Purgo Scientific (South Jordan, UT) appoints medical device innovator Tim Nieman to its Board of Directors as it accelerates the path to commercialization of the Purgo Pouch, a breakthrough localized antibiotic delivery system for surgical infections in humans and animals
South Jordan, UT — July 17, 2025
Purgo Scientific, a Utah-based pioneer in sustainable local drug delivery for surgical infection management, has announced the appointment of Tim Nieman to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Nieman’s addition comes at a pivotal time as the company advances its flagship product, the Purgo Pouch, toward clinical readiness in both human and veterinary healthcare markets.
Nieman brings more than 20 years of deep expertise in biomedical engineering, regulatory strategy, R&D, manufacturing, and business development. As CEO and founder of ZIEN Medical Technologies, he has built a reputation for leading multidisciplinary teams and translating complex medical technologies into commercially viable solutions. His track record includes regulatory navigation, operational scaling, and product innovation—skills that align strongly with Purgo Scientific’s near-term goals.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Tim Nieman to the board,” said Michael Benjamin, CEO of Purgo Scientific. “His deep technical knowledge, operational leadership, and regulatory insight will be invaluable as we scale our efforts to bring the Purgo Pouch to surgeons worldwide. Tim has a proven record of transforming complex biomedical concepts into scalable commercial outcomes, and that is exactly what we need at this stage.”
Founded in 2016 by inventor Dustin Williams, PhD, further developed and refined by Nicholas Ashton, and engineers, technicians, histo-technologists connected to the University of Utah's Bone & Biofilm Research Lab, Purgo Scientific was created to address one of the most persistent challenges in surgical medicine: infection caused by biofilms. These bacterial colonies can resist systemic antibiotics, often leading to prolonged hospital stays, repeat surgeries, or long-term morbidity.
Purgo’s solution is the Purgo Pouch, a refillable, medical delivery device designed to prevent or target and eradicate biofilm-based infection at the surgical site. A membrane-based device, the pouch delivers high-concentration antibiotics directly to the surgical site, enabling sustained local therapy while minimizing systemic side effects. The pouch has been tested in over 140 preclinical models (including large-animal studies in sheep), and early data suggests it significantly improves infection control and healing outcomes. In recognition of its potential, the Purgo Pouch received FDA Breakthrough Device designation in October 2024 for its application in managing open fracture–related surgical site infections.
Institutional and Governmental Support
Purgo Scientific has secured over $9 million in Department of Defense funding via the federal Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (CDMRP/PRMRP) to support the development of the Purgo Pouch.
In July 2024, the company raised approximately $3.5 million in a growth round led by the Utah Innovation Fund.
This dual support—both governmental and private—validates the company’s technical vision and reflects the urgency of solving infection challenges in both civilian and military medicine.
“The investment and regulatory milestones we've reached signal confidence in our science, our people, and our ability to bring this technology to market,” said Benjamin.
A Dual Market Approach: Human and Veterinary Applications
While preparing for clinical trials in human orthopedic and trauma applications—anticipated to begin in 2026—Purgo Scientific has also gained traction in the veterinary market. Its spin-off, Vetlen Advanced Veterinary Devices, adapts the Purgo Pouch platform for use in treating infections in animals, offering near-term commercial opportunity and real-world validation.
This dual-market strategy is not just a revenue hedge—it’s a demonstration of the platform’s flexibility and broad applicability. Beyond infection control, the company is already exploring future uses in oncology and pain management through localized, sustained drug delivery.
With a core team of scientists, clinicians, and medical device engineers, Purgo Scientific is based in South Jordan, Utah, with its team working mostly remotely. CEO Michael Benjamin leads the company alongside co-founder and medical device inventor Dustin Williams, PhD, and a scientific advisory board that includes surgeons and infectious disease experts.
In 2024 the company announced it received Breakthrough Device Designation by the FDA.
For more information, visit Purgo Scientific's website, PurgoScientific.com.
