffering from Gaucher disease, and also those who are not suffering from the disease.

The right graph demonstrates how our Lyso-Gb1 biomarker can also be used to titrate the proper enzyme replacement therapy dosage in each individual patient. An increase of the Lyso-Gb1 level signals that the dosage of the enzyme replacement therapy needs to be adjusted. After adjustment, Lyso-Gb1 levels decreased to an almost normal level. This is valuable for demonstrating drug efficacy to relevant authorities for approval, and also for demonstrating to reimbursement agencies that individualized treatment and dosage may be required for the patient.

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High-Throughput Risk Population Testing

Once a treatment is available for a rare disease, early identification of patients is critical so that patients can be treated before they have reached the stage of irreversible progression. We are able to support our pharmaceutical partners in their patient identification efforts by leveraging our knowledge and performing mass-spectrometry screening on a much broader group of patients with the risk profile of a given rare disease. We do this by using our biomarkers, which is economically efficient. If a positive diagnosis is concluded, we provide physicians with information on relevant treatment options, which helps physicians make clinically relevant decisions for the treatment of their patients. For negative diagnoses, no further confirmatory genetic or other testing is necessary. We provide each patient’s physician with a diagnostic report.

Research and Development Validation

Based on our extensive expertise in rare diseases and our access to detailed genetic data, our pharmaceutical partners can approach us for guidance during their drug development endeavors. More specifically, our pharmaceutical partners can ask us to review their clinical trial design, evaluate clinical data from an ongoing or recently completed clinical trial and validate related biomarkers. All of these services are aimed at optimizing their clinical development efforts.

Key Partnerships

Shire/Takeda

In January 2015, we entered into an agreement with Shire, now a subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, to provide certain diagnostic testing capabilities to Shire and its affiliates in order to enhance early diagnosis of patients suffering from lysosomal storage and other rare diseases, including Fabry disease, Gaucher disease and Hunter syndrome. Our unique expertise and repository of data contributes to Shire’s mission to shorten the time it takes for rare disease patients to get diagnosed. In connection with this agreement, we receive a fixed annual fee plus additional service-based payments related to regulatory and diagnostic sequencing activities.

In addition, in 2018, we entered into a new research agreement with Shire relating to their ongoing drug development efforts in HAE. As part of this agreement, we are conducting an extensive epidemiological study leveraging our data repository and network of physicians at centers of excellence to gain unique insights into HAE and to support Shire’s ongoing clinical development efforts.

In July 2019, we entered into a collaborative research agreement with Shire related to HAE Kininogen assay mass spectrometry testing and screening. Both parties obtained the limited right to use each other’s data and intellectual property related to such testing and screening for the sole purpose of performing research under the agreement.

Evotec International GmbH (“Evotec”)

In July 2018, we entered into an agreement with Evotec to support and jointly expedite their identification of new small molecule treatments in the field of glucocerebrosidase deficiency (“Gaucher Disease”). Evotec identifies active pharmaceutical ingredients based on the induced pluripotent stem cells (“iPSC”) that are generated from fibroblasts we obtain from skin biopsies of patients. We believe our collaboration will aid in the acceleration of drug development through the adoption and application of more accurate cellular models of the target disease and specific biomarkers to monitor such diseases. Our collaboration combines Evotec’s cellular compound screening platform and drug discovery capabilities with our medical and genetic insights to develop a high throughput platform to test innovative small molecules in Gaucher Disease. In connection with this agreement, we received an initial payment in 2018 and milestone payments as well as further royalty fees on net sales of products developed from this collaboration in 2018 and 2019. In July 2020, we expanded our agreement with Evotec into an extensive collaboration for the discovery of both targets and therapies for Gaucher Disease (“GD”). The use of patient-derived, tissue-specific disease models, which have been created using our iPSC platform, allows for proof of concept evaluations in GD. The collaboration combines Evotec’s expertise in high throughput screening and compound generation along with our genomic and metabolomic platforms to discover novel therapies for the treatment of GD patients.  

Denali Therapeutics (“Denali”)

In September 2018, we entered into a strategic collaboration with Denali for the global identification and recruitment of LRRK2 positive Parkinson’s disease patients. We will utilize our CentoCard and extensive network with centers of excellence to

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conduct a targeted global recruitment campaign focused on the early identification and characterization of LRRK2 positive Parkinson’s patients for the recruitment into Denali’s clinical trials. Given that we believe Denali’s study is the lead clinical investigation of LRRK2 inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, there is no large global existing cohort of identified patients with the LRRK2 mutation in the early phase of the disease. We aim to overcome those challenges and accelerate the enrollment of further patients into this clinical study and consequently facilitate Denali’s drug development process. In connection with this collaboration, we received an initial payment, and are eligible for success-based and commercial milestones and reimbursement of selected costs.

Pfizer Inc. (“Pfizer”)

In July 2019, we entered into a strategic collaboration with Pfizer, pursuant to a global master scientific services agreement (“MSSA”). In addition to the MSSA, we entered into a statement of work (“SOW”) in November 2019 to provide testing and analysis services to Pfizer for patients in the United States or Puerto Rico with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (“ATTR-CM”), patients suspected of having ATTR-CM, or individuals with a confirmed family history of hereditary ATTR-CM.

In October 2019, we entered into a data access and collaboration agreement (“DACA”) with Pfizer, pursuant to which we granted Pfizer access to our data repository, which may be used in the discovery and validation of novel genetic and biochemical targets for the potential development of new therapies for rare diseases.

Our Diagnostic Solutions

Overview and Product Offering

Our diagnostic solutions segment provides diagnostic testing services to patients exclusively through our network of distribution partners and our diagnostics clients, who are typically physicians, labs or hospital facilities. Our patient outreach includes over 120 countries due in part to our CentoCard solution enabling an efficient and simple transfer of the sample from the point of care to the lab. Additionally, our online platform, CentoPortal, allows our clients to quickly and easily place orders and obtain information related to their patients’ test results and benefit from advancements in rare disease research, which we update on a regular basis. We provide a high-quality, end-to-end clinical diagnostics solution, which includes pretest clinical counseling performed by our medical experts whenever necessary, sample preparation, sequencing using NGS technology, medical interpretation using our manual and automated bioinformatics pipelines and medical reporting by our specialists.

Of the more than 5,600 identified rare hereditary diseases, in many cases not only is there no treatment available but even the natural course of the disease and the relevant tests to diagnose the disease are unknown or underdeveloped. In order to further improve the understanding of rare hereditary diseases and to provide a better and earlier diagnosis for rare disease patients, in 2018 we instituted a program with the aim of characterizing at least 50 new genes per year.

In addition, we continuously develop new testing products to provide the most effective diagnosis products to our physician clients, leveraging insights from our platform and our deep medical expertise. For example, in 2018 we launched CentoDx, one of the largest panels currently available for rare hereditary disease diagnosis, based on next-generation sequencing technology and covering over 6,500 clinically relevant genes and more than 3,200 rare diseases. In addition to traditional genetic or other testing, we have continued developing innovative diagnostics tests to provide patients with faster, more reliable and more complete solutions. For example, we have developed CentoMetabolic, a panel product covering almost 200 metabolic disorders, developed specifically for patients with suspected metabolic disorders or presenting complex, overlapping symptoms, a metabolic crisis or neurological conditions of unknown etiology. The panel also includes enzyme-activity or biomarker testing, where applicable, which help to determine the disease status and severity. As of December 31, 2020, we offered a comprehensive testing portfolio of over 10,000 genetic sequencing tests covering more than 19,000 genes, from single gene to WGS-based products. We also offer differentiated comprehensive testing solutions including 30 biochemistry testing products, over 1,460 copy number variation tests (“CNVs”) and 5 NIPT products (single and twin). The graphic below outlines the scope of the diagnostics products that we currently offer.

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Overview of the Diagnostic Process

Our diagnostics processes are designed with the aim of providing the highest-quality diagnosis within the shortest turnaround time. We currently perform a majority of the diagnostic services for our diagnostics and pharmaceutical businesses in our clinical laboratory located in Rostock, Germany, which is certified under CLIA and accredited by the CAP. Additionally, we perform certain of these services in our Cambridge, Massachusetts facility, which is also certified under CLIA, accredited by the CAP and permitted by the Massachusetts Clinical Laboratory Program.

We strive to provide the best quality of diagnostics testing, not only by following the strictest quality criteria complying with CAP, and CLIA certifications and adhering to ISO 15189 standards supported by our multidiscipline quality management system (“QMS”), but also by following applicable and market standard Good Laboratory Practice (“GLP”) and Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations (“GMP”) guidelines. Our processes are highly efficient and have been designed to deliver our medical report back to the physician within 30 days from receipt of the sample, even for our most complex tests.

Our diagnostics process is defined by our five-step process:

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Our Solutions for Providing High-Quality Data

CentoCard

Our sample collection method is a CE-Marked dried blood spot collection kit, the CentoCard (as shown below), which is translated into more than 30 languages and registered in more than 50 countries. The CentoCard is sent to physicians as part of a five-component kit: (1) the CentoCard, (2) a genetic or other testing informed consent form, (3) an instruction leaflet, (4) a

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self-addressed return envelope and (5) a plastic sleeve for the used CentoCard to be sealed in once the sample is obtained. In order to obtain the sample, a small amount of blood is drawn from a patient by his or her physician and placed on designated spots on the CentoCard. This sample is then left to dry for approximately two hours, during which time the sample stabilizes. Each CentoCard produced has a unique barcode that allows for the card to be traced at all times. It is delivered to our laboratory in Rostock, Germany, along with a signed consent form, from anywhere in the world via regular post. Samples collected on CentoCard are considered non-biohazardous materials, which allows them to be mailed across many borders without the need for certain customs declarations.

We use the CentoCard collection method to obtain the majority of our samples. This standardized procedure allows us to extract high-quality biological material and perform most of our diagnostic tests from a portion of a single dried blood spot on the CentoCard. Using the CentoCard, we are able to provide a solution where necessary molecular and biochemical tests can be run simultaneously using the same patient sample. Given that the biomaterial stabilizes on the CentoCard, we are able to retest the existing patient samples multiple times for more than 10 years from initial sample collection.

CentoCard sample:

CentoPortal

After a physician creates an online account on CentoPortal by following a few easy steps, the physician can order a test product of his or her choosing, provide and sign a patient consent online, provide an overview of the patient’s medical history, track the samples and progress of the diagnostic test and download the final medical report once the process is complete. Access to the CentoPortal requires secured authentication. This helps prevent unauthorized access, unauthorized use or loss of patient data.

CentoMD

We believe our CentoMD database is the world’s largest curated database for rare disease variants. All approved curated individual data is anonymized and released to CentoMD on a regular basis, offering the most complete and up-to-date information possible. The patient data we have collected in CentoMD 5.8 cover 12 therapeutic areas with over 3,941 diseases. Our CentoMD 5.8 includes curated data from over 430,000 patients with over 12.7 million unique variants and over 3,941 associated phenotypes.

Through CentoMD, we are able to combine variant information with proteomic and metabolomics information, in particular for high-throughput genes where such a functional assay is available. Thus, crucial functional information necessary to support classification decisions, such as variant expression, can be reviewed by users.

