Stephen Tang

“It will take innovative thinking and action to conquer COVID-19. I am proud that OraSure is in the fight.”

Stephen Tang is the President & CEO of OraSure Technologies, Inc., an innovation-driven company that developed the only rapid HIV in-home test approved by the FDA. Currently, Stephen is leading the company’s efforts to develop rapid antigen self-tests and oral fluid antibody tests to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. He previously served as the President and CEO of the University City Science Center, the nation’s first and largest urban research park, and was a senior executive with Olympus America. Stephen earned a Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University, an MBA from Wharton School of Business. And a BS in Chemistry from the College of William & Mary. 

How does innovation influence your work?

“Innovation percolates through the culture at OraSure Technologies as we pioneer new paths to help improve health and wellness on a global scale. Our innovative sampling tools, services and diagnostics unlock access to accurate, essential information that advances global health and well-being.
We have a legacy of helping to solve the world’s most difficult diagnostic challenges. We have the first and only rapid HIV in-home test approved by the FDA. And the first and only WHO-prequalified rapid oral HIV test. They are used by millions of people around the world each year to learn their HIV status. Our OraQuick Rapid Ebola Antigen test is the first rapid diagnostic test the FDA cleared for marketing in the U.S for the Ebola Virus Disease.
Since becoming CEO in 2018, I have focused the company on an innovation-driven growth strategy and made it central to how we think about our current business. This strategy enables us to rise to the various health challenges presented to us, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.
I’m proud that OraSure is leveraging its expertise to address the COVID-19 pandemic in three innovative ways:
- We are developing a rapid antigen self-test that would quickly detect active COVID-19 infection. Essentially, it’s a lab on a swab. Pending regulatory approvals and launch, individuals would be able to obtain the test, take it on their own, AND read their own results a short time later without sending samples to a lab for analysis. To-date, there are no diagnostic tests for active COVID-19 infection which can be conducted without the need for an instrument to interpret results.

-We are developing a laboratory-based antibody test for COVID-19 using oral fluid samples. To date, there are no oral fluid antibody tests commercially available with automated assays.

-Our sample collection devices are being used for the collection and transport of samples for COVID-19 molecular testing.

It will take innovative thinking and action to conquer COVID-19. I’m proud that OraSure is in the fight.”

Biography:

Sparking, fostering and leveraging innovation has been a constant throughout my career. I became President & CEO of OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSUR) on April 1, 2018. OraSure is empowering the global community to improve health and wellness by providing access to accurate essential information. Previously I served as Chairman of the Board of Directors (2016-2018) and was first elected to the Board in 2011. From 2008-2018, I served as President and CEO of the University City Science Center, the nation’s first and largest urban research park. There, I initiated, led, and implemented a strategic plan designed to transform the Science Center from a traditional real-estate focused research park to an innovation powerhouse. From 2005-2008, I was a senior executive with Olympus America, including leading their Life Science Group of business. Prior to that, I was an energy technology entrepreneur and a senior executive at two leading global management consulting firms.

I earned a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University, an M.B.A. from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.S. in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary. I have also been awarded honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University) and Philadelphia’s Wagner Free Institute of Science.