Sarasota Bio-Tech Firm Plans To Add 175 Jobs

Rapid Pathogen Screening (RPS) in Sarasota plans to expand its workforce of 25 to approximately 200 in the next five years. The bio-technology company is developing test kits, which will be able to spot the flu and sexually transmitted diseases without waiting for lab work. They are also working on a kit that will test for exposure to nerve agents, including Sarin and VX. In order to get these kits to market, the company will need to add to its staff.

"Our growth is facilitated by the company's expectation to bring many new rapid, point-of care diagnostic tests to market over the next several years," says Thomas Orsini, CEO of RPS. "We will be hiring highly accredited professionals in the areas of science, research and development, sales, marketing and finance. We expect to add these positions over the next five years."

RPS was founded in 2004 and opened its state-of-the-art research laboratory in Sarasota in 2006. The company's first product was the RPS Adeno Detector, which can test for viral conjunctivitis, otherwise known as "pink eye" in the physician's office. RPS soon realized that the same technology used to detect viral conjunctivitis could also detect other diseases.

Orsini says that as the company grows, he plans to keep the headquarters in Sarasota. "RPS chose Sarasota for its headquarters based on the potential for state and community support, and the desire to partner with other biotechnology companies to attract and retain world-class talent," he says. "Additionally, the community and its geographic location are attractive to existing employees and recruits."

Writer: Kimberly Patterson
Source: Thomas Orsini, Rapid Pathogen Screening