Textile Company PurThread Technologies Opens Headquarters in Durham, North Carolina and Hires New Senior Staff

DURHAM, N.C., June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  A new medical textile company has established its headquarters in Durham, North Carolina. PurThread Technologies, a development-stage biotech firm dedicated to using antimicrobial textile technology to help hospitals reduce the bioburden in the patient environment, chose Durham for its access to key textile and medical industry players.  The new PurThread headquarters also brings with it two new senior staff; Dr. Stanley D. Chamberlain as the new Chief Scientific Officer and Michael Weldon as the new Senior Director of Sales for the Northeast Region.  The company's founder and current Chief Scientific Officer, Stephen Foss will now serve as PurThread's Chief Technology Officer.

"Durham is a great place for us," said Bill O'Neill Vice President of Infection Control Applications at PurThread Technologies. "Here we are surrounded by the medical and textile industry ecosystem and closer to many current and potential partners. We are thrilled to call Durham home and look forward to supporting the economy here and throughout the Carolinas."

PurThread develops textiles, such as privacy curtains, linens and hospital garments that help to reduce the level of bioburden on hard-to-clean soft surfaces in healthcare environments, as well as in military and consumer applications. The textiles employ the antimicrobial effects of silver, copper and other elements in a proprietary Complex Element Compound to create a continuously active and soft textile. Studies have shown that reducing the level of bioburden within the patient environment can lead to a reduction in healthcare associated infections (HAIs). In the US, 100,000 people die each year from HAIs making them the fourth largest cause of mortality according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

PurThread Management Team Additions

Chief Scientific Officer
Stanley D. Chamberlain

Stanley D. Chamberlain, Ph.D. served most recently as Vice President of Chemistry at Inhibitex. Since early 2008, he was responsible for the R&D efforts of the anti-HCV compound INX-08189. Prior to Inhibitex, Chamberlain was Senior Group Manager in Medicinal Chemistry Oncology at Glaxo SmithKline in Research Triangle Park.  Additionally, Dr. Chamberlain was a Group Leader at Glaxo Wellcome and held Senior Scientist positions at Burroughs Wellcome.

Senior Director of Sales
Michael Weldon

Michael Weldon brings a rich 18-year history in healthcare sales to PurThread, as its new Senior Director of Sales. Before joining the company, he was Senior Director, Market Management at VHA New England, a group purchasing organization for hospitals. Prior to VHA, he was Senior Consultant at Andersen Consulting and Operations Manager at J.D. Cahill Company.

About PurThread Technologies, Inc.

PurThread Technologies, Inc., an emerging leader in antimicrobial textile technology research, is dedicated to developing continuously active soft surfaces that show a measureable difference in  reducing the bioburden in clinical patient environments. PurThread supports current healthcare infection prevention and hand hygiene efforts by providing an additional layer of protection between patients and the freshly washed hands of healthcare workers. PurThread products range from healthcare textiles, such as privacy curtains, sheets, scrubs, blankets, and lab coats, as well as a range of products for other markets such as the military, emergency first responders and performance athletic wear. For more information on PurThread Technologies, Inc., please visit www.PurThread.com.

Media Contact:

Technica Communications
Lisa Ann Pinkerton
408-806-9626
[email protected]

SOURCE PurThread Technologies