CentoPharma

Powered by CentoMD, CentoPharma is an online tool which offers an additional tailored interface where our pharmaceutical partners can generate customized datasets combining phenotype, genotype and biochemistry information. Our pharmaceutical partners can dynamically query the database using any combination of six criteria: HPO, requested tests, genetically confirmed diagnoses, home country or geographical region and certain screened genes.

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While CentoPharma and CentoMD are powered by the same database, the dynamic search capability of CentoPharma allows the user to identify cohorts based on clinical symptoms, country, screened gene and/or genetically confirmed diagnosis, and the resulting datasets help identify patient cohorts exhibiting specific combinations of attributes, enabling the discovery of new targets for drug development and the assessment of market opportunities. CentoPharma also supports the design of clinical trials and the feasibility of recruiting patients to studies operated by our pharmaceutical partners. We grant pharmaceutical partners access to CentoPharma through a singular stand-alone license or as an add-on to part of broader contracted collaboration.

CentoLSD

We have launched CentoLSD in January 2019, which we believe is the world’s largest knowledge-driven lysosomal storage disease (“LSD”) database, for the purpose to facilitate sharing our rare disease knowledge and enhance the diagnostic and treatment opportunities for rare disease patients. CentoLSD is free and accessible via our website and allows for researchers, pharmaceutical partners and clinicians to access a comprehensive database of genetic variants classified through a standardized curation workflow. Every variant reported in CentoLSD is linked to at least one clinically described case tested against Gaucher or Fabry disease through a validated and accredited laboratory workflow. CentoLSD’s interface is easy to use—for example, users can first select a gene of interest and can then further filter based on cDNA change, protein change, gDNA change, location of DNA change, coding effect, clinical significance and other variables.

MyLSD app

In parallel with CentoLSD, we have also developed myLSDapp, a smartphone application, which is designed to drive the management of personalized treatment for Gaucher disease patients and to support Gaucher specialists around the world. For patients, myLSDapp is designed to provide an overview of their personal treatment plan and their biomarker (Lyso-Gb1) monitoring results, and allows them to share treatment and result information with physicians. The app is designed to help physicians monitor the treatment of their patients and to develop insights into new treatments.

myLSDapp combines patients’ medical and quality-of-life information in one simple system, bringing a comprehensive view of treatment progress to patients and their authorized physicians. With the ability to request blood tests, monitor treatment dosage, and track Lyso-Gb1 levels from within one smartphone app, Gaucher disease patients and their physicians are able to examine the efficacy of therapy and if necessary, explore additional or alternative treatment methods.

Biobank

We have established a high quality biorepository for use in our research and development collaborations with our pharmaceutical partners. Our biobank provides a large diversity of positive test cases in the field of inherited rare diseases and comprises original patient materials characterized through our genetic and/or biochemical diagnostics and with associated clinical information. The biobank operates under robust quality standards and is the first CAP accredited repository outside the United States. It is also compliant with the new ISO20387 standard and comprises materials from patients who have consented to the use of such materials in research. All of our samples have gone through our rigorous process of documentation, analysis and data evaluation by our in-house experts.

Biomarker Development Process

So long as an adequate patient cohort exists for any of the 7,000 identified rare diseases, of which approximately 80% have a genetic origin, we believe unique biomarkers can be established. We may either develop a biomarker on our own, in which case we choose the rare disease to be analyzed using a biomarker, or we may develop a biomarker at the request of a pharmaceutical company, in which case we typically adapt a biomarker for a specific rare disease identified by the pharmaceutical company. In both cases, we own the rights to the biomarker or biomarker test, but in circumstances where a pharmaceutical company is funding the biomarker development process, we may agree to parameters for use of the biomarker going forward.

The first step to the biomarker development process is analyzing the data taken from our repository to perform a patient stratification. Patients with a phenotype and/or genotype known to be an indicator of the particular rare disease for which we plan to develop the biomarker are compared with a large cohort of healthy control individuals. We can conduct this process with a disease cohort of as few as ten patients in the case of metabolic diseases, although it is our experience that a higher number of patients (i.e., approximately 40) could result in a more specific biomarker target validation. The samples included in the study (patients and controls) must be of the same type (e.g., dried blood spots, plasma, tissue). The extraction is performed in a highly standardized

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manner as the results of the study depend on the stability of the samples and the uniformity of the extraction process. We then analyze the samples using an untargeted high resolution hybrid mass spectrometer either of the small molecules (full metabolic profile) or of the peptides (full proteomics profile). The resulting differences found between the patient cohort profiles and the control cohort profiles are identified using statistical and mathematical algorithms as well as methods based on artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence helps us to identify correlations between different data in an efficient and more accurate manner, and to discover patterns that would not be discovered manually. Artificial intelligence also allows us to perform fully automated pattern recognition on multidimensional data (e.g., retention time, collision cross section, monoisotopic ion mass, fragmentation pattern) obtained from mass spectrometry.

In 2020, we built an integrated biomarker development platform that substantially simplifies and accelerates the search and validation of metabolomic biomarkers. The platform allows us to align arbitrary numbers of mass spectrometry measurements and perform virtual experiments on this data for biomarker development. Since no further biomaterial is consumed after the one-time initial measurement, an unlimited number of experiments can be performed. The functionality is integrated in a user-friendly platform and therefore accessible to biological experts without knowledge about artificial intelligence. The platform supports the search for biomarker candidates as well as screening of patients.

The mass spectrometry peaks (signals) identified by the platform are then investigated with other mass spectrometric techniques (fragmentation and targeted mass spectrometry) to identify the metabolites underlying the signal (so-called structural elucidation). Proof of concept is performed on anonymized samples using targeted mass spectrometry, in which the identified biomarker candidates are quantified. This part of the process (from project selection to proof of concept) could be completed in three-months per biomarker project. We can then use the biomarkers to develop standardized tests for other services such as our patient screening processes followed by validation tests.

Validation Tests

As more patients are enrolled to the clinical trials, we are also able to perform further validation tests for the biomarker so that it could be used for longitudinal monitoring. Validation is a three to six month process during which the biomarker and its characteristics are assessed, which helps to determine the range of conditions under which the biomarker will give reproducible and accurate data. Approximately 50 to 100 patients in a disease cohort are needed to complete the validation process and approximately 8,000 to 10,000 different measurements are needed to comply with all CAP/CLIA/ISO requirements.

Research and Development

We are dedicated to scientific research and development in order to continuously improve the industry’s understanding of epidemiology and its analysis of clinical heterogeneity as an aid to the diagnosis of rare diseases. We have organized various conferences with experts and patient advocacy groups in the rare disease field from all over the world to exchange and promote knowledge related to rare diseases, such as our “Recent Advances in Rare Diseases (RARD)” conference which we had to defer in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, we also undertake scientific research and clinical studies, both independently and together with our pharmaceutical partners, with the aim of positively contributing to the global understanding of rare diseases, as well as to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and to support the development of effective treatments for rare diseases.

We published over 65 scientific papers in 2020. Our major on-going clinical studies, other than those related to biomarker development, are as follows as of December 31, 2020.

In February 2020, we commenced our Rare Disease Day 2020 in Lahore, Pakistan at the Children’s Hospital of Lahore with presentations, talks and panel discussion reflecting the diagnostics and everyday challenges of patients and patient organizations. This was followed by a group discussion in Berlin, Germany involving policy makers, public authorities, researchers, health professionals and community members about innovative approaches to shorten the diagnostic odyssey of rare disease patients. The event ended in Mexico with discussions held by patients, patient organizations, physicians, politicians and community members from all over Latin America relating to a collaborative approach towards, and modern technologies used in, the creation of life-changing solutions for rare disease patients and their families. All of these activities serve to raise public awareness of rare diseases and shorten the diagnostic odyssey of rare disease patients.

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Two Year Global Study on Colon- and Pancreas-Carcinoma (PICOP-Global)

In June 2019, we announced the initiation of a 24-month global proof-of-concept study focusing on the identification of tumor-specific neoantigens, which we anticipate will be used by our partners as the basis for developing a personalized, immune-based therapy to trigger patients’ own immune responses against tumors.

The study has enrolled over 150 participants with pancreas or colorectal carcinoma in order to analyze the molecular characteristics of tumors and to subsequently identify tumor-specific antigens (neoepitopes). In addition, the tumor and normal samples will be tested genetically to identify tumor associated mutations and MS/MS-based mutations, which will be used to develop neoepitopes and biomarkers. We believe that the collected data can be used in a multi-omics approach to potentially predict neoepitopes suitable for use in vaccines.

The PICOP-GLOBAL Study will be conducted without a treatment arm and in collaboration with the Surgical Oncology Society Pakistan. We are also partnering on this study with the University of Rostock, Germany and University of Greifswald, Germany. After this study is completed, a follow-up Phase I study will be conducted by Miltenyi Biotec.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) program

Since early 2019, we have independently conducted an iPSC program (the “iPSC Program”) with the aim of supporting orphan drug development in a more cost-effective and efficient manner, in particular for the development of orphan drugs related to rare neurodegenerative, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. Human iPSCs, first reported in 2007, are reprogrammed from somatic cells and are self-renewal cells that can produce different types of cells. In the drug discovery process for rare diseases, iPSC technology is particularly important in providing information on the clinical spectrum of such diseases by generating disease-specific cells which can be used to evaluate novel therapeutics.

As of December 31, 2020, we had collected approximately 1,400 skin biopsies from patients with rare diseases from around the world. As part of our iPSC Program, we are currently in the process of reprogramming these biopsies into iPSC for a number of metabolic rare diseases and differentiating the cells into a number of disease-relevant cell types (macrophages, liver, microglia and neurons). We currently have established patient-derived macrophage disease models in both Gaucher and Niemann Pick Type C. Once completed, the iPSC Program will also further support orthogonal target validation as well as further biomarker discovery that we undertake.

Rostock International Parkinson’s Disease Study (ROPAD)

In May 2019, we initiated a 24-month global study (the “ROPAD Study”) to investigate the genetic factors in Parkinson’s disease (“PD”), one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders that affects approximately 1% of individuals globally over the age of 60. The ROPAD Study, which is being conducted in cooperation with the University of Lübeck, Germany, succeeded in enrolling 10,000 participants worldwide in order to provide a study cohort with a broad genetic background that mirrors the global population. The objective of the ROPAD Study is to gain a comprehensive understanding of how many and which genetic mutations in PD-associated genes are linked to the development of the disease. We plan to utilize our CentoCard product to identify participants with a mutation in LRRK2, GBA and other PD-associated genes. As of December 31, 2020, the study’s goal and related milestone have been achieved.

ROPAD Study participants that display mutations in PD genes will have the option to undergo further clinical assessment in a supplementary study, “LRRK2 International Parkinson’s Disease Project (LIPAD)”, conducted at the University of Lübeck, where a detailed phenotyping of participants will be performed in order to describe the frequency of all important clinical PD signs and symptoms. Patients enrolled in ROPAD with a LRRK2 mutation may also be offered participation in future clinical studies with one of our major collaboration partners, Denali.

