Dr. Tidmarsh to Head CDER

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun 2026 with a clear signal to the direct‑to‑consumer testing industry: self‑collection devices remain firmly within the agency’s regulatory reach, notwithstanding the 2025 court ruling on laboratory developed tests (LDTs). Last week, the agency published warning letters previously issued to four companies—Genetrace, Genovate, Germaphobix and ProDx Health—selling human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests that rely on unauthorized self‑collection kits.

On January 6, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guidance documents on Clinical Decision Support (CDS) software and general wellness products, and withdrew its guidance on the adoption of international principles for Software as a Medical Device (SaMD): Clinical Evaluation. FDA’s policy changes lean toward a more deregulatory approach to digital health, including enforcement discretion for certain prediction software, and exemption of certain wearables with non-invasive monitoring from FDA regulation.

On December 18, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a final guidance entitled “Processes and Practices Applicable to Bioresearch Monitoring Inspections.” The guidance was issued to comply with the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022, which directs FDA to issue guidance describing the processes and practices applicable to inspections of sites and facilities inspected under FDA’s Bioresearch Monitoring (BIMO) inspection program, to the extent that is not covered in already available FDA guides and manuals. The BIMO program was established to assess and monitor the conduct and reporting of FDA-regulated research as well as postmarketing activities through on-site inspections, investigations and Remote Regulatory Assessments.

On December 5, 2025, FDA announced its Technology-Enabled Meaningful Patient Outcomes (TEMPO) for Digital Health Devices Pilot, a new voluntary pilot that seeks to accelerate innovation and expand access to digital health devices for people living with chronic conditions. Under TEMPO, FDA will evaluate a new, risk-based enforcement approach that supports digital health devices intended for use to improve patient outcomes in cardio-kidney-metabolic, musculoskeletal and behavioral health conditions. Under the pilot, participating manufacturers may request that the agency exercise enforcement discretion for certain requirements, such as premarket authorization and investigational device requirements, while manufacturers collect and share real-world data demonstrating the device’s performance.