Christopher Thurston
Co-DiagnosticsAbout Christopher Thurston
Christopher Thurston is Co-Diagnostics’ Chief Technology & AI Officer, appointed to lead a newly organized AI business unit to integrate the company’s AI applications into the Co-Dx Primer Ai platform . He was named Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in March 2024 alongside a broader C-suite reorganization, bringing decades of experience in software architecture and big-data solutions at Ernst & Young, BioFire Defense, and bioMérieux, and co-inventing the Co-Dx PCR platform at Idaho Molecular . Company performance context during his tenure includes Q3 2025 revenue of $0.1 million, net loss of $5.9 million, adjusted EBITDA loss of $6.3 million, and $11.4 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities . His profile highlights prior leadership in building SyndromicTrends at bioMérieux and service in the U.S. Army, underscoring technical breadth and mission orientation .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Molecular | Co-founder; co-inventor of Co-Dx PCR platform | Not disclosed | Co-invented Co-Dx PCR Pro, foundational to company’s point-of-care PCR strategy |
| bioMérieux | Senior architect; led SyndromicTrends.com | Not disclosed | Developed big-data public health platform SyndromicTrends.com |
| BioFire Defense | Senior architect | Not disclosed | Advanced software platforms for diagnostics and defense applications |
| Ernst & Young | Senior architect | Not disclosed | Enterprise software architecture leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Army | Service member (Operations in Middle East) | Not disclosed | Leadership and operational experience cited in executive profile |
| Lived in France | International experience | Not disclosed | Global perspective influencing approach to tech/biotech |
Fixed Compensation
- Not disclosed for Thurston in CODX filings reviewed. As a smaller reporting company, CODX’s detailed executive compensation tables cover named executive officers (NEOs) such as the CEO and CFO, and state that executive officers generally serve at-will without written employment agreements .
Performance Compensation
- Company equity practices: RSUs are granted under equity plans and typically vest over three years, with expense recognized straight-line over the vesting period; options outstanding as of September 30, 2025 were fully vested company-wide, indicating no unvested options at that date .
- No executive-specific performance metrics, weightings, or payout formulas for Thurston were disclosed in CODX filings reviewed .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- Thurston is not listed among the beneficial ownership table of directors and named executive officers in the November 2025 DEF 14A; listed individuals include the CEO, CFO, President, and board members, with no 5% holders identified . Company-wide equity overhang and instruments are detailed in the special proxy discussing the reverse split (options/RSUs/warrants), but not broken out by Thurston .
- Company cap table and equity instruments (context):
- Common stock outstanding: 60,892,582 pre-reverse split; options and RSUs outstanding: 5,391,907 pre-reverse split .
- RSUs unvested company-wide: 4,484,065 (weighted average grant-date FV $1.09); unrecognized RSU comp ~$3.10 million with ~1.7 years remaining amortization as of September 30, 2025 .
- Options outstanding and exercisable: 970,570 at $2.26 WAEP; no unvested options remaining as of September 30, 2025 .
Employment Terms
| Term | Disclosure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Employment agreement | Company states executive officers serve at-will without written employment agreements | |
| Non-compete with prior employer | Company represents no director/officer is subject to non-compete that would materially affect ability to serve | |
| Compliance with prior agreements | Company asserts no executive officer is expected to be in violation of prior employment/Confidentiality/Non-compete terms | |
| Change-of-control/severance | Offering-related 8-K states no triggering events for acceleration or payments except as disclosed; no individual terms for Thurston found | |
| Clawback/pledging | No specific Thurston-related clawback or pledging disclosure found in reviewed filings |
Company Performance Context (Recent Quarter)
| Metric | Q3 2025 |
|---|---|
| Revenue ($USD Millions) | $0.1 |
| Operating Loss ($USD Millions) | $7.0 |
| Net Loss ($USD Millions) | $5.9; EPS loss $0.16 |
| Adjusted EBITDA Loss ($USD Millions) | $6.3 |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities ($USD Millions) | $11.4 |
Track Record, Value Creation, and Execution Risk
- Strategic initiatives under Thurston’s remit: Formation of an AI business unit to unify proprietary AI applications into Co-Dx Primer Ai, aimed at more efficient AI-powered diagnostics development and reduced time-to-market . Business updates highlighted Co-Dx’s in-silico validation work, the CoMira Diagnostics JV in KSA/MENA, and preparation for clinical evaluations of upper-respiratory multiplex tests supported by NIH RADx Tech .
- Technical credentials: Co-inventor of Co-Dx PCR platform; architect of SyndromicTrends; senior roles at EY/BioFire Defense/bioMérieux; Army service and international experience .
Related Party Transactions and Governance Red Flags
- Reviewed related party disclosures in the November 2025 DEF 14A; transactions noted relate to CEO’s family members and prior subsidiary ownership, with oversight by the Corporate Governance Committee; no references to Thurston were found .
- Stock option governance: Company states option grants comply with plan terms, exercise prices at least fair market value at grant, and no backdating policy/practice .
Compensation Committee and Say-on-Pay Context
- Company maintains standard say-on-pay proposals; board emphasizes alignment with financial and strategic goals and recommends annual say-on-pay frequency (example: 2024 proxy) . NEO compensation narrative outlines performance factors (financial objectives, discipline measures, business development, product development, stability) used for cash bonuses; not individualized to Thurston in filings reviewed .
Investment Implications
- Compensation alignment visibility is limited: Thurston is not a named executive officer in proxies, and individual compensation, equity grants, and vesting specifics are not disclosed—reducing transparency on pay-for-performance and insider selling pressure. Monitor upcoming proxies and potential 8-K Item 5.02 filings for any updates to his compensation or contract terms .
- Strategy signal: Elevation to Chief Technology & AI Officer and creation of an AI unit indicate corporate prioritization of AI-enabled diagnostics and data orchestration; execution will depend on regulatory progress and commercialization timelines for Co-Dx PCR platforms and AI tools .
- Balance sheet and funding: Continued operating losses with modest revenue and multiple registered direct offerings suggest reliance on external capital; execution risk remains elevated until commercialization ramps and AI initiatives demonstrate revenue impact .