Epidemiological Analysis for Hereditary Angioedema Disease (HAE)

In September 2018, we commenced the HAE study, which is a prospective, multicenter study in Germany, Poland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The study focuses on patients with HAE, or patients with high-grade suspicion of suffering from HAE. The aim of the study is to estimate the epidemiological prevalence of disease in a population of 5,000 patients with repetitive abdominal pain attacks of unknown origin, as well as other clinical symptoms that could indicate the presence of HAE. HAE is a rare autosomal dominant disease resulting from mutations in the SERPING1 gene, leading to the deficient (type 1) or nonfunctional (type 2) C1

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inhibitor protein. Clinical manifestations in all HAE types include acute attacks of non-urticarial edemas affecting the upper airway, face, extremities, genitals, and gastrointestinal system. As of December 31, 2020, over 1,100 patients have been tested under the study and the study’s aim has been achieved. Furthermore, a follow-up project focusing on testing additional HAE patients was initiated and resulted in further 422 study subjects by the end of 2020.

European Alpha-Mannosidosis Patient Epidemiological Program (EUMAP)

In August 2018, we commenced the EUMAP study, which is an international, multicenter, epidemiological study. The study aims to further explore and analyze the prevalence of Alpha-Mannosidosis disease in a clinical study cohort of 1,000 patients that are potentially suffering from Alpha-Mannosidosis disease, based on the patient’s clinical symptoms. Alpha-Mannosidosis is a very rare, hereditary lysosomal storage disorder, closely related to Mucopolysaccharidoses, which is estimated to occur in approximately 1 in 500,000 people worldwide. The disease is caused by mutations in the MAN2B1 gene, which interferes with the activity of the alpha-mannosidase enzyme and results in accumulation mannose-containing oligosaccharides in the lysosomes. The course of the disease is progressive in general, although symptoms can vary significantly between individual patients. It has been categorized into “mild”, “moderate” and “severe” depending on the severity of the symptoms and age of onset.

Hereditary Transthyretin-Related Amyloidosis Study (TRAM2)

In April 2018, we commenced TRAM2 study, which is a prospective, multicenter study in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, focusing on patients with polyneuropathy or cardiomyopathy of undetermined etiology. The study is a continuance of TRAM1 and aims to estimate the prevalence of hereditary transthyretin-Related Amyloidosis (“hATTR”) in a study cohort of 5,000 patients with polyneuropathy or cardiomyopathy of unknown etiology. As of December 31, 2020, the study’s goal has been reached and 5,000 patients were tested under the study. hATTR is an autosomal dominant inherited variable penetrance disease that we believe is often under- or mis-diagnosed, and it is caused by mutations in the receptor gene TTR. The clinical spectrum of hATTR varies greatly from exclusive neurological involvement to predominant cardiac manifestations, and without treatment hATTR can lead to heart failure. This disease typically affects people in their 30s to 50s and may lead to death within 10 years if left untreated.

Our Operations

Sales and Marketing

As of December 31, 2020, our CBO led a team of six dedicated employees for business development in our pharmaceutical segment. With the importance of the segment, it has been historically closely supported by our CEO due to his network with different pharmaceutical partners, as well as the appreciation of his knowledge of rare diseases by the industry. We anticipate growing our team to support the growing number of partnership opportunities.

As of December 31, 2020, we had a sales force of approximately 61 employees and consultants in our diagnostics segment. Our sales employees are all trained in key account management and/or genetic diagnostics and are able to discuss the different diagnostic and workflow needs of doctors, physicians and genetic counselors. To further develop our footprint and to support the rare disease patients in the United States, we established a presence in the United States at the end of 2017 with the hiring of a sales team and the opening of a new laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts in October 2018.

In addition, we will continue to expand our sales force and our distribution network in order to further increase the sample volumes in targeted geographic areas, particularly in the North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific regions.

Information Technology Platforms

Our IT infrastructure platform is based on state-of-the-art standardized components. We run our systems according to the following hybrid production model in an effort to optimize cost and service levels:

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All services are based on virtualized server systems with central storage components accompanied by backup and restore services, centrally managed network services, firewall systems, internet, databases and workplace services. System monitoring and events are implemented for all relevant systems with a central monitoring solution and central network scanner controls. Centrally managed user accounts are handled in the directory system.

Information security is highly valued and the principles of confidentiality, integrity and availability of information are a part of our core values. Information is protected by a variety of controls and procedures, including firewalls, password protections, data encryption (in storage and in transit) and malware protection tools. All internet-facing applications are security tested. All personal data processing services are evaluated by our data protection officer and documented in accordance with GDPR. Additionally, our data services are certified across a variety of industry security standards, including ISO 9001 (which aims to ensure we consistently provide services and products that meet customer and regulatory security expectations) and ISO 27001 (which standards ensure the data in our database are secured).

Our workflows and processes are supported by various specialized applications. For example, via our user-friendly online portal “CentoPortal,” analyses ranging from individual diagnostic requests to requests for pharmaceutical projects with high throughput testing can be ordered. Physicians can view the status of the samples they submitted and download a complete medical report. Upon receiving samples, we digitize all information to support a fully digital internal workflow. This starts with a web application for sample entries, where information is transferred automatically by interfaces to our laboratory information system. This information forms the basis of our medical reports, which are made available to doctors for download. Data is shared between CentoPortal and our laboratory information systems through a fully automated interface.

Artificial Intelligence

Since 2018, we have been using artificial intelligence to further automate our processes, obtain new insights about rare diseases from mass data sets and generate new knowledge-driven business models. For example, we use artificial intelligence to enhance our biomarker discovery process. This allows us to shorten data analysis time from weeks to minutes and to identify multiple biomarkers or additional biomarker patterns in our multi-omicsdatasets. We also use artificial intelligence to automate our curation process and the identification of genetic and/or metabolic modifiers. We currently have eight employees dedicated to this artificial intelligence effort.

We believe that our data repository provides us with a competitive advantage for driving the development of new and effective artificial intelligence tools, as the foundation of any successful artificial intelligence program is high quality data in a volume that can effectively generate results. The higher quality the data and the more data that are available, the better chance we have of building machine learning models with high predictive power and accuracy.

As of December 31, 2020, we deployed the following artificial intelligence programs:

Intelligent Character Recognition

Intelligent character recognition (“ICR”) at the sample entry stage enables us to fully digitize all information contained in sample order paperwork. Even on handwritten texts, our ICR technology achieves significant performance. This allows us to obtain accurate patient information at the initial stage of the diagnostics process and reduces the likelihood of human error.

Variant Prioritization

We have deployed a new variant prioritization tool based on our in-house artificial intelligence capability. This tool identifies the most likely disease-causing genes based on our repository, in order to further accelerate our and our partners’ diagnostics processes, and is in particular aimed to enhance the diagnostics process for whole exome and clinical exome sequencings.

With our clinical exome panel, which covers over 19,000 genes with known associated clinical phenotypes and covers over 3,700 diseases, the result of the sequencing process usually discovers between 70,000 and 150,000 variants per individual. However, the majority of these variants are benign or unrelated to the observed disease phenotype of the patient. With our huge data repository built up from the last 12 years, and a curated database with standardized HPO terms, our tool is able to rank the variants from most to least relevant. Based on such “ranked” variants, we can then compare the HPO terms of a new patient with the results of prior,

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anonymized patients included in our repository with variants in the same gene. This allows us to provide a diagnosis in a more rapid, comprehensive and accurate manner, especially for patients with very rare or as yet undescribed diseases.

Variant Classification

In 2015, American Collage of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) published a joint consensus recommendation for interpretation of genetic variants. ACMG’s recommended standards classify genetic variants, based on 28 criteria, into five categories: pathogenic, likely pathogenic, variant of uncertain significance (VUS), likely benign and benign. We have implemented a semi-automated variant classification tool that classifies variants detected in a sample based on ACMG’s recommended standards. Our tool will significantly reduce the time taken to interpret the clinical significance of genetic variants and increase the quality such interpretation.

Automated Curation Report

Our curators are responsible for the collection, association, update and review of genetic and phenotypic data of cases analyzed at Centogene to assure the highest level of data quality in CentoMD. The automated curation process supports our curation process with a set of rules encoding the expert knowledge and classifying newly incoming cases as well as reclassifying the old ones if new genomic insights result from research.

Biomarker Discovery

Artificial intelligence enables results that previously would have been practically impossible. The direct analysis of multiple measurements that previously would have been impossible due to diverging experimental conditions, enables the detection of combined biomarkers, and drastically improves speed and reliability. The integration of the artificial intelligence-based methods into a user-friendly platform enables the medical experts to perform high-quality and high-performance biomarker experiments, with integrated quality control checks. Further support is given for structural identification through a database that searches for metabolites in an intelligent way.

Pilot for Multi-Omics Analysis

We piloted a multi-omics platform for genomics and metabolomics integration and visualization, which consists of a comprehensive multi-omics map of genes, mutations, metabolic reactions, enzymes, and regulatory elements of the lysosomal storage diseases. The map allows for the overlay of our genomic, metabolomic and phenomic data and the performance of perturbation experiments of expression parameters for phenotype prediction. This platform is capable of being extended to transcriptomics and proteomics. The platform provides a unique, innovative model for understanding system biology and allows for the selection of targets for drug discovery. In particular, it allows for the investigation of lysosomes and the associated pathways in the cause of disease.

Healthcare Reimbursement

Reimbursement of genetic or other testing differs markedly among countries and evolves rapidly based on advancements in technologies and cost. It is a challenge for insurers or public payers to decide when to reimburse for genetic or other tests that are offered by healthcare providers. One of the reasons this is difficult is that often there are alternative treatments with differing results, which insurers may not be able to easily evaluate.

Depending on the billing arrangement and applicable law, we may be reimbursed for genetic or other testing services by third-party payors that provide coverage to the patient, such as an insurance company or managed care organization, or by physicians or other authorized parties (such as hospitals or independent laboratories) that order our tests or refer tests to us. In the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we derived about 1% of our total revenue from United States third-party payers that includes managed care organizations and other healthcare providers. In the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we derived less than 1% of our total revenue from EU insurance companies and managed care organizations based in the European Union.

We have strategically determined to focus on countries around the globe where the prevalence of rare hereditary diseases is high or the availability of national genetic or other testing and interpretation is to some extent limited and therefore the complete reimbursement or partial payment by the government for our services is more likely. Therefore, the major markets for our diagnostics business currently include the Middle East, Western Europe, parts of Eastern Europe, Latin America, North America, South Asia and

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parts of South-East Asia. In most of our markets, our diagnostics tests are billable directly to the party submitting the request for a test to us.

Data Management

Data is the basis for all of our diagnostic and research processes. We are generating approximately up to 25TB of new data in the lab every month. The data is stored in our own infrastructure as well as in a certified third party data center and with Amazon Web Services. The software solutions supporting these processes are based on modern database architecture, and all of our critical systems are fully redundant and backed up in real-time to these facilities.

Further, we implement our big data concept based on architecture. Because we store a vast amount of raw data in our repository, we are able to aggregate data to gain new insights. Data gathering and variant curation are procedures developed and implemented in a web-based software (developed and maintained by Centogene N.V.) that is compliant with the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (the “HGNC”), the Human Genome Variant Society (the “HGVS”) and HPO nomenclatures. The software integrates in-house sample management systems and analysis platforms with external databases, utilizes a combination of computer-based tools and manual review in order to assure the accuracy, efficiency and quality of curation process.

