Pinellas medical manufacturer will close facility, lay off employees

Largo-based medical manufacturer BioDerm has notified the state that it will cease plant operations locally, laying off about 50 people in the process.

The company did not respond to a request for comment, but in a WARN notification letter submitted to the state to meet federal requirements it said that it would “permanently close” its manufacturing operations at 12320 73rd Court N. in the Pinellas County city.

The layoffs will begin April 6 and continue through the end of the year. The company says in the letter that it will work with affected employees to get training or to obtain other resources available through Florida’s State Trade and Rapid Response Program.

The company did not disclose what positions were affected as is commonly done and said the plant is staffed by "50 employees or less."

The company, which manufactures disposable medical devices and wound care for people with chronic conditions, also says its intentions are to remain in the area.

“BioDerm Inc. will eventually relocate in Pinellas County and continue to operate its call center and employ other administrative associates locally,” it says in the letter.

According to a history of the company posted on its website, it was founded in 1991 and, at the time, specialized in latex gloves. After years of increasing its products and offerings, in 2020 Denver-based private equity firm Mountaingate Capital invested an undisclosed amount to help accelerate its growth and expand offerings.

Three years later, Mountaingate combined BioDerm with an Illinois medical device company named Argentum Medical.

According a Feb. 7, 2023, news release posted on BioDerm’s website, it and Argentum were combined to create “a powerful portfolio of innovative proprietary products and services focused on infection prevention and advanced wound care solutions.”

The release says the transaction was “facilitated” by Mountaingate through its previous investment in BioDerm and through a new investment in the combined company.

Mountaingate lists both companies on its online portfolio, but a link takes you to BioDerm’s website.