Part I of Q & A With OPX Biotechnologies' CEO Charles Eggert: "On the Cutting EDGE of Biotech"

In this first part of my three part interview with OPX Biotechnology’s President and CEO Charles Eggert, he discusses his background, this history and mission of OPX and the company’s efficiency directed genome engineering (EDGE) technology.

ROBERT GLUCK: Please tell our readers a little bit about your background.

CHARLES EGGERT:  I joined OPX Biotechnology Inc. (OPXBIO) as President and CEO in September 2008. Before that, I logged more than 30 years of experience in the global specialty-chemical industry, serving as president of the Specialty Polymers Group (a $500 million revenue division of Akzo Nobel) and holding top management responsibilities at ICI.

I began my career at Monsanto Company, including an assignment as vice president of Monsanto Venture Capital. I’ve remained very involved in the industry throughout my career, as a past board director of the American Chemistry Council and currently as board director of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

I’m also a founding director and vice chairman of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association. I earned an MBA in marketing and finance from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.S. in biochemical engineering from the University of Minnesota. I also have a B.S. in chemical engineering from Washington University.

RG: What is the history and mission of OPX Biotechnologies?

CE: OPXBIO – as we refer to it – was founded in 2007 by Dr. Michael Lynch and Dr. Ryan Gill. Together they developed some interesting technology that has evolved into OPXBIO’s proprietary EDGE (Efficiency Directed Genome Engineering) technology platform, which enables rapid genetic engineering of microorganisms.

Understanding the potential in using this technology to produce bio-based products that are more economical and sustainable than petroleum-based alternatives, they talked to venture capitalists in May 2007, secured the initial funding, and OPXBIO was founded.

Today we apply our science and technology to create bio-based products that are a good value for our customers and good for the value of our company. We’re inspired to create a more sustainable bio-based economy for the good of our environment. 

RG: According to your website, OPX is a Colorado-based company that uses biotechnology to convert renewable raw materials into biochemicals and biofuels. What raw materials does OPX use and what biochemicals and biofuels does it convert them to?

CE: A primary advantage of our EDGE technology is that it is robust and flexible. This means we can utilize various feedstocks, such as sucrose from sugarcane, dextrose from corn, carbon dioxide and hydrogen from syngas. It also enables us to produce a number of biochemicals and biofuels, including bioacrylic and biodiesel. 

RG: What is OPX's EDGE (Efficiency Directed Genome Engineering) technology all about? Why are these bio-based products more economical and sustainable than petroleum-based alternatives?

CE:  The EDGE technology platform allows us to modify microorganisms very quickly – between 1,000 to 5,000 times faster than conventional genetic engineering methods.

This means we can engineer an overall bioprocess within months rather than years. Because we’re able to do this so quickly, we can change both the micro-organism and engineering process at the same time, optimizing the two together to create the lowest-cost means to manufacture various biochemicals.

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