All approved curated individual data is then anonymized and released to CentoMD on a regular basis, offering the most complete and up-to-date information possible.

Quality Management System

We have developed and maintained a QMS that integrates the compliance of our processes with various medical device regulations, clinical trial requirements and clinical laboratory requirements. Our QMS is supported by standard operating procedures, educational and staff training plans, internal and external proficiency and competency programs, internal and external auditing, quality improvement indicators and pre-post analytical quality controls, including equipment maintenance, negative and positive controls, change management, employees and customer health and safety and document control programs. Our QMS integrates the compliance of our processes with the following requirements:

We believe our QMS was built to withstand the rigorous review and auditing of medical device regulations, clinical trial requirements and clinical laboratory requirements to ensure our patients and clients receive the highest quality level of care and service.

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Client data protection is of high importance to us, as we provide solutions to our clients in more than 120 different countries with varying requirements. We protect our clients and employees through an informed consent process, which goes through a rigorous legal review with in-country specialists and our internal HIPAA and GDPR compliance policies. We continuously monitor all electronically archived and incoming data through these channels.

Data Acquisition and Curation

Curation is the process of collection, association, updating and review of epidemiologic, phenotypic and genetic data of patients analyzed by us into a structured and standardized format. It uses a combination of computer-based tools and manual review in order to assure the accuracy, efficiency and quality of the curation process.

Data acquisition. Data gathering and variant curation procedures are developed and implemented in a web-based software which is compliant with the HGNC, HGVS and HPO nomenclatures allowing collection of variants detected in nuclear coding, nuclear non-coding and mitochondrial genes. The software integrates in-house sample management systems and analysis platforms with external databases providing the curator with a comprehensive and straightforward overview of the evidences regarding genotype-phenotype correlation available both in-house and external.

The data is gathered by a combination of manual submission and data importation following an individual-oriented model where characteristics belonging to a particular individual (including patient information, clinical data, methodology and detected genetic variants) are stored and associated together.

Our uniform classification of variants is an important step in improving our understanding of disease pathogenicity. There are approximately 3 billion base pairs in an individual genome, which translates to approximately 200 gigabytes of data that can be obtained from a single sequencing process. The classification of variants which we record in our CentoMD database follow the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines for variant classification, differentiated into five categories: pathogenic, likely pathogenic, uncertain clinical significance, likely benign or benign. If a diagnostic test is finalized without assigned clinical significance we still include the data in CentoMD under an “unclassified” quality status. This information can then be used as comparative data for future diagnostic tests. This systematic classification of variants is based on a highly qualified and standardized curation process, which allows us to provide our clients with high-quality clinical interpretations of newly identified variants, and also ensures that changes in variant classification will be communicated and reflected in our clinical interpretations in a timely manner.

As industry knowledge on variant frequencies increases, we reevaluate the variant classifications contained in our database on a regular basis to ensure our system incorporates the most up-to-date information. Additionally, given the number of rare diseases that have yet to be fully diagnosed and the speed of advancements in the rare disease industry, we regularly revisit “uncertain” patient data to reassess prior clinical interpretations against this new industry knowledge.

Database curators. Our CentoMD curators are scientists with strong backgrounds in human genetics. They continuously undergo extensive training to ensure curation consistency and standardization. They assure that data is properly associated and interpreted and that there are no inconsistencies or discrepancies against detected in-house observations and from external sources. They close the curation process by manual approval that reviewed and curated data comply with standard in-house procedures.

Curation workflow. To provide high-quality data, our curation process is divided in three phases: variant-wise, individual-wise and warnings-wise procedures.

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obtained internally, such as medical reports, or detected externally, such as articles, publications and external databases. Each warning is then manually documented and resolved.

All approved curated individual data is then anonymized and released to CentoMD on a regular basis, offering the most complete and up to date information possible to its users. CentoMD is a constantly growing and enriching its database. As of December 31, 2020, CentoMD included curated data from over 430,000 patients. In addition, whenever additional evidence provided by our in house medical professionals or by external peer-reviewed literature becomes available, specific variants are revised and reclassified accordingly.

Intellectual Property

Our success depends in part on our ability to obtain and maintain proprietary protection for our genetic rare disease information platform, proprietary biomarkers, products and solutions and other know-how related to our business, defend and enforce our intellectual property rights, in particular, our patent rights, preserve the confidentiality of our trade secrets, and operate without infringing valid and enforceable intellectual property rights of others. We seek to protect our proprietary position by, among other things, filing EU, U.S. and certain foreign patent applications related to our biomarkers, where patent protection is available. Our policy is to seek patent protection and trademark registration for commercially valuable assets we develop, as appropriate, and maintain as trade secrets other aspects of our genetic rare disease information platform, processes and know-how. We also rely on proprietary technologies, methods and processes, product designs and branding that we have developed.

Notwithstanding these efforts, we cannot be sure that patents will be granted with respect to any patent applications we have filed or may file in the future, and we cannot be sure that any issued patents will not be challenged, invalidated, or circumvented or that such patents will be commercially useful in protecting our technology. Moreover, trade secrets can be difficult to protect. While we have confidence in the measures we take to protect and preserve our trade secrets, such measures can be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. For more information regarding the risks related to our intellectual property, please see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Intellectual Property Risks Related to Our Business.”

Patents

Each patent family in our patent portfolio typically includes one or more priority-forming patent applications on the basis of which an international patent application (an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”)) is filed, after which national and regional patent applications are prosecuted in various jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2020, our patent portfolio was as follows:

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The term of individual patents depends upon the legal term for patents in the countries in which they are granted. In most countries, including the United States, the patent term is 20 years from the earliest claimed filing date of a non-provisional patent application in the applicable country. In the United States, a patent’s term may, in certain cases, be lengthened by patent term adjustment, which compensates a patentee for administrative delays by the USPTO in examining and granting a patent, or may be shortened if a patent is terminally disclaimed over a commonly owned patent or a patent naming a common inventor and having an earlier expiration date.

We have entered into agreements with the University of Rostock and a related scientific institute pursuant to which such parties have fully transferred to us interests that they had co-owned with us with respect to patents and patent applications relating to our biomarkers for Gaucher disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy and Niemann-Pick disease or to the treatment of cancer or lysosomal storage disorders. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements, we were required to pay a total of €150,000 in upfront transfer fees and are obligated to pay royalties below 1% on net sales generated by the applicable patents in the future.

Trade Secrets and Trademarks

In addition to patent protection, we also rely on trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovation, and confidential information to develop and maintain our proprietary position and protect aspects of our business that are not amenable to, or that we do not consider appropriate for, patent protection, including, our genetic rare disease information platform. We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors, contractors and commercial partners. In addition, we take other appropriate precautions, such as physical and technological security measures, to guard against misappropriation of our proprietary technology by third parties.

Our brand is very important to us, as it is a symbol of our reputation and representative of the goodwill we seek to generate with our customers. Consequently, we have invested significant resources in the protection of our trademarks. We seek trademark protection in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions where available and when appropriate. We own registered trademarks for both “Centogene” and “CentoMD” in Europe, the United States and other jurisdictions, including Canada and Japan.

Regulation

Our diagnostics and pharmaceutical businesses are highly regulated due to our operation of clinical laboratories in Rostock, Germany and Cambridge, Massachusetts and because of our provision of diagnostic services and our development of proprietary biomarkers. In addition, we are subject to a variety of regulations and industry standards worldwide governing, among other things, data privacy, distribution of our products and patents and trademark licensing.

The key U.S. and European regulations that are applicable to our business are discussed in more detail below. Whether or not we obtain FDA clearance or approval or a CE Mark for a product, we must obtain the requisite approvals from regulatory authorities in foreign countries prior to the use of a diagnostic or other product in those countries. The requirements and processes governing patient consents, product registration and pricing vary from country to country.

United States Regulation

Our business is subject to and impacted by extensive and frequently changing laws and regulations in the United States at both the federal and state levels. These laws and regulations include regulations particular to our business and laws and regulations relating to conducting business generally. We also are subject to inspections and audits by governmental agencies. Set forth below are highlights of the key United States regulatory schemes applicable to our business.

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CLIA and State Regulation

Because we operate clinical laboratories, we are required to hold certain United States federal and state licenses and certifications to conduct our business. We are subject to CLIA regulations in the United States, which establish quality standards for all laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of patient test results regardless of where the test is performed. Our laboratories in Rostock, Germany and Cambridge, Massachusetts are CLIA-certified and accredited by CAP, as well as CAP ISO 15189 accredited. In addition, we are required to meet certain laboratory licensing requirements for states with regulations beyond CLIA. For more information on state licensing requirements, see “—Regulation—United States Regulation—State Laboratory Testing.”

Under CLIA, a laboratory is any facility that performs laboratory testing on specimens derived from humans for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of disease, or the impairment of, or assessment of health. CLIA also requires that we hold a certificate applicable to the type of work we perform and comply with certain standards. CLIA further regulates virtually all clinical laboratories by requiring that they be certified by the federal government and comply with various operational, personnel, facilities administration quality and proficiency requirements intended to ensure that their clinical laboratory testing services are accurate, reliable and timely. Laboratories must register and list their tests with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, the agency that oversees CLIA. CLIA compliance and certification is also a prerequisite to be eligible to bill for services provided to governmental payor program beneficiaries and for many private payors. CLIA is user-fee funded. Therefore, all costs of administering the program must be covered by the regulated facilities, including certification and survey costs.

We are subject to survey and inspection every two years to assess compliance with program standards, and may be subject to additional unannounced inspections. Laboratories performing high-complexity testing are required to meet more stringent requirements than laboratories performing less complex tests. In addition, a laboratory like ours that is certified as “high-complexity” under CLIA may develop, manufacture, validate and use proprietary tests referred to as LDTs. While laboratories that offer LDTs are subject to the FDC Act, in addition to CLIA, the FDA has generally exercised enforcement discretion towards these tests. In compliance with CLIA requirements to establish performance specifications, including accuracy, precision, specificity, sensitivity and a reference range for any LDT used in clinical testing, our LDTs have undergone full analytical validation.

In addition to CLIA requirements, we elect to participate in the accreditation program of CAP. CMS has deemed CAP standards to be equally or more stringent than CLIA regulations and has approved CAP as a recognized accrediting organization. Inspection by CAP is performed in lieu of CMS for accredited laboratories. Because we are accredited by the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, we are deemed to also comply with CLIA.

State Laboratory Testing

CLIA also provides that a state may adopt laboratory regulations that are more stringent than those under federal law, and a number of states have implemented their own more stringent laboratory regulatory schemes. State laws may require that laboratory personnel meet certain qualifications, specify certain quality controls, or prescribe record maintenance requirements. Our clinical operations at our Cambridge laboratory are required to meet certain state laboratory licensing and other requirements, which in some areas are more stringent than CLIA requirements. Our Cambridge, Massachusetts lab is also subject to Massachusetts Department of Public Health clinical laboratory permitting requirements. In October 2018, we received our CLIA permit to perform high complexity genetic testing in our Cambridge, Massachusetts lab. Our Massachusetts Department of Public Health clinical laboratory permit application was reviewed and the lab was inspected. It passed accreditation with no deficiencies and was issued a Massachusetts license for high complexity testing in November 2018. We have been permitted to begin testing in November 2018. Two states, New York and Washington, are CLIA-exempt, however, and as such have their own regulatory requirements to which we may be subject. CMS deemed both New York and Washington as CLIA-exempt because their licensing and supervisory programs are more stringent than that run by CMS and the CDC. New York requires clinical laboratories that accept specimens from New York residents to have both a CLIA and New York Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (“CLEP”) permit. CLEP approval can take up to a year, and can be costly and time-consuming. Washington State does not require clinical laboratories to have a CLIA permit, but does require the clinical laboratory to apply for a Washington State lab permit.

