We analyze several patterns of symmetry breaking of SO(10) where SU(3) c × SU(2) × U(1) × U(1) is an intermediate energy subgroup. Using constraints from the renormalization group and data from neutral-current experiments we show that if the only Higgs used in the low-energy breaking of the theory are those which can give mass to fermions then the possibility of a low intermediate mass scale is ruled out.