Several states in the United States require the licensure of out-of-state laboratories that accept specimens from those states. For example, New York requires a laboratory to hold a permit which is issued after an on-site inspection and approval of testing methodology, and has various requirements over and above CLIA and CAP, including those for personnel qualifications, proficiency testing and physical facility, equipment and quality control standards. Each of our CLIA laboratory locations, including our site in Massachusetts, holds the appropriate licensure for the activities performed at that location. CLEP permit requires LDTs that are

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offered to New York State patients must be submitted for approval before they can be marketed or offered in New York. The Company is in the process of obtaining the requisite approvals for its LDTs.

From time to time, other states, such as California, Rhode Island, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania, may require out-of-state laboratories to obtain licensure in order to accept specimens from the state, even though the laboratory is not located in such state. If we identify any other state with such requirements, or if we are contacted by any other state advising us of such requirements, we intend to follow instructions from the state regulators as to how we should comply with such requirements. We are currently licensed in Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Rhode Island and California and are in the process of obtaining a New York State license.

Many states have also implemented genetic or other testing and privacy laws imposing specific patient consent requirements and protecting test results. In some cases, we are prohibited from conducting certain tests without a certification of patient consent by the physician ordering the test. Requirements of these laws and penalties for violations vary widely. We review our obligations regarding genetic or other testing and consent periodically. If we identify states with such requirements, or if we are contacted by any other state advising us of such requirements, we intend to follow instructions from the state regulators as to how we should comply with such requirements.

FDA

In the United States, medical devices are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA, under the FDC Act, and its implementing regulations, and other federal and state statutes and regulations. The laws and regulations govern, among other things, medical device development, testing, labeling, storage, premarket clearance or approval, advertising and promotion and product sales and distribution. To be commercially distributed in the United States, medical devices must receive from the FDA prior to marketing, unless subject to an exemption, either approval of a PMA (for most Class III devices), clearance of a 510(k) premarket notification or classification pursuant to a de novo submission.

IVDs are types of medical devices that can be used in the diagnosis or detection of diseases, conditions or infections, including, without limitation, the presence of certain chemicals, genetic information or other biomarkers. Predictive, prognostic and screening tests, such as carrier screening tests, can also be IVDs. A subset of IVDs is known as analyte-specific reagents (“ASRs”). ASRs consist of single reagents, and are intended for use in a diagnostic application for the identification and quantification of an individual chemical substance in biological specimens. ASRs are medical devices, but most are exempt from 510(k) review. As medical devices, ASRs have to comply with some QSR provisions and other device requirements, such as establishment registration, device listing and medical device reporting.

The FDC Act classifies medical devices into one of three categories based on the risks associated with the device and the level of control necessary to provide reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. Class I devices are deemed to be low risk and are subject to the fewest regulatory controls. Many Class I devices are exempt from FDA premarket review requirements. Class II devices, including some software products to the extent that they qualify as a device, are deemed to be moderate risk, and generally require clearance through the premarket notification, or 510(k) clearance, process in order to be commercially distributed. Class III devices are generally the highest risk devices and are subject to the highest level of regulatory control to provide reasonable assurance of the device’s safety and effectiveness. Class III devices typically require approval of a PMA by the FDA before they are marketed. A clinical study is almost always required to support a PMA application and is sometimes required for 510(k) clearance. All clinical studies of investigational devices must be conducted in compliance with any applicable FDA and Institutional Review Board requirements. Devices that are exempt from FDA premarket review requirements must nonetheless comply with general post-market controls as described below, unless the FDA has chosen to exercise enforcement discretion and not regulate them.

510(k) clearance pathway. To obtain 510(k) clearance, a manufacturer must submit a premarket notification demonstrating to the FDA’s satisfaction that the proposed device is substantially equivalent to a previously 510(k)-cleared device or a device that was in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976 for which the FDA has not yet called for submission of PMA applications. The previously cleared device is known as a predicate. The FDA’s 510(k) clearance pathway usually takes from three to 12 months, but it can take longer, particularly for a novel type of product.

PMA pathway. The PMA pathway requires proof of the safety and effectiveness of the device to the FDA’s satisfaction. The PMA pathway is costly, lengthy and uncertain. A PMA application must provide extensive preclinical and clinical trial data as well as information about the device and its components regarding, among other things, device design, manufacturing and labeling. As part of its PMA review process, the FDA will typically inspect the manufacturer’s facilities for compliance with QSR requirements, which

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impose elaborate testing, control, documentation and other quality assurance procedures. The PMA review process typically takes one to three years but can take longer.

De novo pathway. If no predicate device can be identified, the product is automatically classified as Class III, requiring a PMA application. However, the FDA can reclassify, or use “de novo classification,” for a device for which there was no predicate device if the device is low or moderate risk. The FDA will identify “special controls” that the manufacturer must implement, which often include labeling and other restrictions. Subsequent applicants can rely on the de novo product as a predicate for a 510(k) clearance. The de novo route is less burdensome than the PMA process. A device company can ask the FDA at the outset if the de novo route is available and submit the application as one requesting de novo classification. The de novo route has been used for many IVD products.

Post-market general controls. After a device, including a device exempt from FDA premarket review, is placed on the market, numerous regulatory requirements apply. These include the QSR, labeling regulations, registration and listing, the Medical Device Reporting regulation (which requires that manufacturers report to the FDA if their device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or malfunctioned in a way that would likely cause or contribute to a death or serious injury if it were to recur) and the Reports of Corrections and Removals regulation (which requires manufacturers to report recalls and field actions to the FDA if initiated to reduce a risk to health posed by the device or to remedy a violation of the FDC Act).

The FDA enforces these requirements by inspection and market surveillance. If the FDA finds a violation, it can institute a wide variety of enforcement actions, ranging from an untitled or public warning letter to more severe sanctions such as fines, injunctions and civil penalties; recall or seizure of products; operating restrictions and partial suspension or total shutdown of production; refusing requests for 510(k) clearance or PMA approval of new products; withdrawing 510(k) clearance or PMAs already granted; and criminal prosecution.

Research use only. Research use only (“RUO”) products belong to a separate regulatory classification under a long-standing FDA regulation. RUO products are not regulated as medical devices and are therefore not subject to the regulatory requirements discussed above. The products must bear the statement: “For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.” RUO products cannot make any claims related to safety, effectiveness or diagnostic utility, and they cannot be intended for human clinical diagnostic use. A product labeled RUO but intended to be used diagnostically may be viewed by the FDA as adulterated and misbranded under the FDC Act and is subject to FDA enforcement activities, including requiring the supplier to seek clearance or approval for the products. Our LDT uses instruments and reagents labeled as RUO in our laboratories.

Laboratory-developed tests. LDTs have generally been considered to be tests that are designed, developed, validated and used within a single laboratory. The FDA takes the position that it has the authority to regulate such tests as medical devices under the FDC Act. The FDA has historically exercised enforcement discretion and has not required clearance or approval of LDTs prior to marketing. In addition, New York CLEP separately approves certain LDTs offered to New York State patients. The Company is in the process of obtaining the requisite approvals for its LDTs in New York.

On October 3, 2014, the FDA issued two draft guidance documents regarding oversight of LDTs. These draft guidance documents proposed more active review of LDTs. The draft guidance has been the subject of considerable controversy, and in November 2016, the FDA announced that it would not be finalizing the 2014 draft guidance documents. On January 13, 2017, the FDA issued a discussion paper which laid out elements of a possible revised future LDT regulatory framework, but did not establish any regulatory requirements.

The FDA’s efforts to regulate LDTs have prompted the drafting of legislation governing diagnostic products and services that sought to substantially revamp the regulation of both LDTs and IVDs. Congress may still act to provide further direction to the FDA on the regulation of LDTs.

We believe that the majority of the tests we currently offer meet the definition of LDTs, as they have been designed, developed and validated for use in a single CLIA-certified laboratory. If our tests are LDTs, they are currently not subject to FDA regulation as IVDs.

HIPAA and HITECH

Under the administrative simplification provisions of HIPAA, as amended by the HITECH Act, the United States Department of Health and Human Services issued regulations that establish uniform standards governing the conduct of certain electronic

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healthcare transactions and protecting the privacy and security of protected health information used or disclosed by healthcare providers and other covered entities. Three principal regulations with which we are required to comply have been issued in final form under HIPAA: privacy regulations, security regulations and standards for electronic transactions, which establish standards for common healthcare transactions. The privacy and security regulations were extensively amended in 2013 to incorporate requirements from the HITECH Act.

The privacy regulations cover the use and disclosure of protected health information by healthcare providers and other covered entities. They also set forth certain rights that an individual has with respect to his or her protected health information maintained by a healthcare provider, including the right to access or amend certain records containing protected health information, or to request restrictions on the use or disclosure of protected health information. The security regulations establish requirements for safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of protected health information that is electronically transmitted or electronically stored. The HITECH Act, among other things, established certain protected health information security breach notification requirements. A covered entity must notify affected individual(s) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services when there is a breach of unsecured protected health information. The HITECH Act also strengthened the civil and criminal penalties that may be imposed against covered entities, business associates, and individuals, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorneys’ fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. In addition, other federal and state laws may govern the privacy and security of health and other information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and may not be preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts. The HIPAA privacy and security regulations establish a uniform federal “floor” that healthcare providers must meet and do not supersede state laws that are more stringent or provide individuals with greater rights with respect to the privacy or security of, and access to, their records containing protected health information. Massachusetts, for example, has a state law that protects the privacy and security of personal information of Massachusetts residents that is more prescriptive than HIPAA.

These laws contain significant fines and other penalties for wrongful use or disclosure of protected health information. Additionally, to the extent that we submit electronic healthcare claims and payment transactions that do not comply with the electronic data transmission standards established under HIPAA and the HITECH Act, payments to us may be delayed or denied.

United States Federal and State Fraud and Abuse Laws

In the United States, there are various fraud and abuse laws with which we must comply and we are potentially subject to regulation by various federal, state and local authorities, including CMS, other divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the DOJ and individual U.S. Attorney offices within the DOJ, and state and local governments. We also may be subject to foreign fraud and abuse laws.

In the United States, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce or in return for patient referrals for, or purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of, any healthcare item or service reimbursable under a governmental payor program. Courts have stated that a financial arrangement may violate the Anti-Kickback Statute if any one purpose of the arrangement is to encourage patient referrals or other federal healthcare program business, regardless of whether there are other legitimate purposes for the arrangement. Violations may result in imprisonment, criminal fines, civil money penalties and exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs. Many states also have anti-kickback statutes, some of which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers.

In addition to the administrative simplification regulations discussed above, HIPAA also created two new federal crimes: healthcare fraud and false statements relating to healthcare matters. The healthcare fraud statute prohibits knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private payors. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or exclusion from governmental payor programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The false statements statute prohibits knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact, or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or exclusion from governmental payor programs.

Finally, another development affecting the healthcare industry is the increased enforcement of the federal False Claims Act and, in particular, actions brought pursuant to the False Claims Act’s “whistleblower” or qui tam provisions. The False Claims Act imposes liability on any person or entity that, among other things, knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment by a federal governmental payor program. The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act allow a private

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individual to bring actions on behalf of the federal government alleging that the defendant has defrauded the federal government by submitting a false claim to the federal government and permit such individuals to share in any amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. When an entity is determined to have violated the False Claims Act, it may be required to pay up to three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties ranging from $11,181 to $22,363 for each false claim. These civil penalties are also adjusted for inflation periodically.

In addition, various states have enacted false claim laws analogous to the federal False Claims Act, although many of these state laws apply where a claim is submitted to any third-party payor and not merely a governmental payor program.

Physician Referral Prohibitions

Under a United States federal law directed at “self-referral,” commonly known as the “Stark Law,” there are prohibitions, with certain exceptions, on referrals for certain designated health services, including laboratory services, that are covered by the Medicare and Medicaid programs by physicians who personally, or through a family member, have an investment or ownership interest in, or a compensation arrangement with, an entity performing the tests. The prohibition also extends to payment for any testing referred in violation of the Stark Law. A person who engages in a scheme to circumvent the Stark Law’s referral prohibition may be fined up to $100,000 for each such arrangement or scheme. In addition, any person who presents or causes to be presented a claim to the Medicare or Medicaid programs in violation of the Stark Law is subject to civil monetary penalties of up to $15,000 per bill submission, an assessment of up to three times the amount claimed and possible exclusion from participation in federal governmental payor programs. Bills submitted in violation of the Stark Law may not be paid by Medicare or Medicaid, and any person collecting any amounts with respect to any such prohibited bill is obligated to refund such amounts. Many states have comparable laws that are not limited to Medicare and Medicaid referrals.

Corporate Practice of Medicine

Approximately 30 states in the United States have enacted laws prohibiting business corporations, such as us, from practicing medicine and employing or engaging physicians to practice medicine, generally referred to as the prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine. These laws are designed to prevent interference in the medical decision-making process by anyone who is not a licensed physician. For example, California’s Medical Board has indicated that determining what diagnostic tests are appropriate for a particular condition and taking responsibility for the ultimate overall care of the patient, including providing treatment options available to the patient, would constitute the unlicensed practice of medicine if performed by an unlicensed person. Violation of these corporate practice of medicine laws may result in civil or criminal fines, as well as sanctions imposed against us and/or the professional through licensure proceedings.

Other United States Regulatory Requirements

Our laboratories are subject to United States federal, state and local regulations relating to the handling and disposal of regulated medical waste, hazardous waste and biohazardous waste, including chemical, biological agents and compounds, blood samples and other human tissue. Typically, we use outside vendors who are contractually obligated to comply with applicable laws and regulations to dispose of such waste. These vendors are licensed or otherwise qualified to handle and dispose of such waste.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established extensive requirements relating to workplace safety for healthcare employers, including requirements to develop and implement programs to protect workers from exposure to blood-borne pathogens by preventing or minimizing any exposure through needle stick or similar penetrating injuries.

The U.S. federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, with specific exceptions, to annually report to CMS information related to payments or other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members.

European Regulation

European sales of medical and diagnostic devices are subject to European regulations. The time required to obtain clearance or approval by a foreign country may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA clearance or approval, and the requirements may be different. Set forth below are highlights of the key European regulatory schemes applicable to our business.

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European Conformity Marking (“CE Mark”) and Certifications

The primary regulatory body in Europe is the European Commission, which has adopted numerous directives and has promulgated standards regulating the design, manufacture, clinical trials, labeling and adverse event reporting for medical and diagnostic devices. Devices that comply with the requirements of a relevant directive will be entitled to bear the CE Mark indicating that the device conforms to the essential requirements of the applicable directives and, accordingly, can be commercially distributed throughout the member states of the European Union, and other countries that comply with or mirror these directives. The method of assessing conformity varies depending on the type and class of the product, but normally involves a combination of self-assessment by the manufacturer and a third-party assessment by a notified body, an independent and neutral institution appointed by a country to conduct the conformity assessment. This third-party assessment may consist of an audit of the manufacturer’s quality system, review of technical documentation and specific testing of the manufacturer’s device. Such an assessment may be required in order for a manufacturer to commercially distribute the product throughout these countries. ISO 13485 certification is a voluntary standard. Quality systems that implement relevant harmonized standards establish the presumption of conformity with the essential requirements for a CE Mark.

We currently have 3 Invitro Diagnostic Medical Devices, the CentoCard, CentoSwab and CentoNIPT, which must be in compliance with Directive IVD 98/79/EG and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 (which will enter into force on May 26, 2022), to affix the CE Mark. The EU MDR Medical Device Regulation (MDR) is applicable for all our Medical Devices to affix the CE Mark. We use EN ISO 13485:2016 as the Quality Management Standard for Medical Devices and Invitro Diagnostic Medical Devices.

Laboratory-Developed Tests

As currently a majority of our diagnostic testing is run at our laboratory in Rostock, Germany, the European Union and German legislation on in vitro diagnostic medical devices applies. According to the recitals of the IVD-MDD, reagents which are produced within “health-institution laboratories” for use in that environment and which are not subject to commercial transactions are not covered by the Directive. However, the legal framework for applying the exemption clauses for LDTs is not entirely clear as the IVD-MDD lacks an explicit definition and there is no related case law. As of May 2022, when the new IVD-MDR becomes applicable, the general safety and performance requirements set out in Annex I IVD-MDR are applicable also to devices manufactured and used only within health institutions. Overall the exemptions for LDTs will be narrowed, as even health institutions that use LDTs, among other institutions, will have to provide information upon request on the use of such devices to their relevant authorities and the particular health institution will have to draw up a declaration which it is required to make publicly available. If those conditions are not met and/or diagnostic tests are manufactured and used only within health institutions but not “on an industrial scale”, such tests will qualify as IVDs with the IVD-MDR applying with full applicability. Additionally, U.S. regulation applies to our laboratory-developed tests (see “Regulation—Regulation States Regulation—Laboratory-developed tests” for more information).

General Data Protection Regulation

In May 2016, the European Union formally adopted the GDPR, which applied to all EU member states as of May 25, 2018 and replaced the EU Data Protection Directive. The GDPR imposes strict requirements on controllers and processors of personal data, including special protections for “sensitive information,” which includes health and genetic information of data subjects residing in the European Union. The GDPR grants individuals the opportunity to object to the processing of their personal information, allows them to request deletion of personal information in certain circumstances, and provides an individual with an express right to seek legal remedies in the event the individual believes his or her rights have been violated. Further, the GDPR imposes strict rules on the transfer of personal data out of the European Union to the United States or other regions that have not been deemed to offer “adequate” privacy protections. It has increased our responsibility and liability in relation to personal data that we process and we may be required to put in place additional mechanisms ensuring compliance with the new EU data protection rules.

The GDPR is a complex law and the regulatory guidance is still evolving, including with respect to how the GDPR should be applied in the context of transactions from which we may gain access to personal data. Furthermore, many of the countries within the European Union are still in the process of drafting supplementary data protection legislation in key fields where the GDPR allows for national variation, including the fields of clinical study and other health-related information. There is still significant uncertainty related to the manner in which data protection authorities will seek to enforce compliance with GDPR in the medical and research fields. For example, it is not yet clear if such authorities will conduct random audits of companies subject to the GDPR or will only respond to complaints filed by individuals who claim their rights have been violated. Enforcement actions to date in other industries has resulted in significant fines and other penalties. Failure to comply with the requirements of the GDPR and the related national data protection laws of EU member states, which may deviate slightly from the GDPR, may result in material fines.

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European Fraud and Abuse Laws

In Europe, various countries have adopted anti-bribery laws providing for severe consequences, in the form of criminal penalties and/or significant fines, for individuals and/or companies committing a bribery offense. Violations of these anti-bribery laws, or allegations of such violations, could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and reputation. For instance, in the United Kingdom, under the Bribery Act 2010, which went into effect in July 2011, a bribery occurs when a person offers, gives or promises to give a financial or other advantage to induce or reward another individual to improperly perform certain functions or activities, including any function of a public nature. Bribery of foreign public officials also falls within the scope of the Bribery Act 2010. Under the new regime, an individual found in violation of the Bribery Act 2010 faces imprisonment of up to 10 years. In addition, the individual can be subject to an unlimited fine, as can commercial organizations for failure to prevent bribery.

Competition

We believe, for our core business, that we are the company offering the most comprehensive services to both diagnostics and pharmaceutical partners in the rare disease field, with highly curated data combining genetic, epidemiological and phenotypical information and proprietary biomarkers. Our principal competitors are existing mainstream diagnostics companies or companies specializing in certain rare diseases as well as cloud-based bioinformatic companies and entities that offer open source uncurated genetic databases. However, these companies do not offer curated information or as broad of a testing portfolio for rare diseases in as many geographical regions as we do. For example, we have found that the genetic mutation causing the same rare diseases and the phenotypical patterns may vary depending on the ethnicity of the patients, which we have identified based on our global data sets. Such unique insights may not be available to other companies that do not have the same global scope of patient data.

Our principal competitors in our diagnostics segment include mainstream diagnostic testing companies as well as labs or hospital conglomerates which offer the same services. In our pharmaceutical segment, our competitors include diagnostic testing companies and large pharmaceuticals.

With the continuous development in the NGS technology, the cost of genetic sequencing is anticipated to decrease and there may be companies intending to compete with us by performing massive sequencing at lower prices in order to obtain the relevant data to construct a similar database and repository. However, given the current limitations in the rare diseases fields, as well as the required quantity and quality of the data in order to make any relevant analysis, we are not aware of any competitors that will be able to build up to such scale in the near term.

Legal Proceedings

For more information, see “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.”

C.Organizational Structure

Our parent company is Centogene N.V. (the “Company”). Centogene B.V. was incorporated on October 11, 2018. In connection with our initial public offering which closed on November 12, 2019, we executed a corporate reorganization whereby Centogene B.V. was converted into Centogene N.V., and Centogene N.V. became the holding company for Centogene AG (now Centogene GmbH).

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Our major subsidiaries are listed below.

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(1)             The Group acquired the remaining 49% of Centogene India Pvt. Ltd. in 2020.
(2)The Group disposed of its entire 51% interest in LPC GmbH in 2020.
(3)Centogene does not own any shares in Dr. Bauer Laboratoriums GmbH. However, Centogene meets the criteria of the control model under IFRS 10 as it has exposure to variable returns from, and the ability to use power to affect returns of, Dr. Bauer Laboratoriums GmbH.

D.Property, Plants and Equipment

Our headquarters are located in Rostock, Germany, where we occupy approximately 8,500 square meters of office and laboratory space that was originally constructed by us. In July 2019, Centogene AG (now Centogene GmbH) entered into a sale and leaseback transaction, pursuant to which we sold our Rostock headquarters building to a third party for €24,000 thousand. We then leased the building from the third party for a period of 12 years at a fixed rate per month with the option to extend twice. In addition, a bank guarantee of €3,000 thousand (which we have secured by cash deposit of € 1,500 thousand) is required to be maintained during the lease period. In February 2020, we entered into another lease contract for the further expansion of our Rostock headquarters. The new lease contract will cover a total area of approximately 2,850 square meters of offices, staff facilities and storage spaces, and will commence during the first quarter of 2023, when the building is expected to be completed by the lessor. The lease is charged at a fixed rate and covers a fixed period of eight years, with the option to extend twice. The lease cannot be terminated during the fixed eight-year period, but we are permitted to sub-lease to a third party.

In September 2018, we also opened an office and laboratory facility in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We rented the premises with a two-year lease covering approximately 168 square meters. In June 2019, we rented additional premises of approximately 194 square meters. The contract provides for, and we have exercised, an option to extend for a period of two years after the current term ended on June 30, 2020.

Both laboratories in Rostock, Germany and in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are equipped with the most advanced technologies for clinical diagnostics, clinical studies and research and development. We strive to follow the strictest quality criteria at all times and both laboratories are certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and accredited by the College of American Pathologists. To further enhance flexibility in capital management, we may purchase some of the leased laboratory equipment. These leases usually cover a period of two to four years, and our obligations under these leases are secured by the lessor’s title to the leased assets.

In March 2020, we announced the commencement of testing for COVID-19. In order to increase the testing capacity, we acquired the laboratory facilities and equipment of a former cancer immunotherapy company and leased their former laboratory space in Hamburg, Germany. The lease is charged at a fixed rate and covers a fixed period of five years, with an option to extend. We do not have the right to terminate the lease during the fixed five-year period, but we are permitted to sub-lease to a third party. To facilitate the increased demand in testing for COVID-19 in Germany, we have opened a COVID-19 test center at Germany’s largest airport in Frankfurt am Main and an additional COVID-19 testing laboratory based in Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Additionally, in 2020 we operated COVID-19 test centers at the airports in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Berlin as well as in city centers in Frankfurt am Main, Wiesbaden and Berlin. We have entered into short term lease agreements in respect of these test centers.

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In addition to our laboratories, we have sales and administrative offices located in Berlin (Germany), Cambridge (Massachusetts, United States), Vienna (Austria), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Delhi (India) and Zug (Switzerland), allowing us to further expand our international footprint. Considering the continuous expansion of our business, we relocated our office to Berlin, Germany in October 2019. The new office covers an area of approximately 1,770 square meters and was leased for a period of 12 years without an extension option. Until the end of the lease period for our Berlin, Germany office, we must provide a bank guarantee of €257 thousand (which we collateralized with a cash deposit of €128 thousand).

As of December 31, 2020, we employ approximately 660 highly qualified personnel (including consultants) from over 55 nationalities.

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Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

None

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Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

A.Operating Results

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with Centogene’s audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2020 and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020 and the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report as well as the information presented under “Item 3—A. Selected Financial Data.” Financial information presented in the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the completion of our corporate reorganization is that of Centogene AG (which is now known as Centogene GmbH), our wholly-owned subsidiary. The consolidated financial statements of Centogene N.V. are a continuation of the historical consolidated financial statements of Centogene AG. Centogene AG was acquired by Centogene B.V., which subsequently converted into Centogene N.V., on November 7, 2019 as part of our corporate reorganization. Centogene B.V. had no assets, liabilities or contingent liabilities until the completion of our corporate reorganization. Following the corporate reorganization, Centogene N.V. became the holding company of Centogene AG and the historical consolidated financial statements of Centogene AG (now Centogene GmbH) as of and for the year ended 2018 included in this Annual Report became the historical consolidated financial statements of Centogene N.V. The following discussion is based on our financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB, which may differ in material respects from generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and other jurisdictions. The following discussion includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not limited to those described under “Item 3—D. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Overview

We are a commercial-stage company with our core businesses focused on rare diseases that transforms real-world clinical and genetic or other data into actionable information for patients, physicians and pharmaceutical companies. Our goal is to bring rationality to treatment decisions and to accelerate the development of new orphan drugs by using our knowledge of the global rare disease market, including epidemiological and clinical data and innovative biomarkers. We have developed a global proprietary rare disease platform based on our real-world data repository with over 3.9 billion weighted data points from nearly 600,000 patients representing over 120 different countries as of December 31, 2020, or an average of over 6,500 data points per patient. Our platform includes multiomic data (such as epidemiologic, phenotypic and genetic or other data) that reflects a global population, and also a biobank of these patients’ blood samples. We believe this represents the only platform that comprehensively analyzes multi-level data to improve the understanding of rare hereditary diseases, which can aid in the identification of patients and improve our pharmaceutical partners’ ability to bring orphan drugs to the market.

We also leveraged our diagnostics expertise and entrepreneurial capabilities, to rapidly contribute to the worldwide COVID-19 response. We developed and commenced testing for COVID-19 in mid-2020, offerering comprehensive and high quality COVID-19 testing solutions, mostly in Germany, our home country. This includes our COVID-19 tests, which received Emergency Use Authorizations (“EUA”) from the FDA in July 2020; our CentoKit-19, a fully validated sample collection kit which can either be used by healthcare professionals or self-administered by individuals; and our Corona Test Portal, a secure digital platform allowing seamless registration and result notification. While not part of our core strategy, the positive financial contribution from COVID-19 testing helped mitigate the negative impact the pandemic had on our core business, allowing us to continue investing into the build up of our proprietary rare disease data- and biobank platform.

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We have identified three reportable segments:

Our business has continuously seen notable expansion in recent years. In the year ended December 31, 2020, we received over 1,510.5 thousand test requests, of which 1,395.4 thousand account for COVID-19 tests. Excluding the COVID-19 tests, we received 115.1 thousand test request in 2020, representing an approximate 14% decrease as compared to approximately 133.8 thousand test requests received during the year ended December 31, 2019, and an approximate 9% increase as compared to 105.3 thousand test requests received during the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in test requests received in the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 was 27.1%.

Our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020 was €128,381 thousand, an increase of €79,601 thousand, or 163%, from €48,780 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2019 was €48,780 thousand, an increase of €8,302 thousand, or 21%, from €40,478 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018. Our pharmaceutical, diagnostics and COVID-19 segments contributed 13.2%, 17.2% and 69.6%, respectively, of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2020, as compared to 44.1%, 55.9%, and nil respectively, of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 42.8%, 57.2%, and nil respectively, of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2018. Test requests received by our pharmaceutical and diagnostics segments for the year ended December 31, 2020 were approximately 67.8 thousand and 41.9 thousand, respectively, representing decreases of approximately 4.0% and 18.8%, respectively, as compared to approximately 70.6 thousand and 51.6 thousand test requests, respectively, received for the year ended December 31, 2019. Test requests received by our pharmaceutical and diagnostics segments for the year ended December 31, 2019 represented increases of approximately 18.5% and 21.7%, respectively, as compared to approximately 59.6 thousand and 42.4 thousand test requests, respectively, received for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Since the inception of our business, our research and development has been substantially devoted to our biomarkers and interpretation-based solutions. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we incurred research and development expenses of €14,935 thousand, an increase of €5,345 thousand, or 55.7%, from €9,590 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our research and development expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased by €3,290 thousand, or 52.2%, from

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€6,300 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018. During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, we received test requests of approximately 5,400, 11,600 and 3,300, respectively, for our internal research and development projects.

Our loss before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2020 was €21,097 thousand, an increase of €400 thousand, or 1.9%, from €20,697 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019. Our loss before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2019 increased by €9,049 thousand, or 77.7%, from €11,648 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018. Our loss before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2020 included an impairment of €4,700 thousand related to certain identified biomarkers as part of the Company’s strategy reassessment which began in Q4 2020. Our loss before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2019 included real estate transfer taxes of €1,200 thousand related to the sale and leaseback transaction for our Rostock headquarter building and initial public offering expenses of €1,092 thousand. Our loss before taxes for the year ended December 31, 2020 also included share-based compensation expenses of €5,658 thousand, as compared to €6,418 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019, and €5,521 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Important Developments

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in December 2019, has spread worldwide and continues to cause many governments to maintain measures to slow the spread of the outbreak through quarantines, travel restrictions, closures of borders and mandatory maintenance of physical distance between individuals. We have been continuously monitoring the situation and have taken a series of measures to protect our employees and safeguard our operations.

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As part of the Company’s initiative to assist local, national and international authorities as well as other partners in their efforts to facilitate the earliest possible diagnosis of COVID-19 and thereby contribute to allowing society to return to a “new” normal, the Company commenced testing for COVID-19 in March 2020. We offer a comprehensive and high quality COVID-19 testing solution to the community. This includes our COVID-19 tests, which received EUAs from the FDA in July 2020; our CentoKit-19, a fully validated sample collection kit which can either be used by healthcare professionals or self-administered by individuals; and our Corona Test Portal, a secure digital platform following stringent data privacy measures in compliance with the GDPR and HIPAA, allowing seamless registration and result notification. Given the increasing focus of management on the development of our COVID-19 related testing business, we identified this business as a separate segment.

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Due to the measures implemented to control the further spread of the outbreak, including “social distancing”, as well as the allocation of healthcare resources to treating those infected with the virus, we have seen a significant decrease in our sample volume related to our routine diagnostics business and pharmaceutical collaborations with fee per sample structure. In addition, the pandemic also slowed the progress of the clinical studies of our pharmaceutical partners with whom we collaborate, which adversely affected our pharmaceutical business. In addition, travel restrictions and the cancellation of conferences and seminars also delayed the conclusion of new collaborations with our pharmaceutical partners.

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Although we are taking a number of measures aimed at minimizing disruptions to our business and operations, and while the provision of testing for the COVID-19 virus generates additional revenues for us, the full extent to which the global COVID-19 pandemic may impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, such as the duration of the pandemic, its severity and strain mutations, the availability of vaccines, the probability of the occurrence of further outbreaks and the ultimate impact on the financial markets and the global economy, and could result in an unforeseen negative impact on our business and our future results of operations.

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Research and Development

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Despite the disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued to expand our medical and genetic knowledge of rare genetic diseases, with the vision of shortening the diagnostics odyssey of rare disease patients and accelerating the development of new orphan drugs.  In particular, we entered into the following collaborations during the year:

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●      Collaboration with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (“Alnylam”) to expand its existing epidemiology and biomarker work through the initiation of a new clinical program (TRAMoniTTR) focused on Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (hATTR, hereditary amyloidosis, transthyretin-related). Through the newly executed agreement, the Company will provide specific analyses regarding anonymized TTR patient populations with a focus on long-term longitudinal data.

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As of  December 31, 2020, our global proprietary rare disease platform included real-world data repository with approximately 600,000 thousand patients representing 120 different countries, an increase of 20% as compared to the number of patients in our platform as of December 31, 2019.

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We also released an update of CentoLSD, powered by CentoMD, which we believe is the world’s largest knowledge-driven lysosomal storage disease (“LSD”) database.  CentoLSD allows researchers, pharmaceutical partners, and clinicians to access a comprehensive database of GBA and GLA genetic variants classified through a standardized curation workflow, and is accessible through our website free of charge, for the purpose of enhancing a global understanding and the potential treatment opportunities for rare disease patients.

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Follow-on Equity Offering

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In July 2020, we completed a follow-on public offering of 3,500,000 common shares of the Company (the “Follow-on Equity Offering”), consisting of 2,000,000 common shares offered by the Company and 1,500,000 common shares offered by selling shareholders at a price to the public of $14.00 per common share (i.e., €12.71 per share). Aggregate offering proceeds, net of underwriting discounts, commissions and transaction costs, to the Company were €22 million. With the additional funding from the Follow-on Equity Offering, we believe that our cash and cash equivalents will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for more than 12 months.

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Leadership transition

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On October 20, 2020, we announced that Prof. Arndt Rolfs, our founder and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), had decided to step down as CEO of Centogene as of October 20, 2020, and that Andrin Oswald, M.D., would join the Company as CEO effective December 1, 2020. Prof. Rolfs agreed to serve as an advisor during the transition period until December 31, 2020.

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The financial impact of the departure of Prof. Rolfs, in the fourth quarter of 2020, are additional expenses related to one full year’s base salary aggregating to €565 thousand, as well as additional share-based payment expenses of €468 thousand relating to all Long-Term Incentive Plan options and restricted stock units granted in 2020 that vested immediately upon his departure.

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Financial Operations Overview

Revenue

Our revenue is principally derived from the provision of pharmaceutical solutions and diagnostic tests enabled by our knowledge and interpretation-based platform, as well as from our COVID-19 testing solution.

Besides the impact of our COVID-19 testing solution related revenue, we expect our revenue to increase over time as we continue to expand our commercial efforts internationally with a focus on further growth in our pharmaceutical segment. We expect revenue from our diagnostics segment to grow in absolute terms but decrease as a proportion of total revenue if there is growth in our pharmaceutical segment. The development of the COVID-19 testing revenues will strongly depend on the further development of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Changes in revenue mix between our pharmaceutical, diagnostics and COVID-19 segments can impact our results period over period. We typically incur lower costs for the provision of solutions in our pharmaceutical segment and therefore generate higher returns from our pharmaceutical segment contracts than from our diagnostics and COVID-19 segment contracts.

Pharmaceutical segment

We generate revenue in our pharmaceutical segment from the solutions we provide to our pharmaceutical partners to accelerate their development of treatments for rare hereditary diseases. Our data-driven studies are not only able to provide valuable information for drug target discovery, but also allow a better and more targeted design of clinical trials afterwards. Our biomarkers can be used not only in effective identification of rare disease patients, but also used to demonstrate the efficacy of the drugs, perform longitudinal monitoring and titrate the dosage needed of individual rare disease patients. Our partnership agreements are structured on a fee per sample basis, milestone basis, fixed fee basis, royalty basis or a combination of these. We recognize our revenue from the rendering of solutions to our pharmaceutical partners as such service is performed, or upon the achievement of certain milestones if applicable to the partnership agreement.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, we entered into 16 new collaborations and successfully completed 26 collaborations resulting in a total of 66 active collaborations. Over 49 disorders are covered by our current and historic collaborations. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we entered into 10 new collaborations with nine new pharmaceutical partners, and 18 new collaborations with existing pharmaceutical partners, resulting in a total of 76 active collaborations, covering 46 disorders.

The timing of entry into new contracts with our pharmaceutical partners can be difficult to predict. Accordingly, we can experience different revenue patterns quarter-to-quarter and year-over-year due to the satisfaction of performance obligations involving significant upfront and milestone fees due from our pharmaceutical partners. We recognize revenue for upfront fees at a point in time when the right to use the intellectual property is transferred to the customer, while revenue for milestone payments is recognized over time using an input method based on the work rendered by us, or at a point in time when the applicable provisions for over-time recognition are not present (e.g., the sale of CentoCards).

During the year ended December 31, 2020 we did not enter into collaboration agreements with pharmaceutical partners that included upfront fees. During the year ended December 31, 2019, we entered into collaboration agreements with certain pharmaceutical partners, of which upfront fees of €1,930 thousand, representing the transaction prices allocated to the one-off transfer

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of our intellectual property, were received and recognized as revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we entered into two collaboration agreements with Evotec and Denali. Under the terms of these collaboration agreements, we received upfront payments totaling €4,000 thousand in relation to the licensing by Evotec and Denali of certain of our intellectual property. We expect such fluctuations will increase as we expand our pharmaceutical segment.

Diagnostics segment

We generate revenue in our diagnostics segment primarily from genetic sequencing and diagnostics services, such as WES and WGS. The test requests received by our diagnostics segment for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were split amongst our primary testing products as follows:

We provide these services in over 120 countries either through third party distributors or directly to our diagnostics clients, who are typically physicians, labs or hospital facilities. Revenues are based on a negotiated price per test or on the basis of agreements to provide certain testing volumes over defined periods. Revenue from the rendering of clinical diagnostic services (sequencing, interpretation and reporting) is recognized over time by reference to the percentage of completion of the service on the reporting date, assessed on the basis of the work rendered. We strategically focus on countries around the globe where the prevalence of rare hereditary diseases is high or the availability of national genetic testing and interpretation is to some extent limited and therefore the complete reimbursement or partial payment by the government for our services is more likely. The major markets for our diagnostics business currently include the Middle East and North Africa region, Scandinavia, parts of Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, North America and parts of Asia. In most of our markets, our diagnostics tests are billable directly to the party submitting the request for a test to us.

COVID-19 segment

Starting from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania region of Germany, where we initially focused on employees and essential workers in Rostock, our COVID-19 testing solution was further expanded to nursing homes as well as to high school students in Germany, and has been available to the rest of the world since May 2020. Some of our tests are offered free of charge by the Company, while others are offered in collaboration with state governments and other partners. In particular, we developed our COVID-19 testing business during 2020 as follows:

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Cost of Sales and Operating Expenses

Our cost of sales and our operating expenses support all of the products and services that we provide to our customers and, as a result, are presented in an aggregate total for the business segments. We allocate certain overhead expenses, such as maintenance and depreciation to cost of sales and operating expense categories based on headcount and facility usage. As a result, overhead expense allocation is reflected in cost of sales and each operating expense category.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales consists of cost of consumables, supplies and other direct costs such as personnel expenses, depreciation of laboratory equipment, amortization of biomarkers, repair and maintenance costs, shipping costs, rent of COVID-19 testing facilities, other directly related COVID-19 testing costs, as well as certain allocated overhead expenses. The share-based compensation expenses included in cost of sales for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 amounted to €1,153 thousand and €646 thousand, respectively, mainly related to options granted to an employee. In 2020 all share-based compensation expenses have been included in the general & administrative expenses.

We expect these costs in absolute terms will increase as we grow our revenue but decrease as a percentage of revenue over time as our pharmaceutical segment revenue increases and as we continue to implement operational efficiencies. During the year ended December 31, 2020, our cost of sales represented 67.3% of our total revenue, as compared to 53.3% for the year ended December 31, 2019, and 49.3% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increased share in 2020 was mainly due to lower revenues in our core business segments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, cost of sales included an impairment of €4,700 thousand related to certain identified biomarkers as part of the Company’s strategy reassessment which began in the fourth quarter of 2020.

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Research and Development Expenses

Our research and development (“R&D”) expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for the research and development of new products and solutions, in particular our biomarkers, and the development of our IT driven and interpretation-based solutions, including our CentoMD database. In the three fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, we spent €43,306 thousand on research and development, of which €12,481 thousand was capitalized as intangible assets.

Expenses for research activities are recognized through profit or loss in the period in which they are incurred, unless they reach the development stage and prove to be technically and commercially feasible, upon which the expenses are capitalized. With respect to biomarkers, expenses are capitalized when the target validation process is completed and commercialization is probable. With respect to IT driven solutions, expenses are capitalized upon the completion of our internal validation test. Before such dates, any development costs are recognized in profit or loss.

Research and development which we conduct pursuant to our pharmaceutical partnership agreements is typically limited to a specific rare disease. As a result, our research and development expenses may vary substantially from period to period based on the timing of our research and development activities or our pharmaceutical partners, including due to the entry into, renegotiation of or termination of our partnership agreements. Our research and development expenses may also be impacted by changes in regulatory requirements and healthcare policies globally, particularly in respect of the validation and patent application processes that we conduct for our biomarkers.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, our research and development expenses represented 11.6% of our total revenue, as compared to 19.7% for the year ended December 31, 2019, and 15.6% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease mainly related to the COVID-19 business, which generated additional revenue and where research and development expenses were negligible. We continue to innovate our information platform, develop additional products and solutions and expand our data management resources.

General Administrative Expenses

Our general administrative expenses include costs for our personnel, premises, IT operations, accounting and finance, legal and human resources functions. These expenses consist principally of salaries, bonuses, employee benefits, travel, and share-based compensation, as well as professional services fees such as consulting, audit, tax and legal fees and general corporate costs, insurance costs and allocated overhead expenses. We account for all general administrative expenses as incurred.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, our general administrative expenses represented 29.3% of our total revenue, as compared to 47.5% for the year ended December 31, 2019, and 46.0% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease was mainly related to the COVID-19 business, where general administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues are comparably low. The share-based compensation expenses included in general administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 amounted to €5,658 thousand, €5,265 thousand and €4,875 thousand, respectively.

Selling Expenses

Our selling expenses consist of costs from our sales organization, which includes our direct sales force and sales management, client services, distributor relations, marketing and business development personnel. These expenses primarily include salaries, commissions, bonuses, employee benefits and travel, as well as marketing and educational activities and allocated overhead expenses. We expense all selling expenses as incurred.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, selling expenses accounted for 5.9% of our total revenue, as compared to 19.0% for the year ended December 31, 2019, and 18.5% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease was mainly related to the COVID-19 business, where selling expenses as a percentage of revenues are comparably low. We expect that our selling expenses will continue to grow as we continue to increase our business footprint and expand our business development efforts in our pharmaceutical segment.

Other Operating Income / (Expenses)

Other operating income and expenses primarily includes government grants, gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and exchange rate gains or losses.

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Government grants contain performance-based grants to subsidize research, development and innovation in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania from funds granted by the European Regional Development Fund (“R&D Grants”). Furthermore, government grants contain investment grants related to the construction of our headquarters in Rostock, Germany in prior years and purchase of equipment for laboratory automization (“Investment Grants”). R&D Grants that compensate our research and development expenses are recognized directly in profit or loss, while R&D Grants relating to an asset and Investment Grants are initially recognized as deferred income and subsequently released to profit or loss on a systematic basis over the useful life of the related asset. We received different government grants in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania from funds granted by the European Regional Development Fund to subsidize our research, development and innovation.

During the year ended December 31, 2020, we received R&D Grants of €764 thousand, as compared to €1,463 thousand and €378 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Furthermore, we received Investment Grants of €792 thousand in the year ended December 31, 2019, as well as €3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The government grant that we receive, can fluctuate from period to period.

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2020

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