FITM: The Full Conversation with ForCast Orthopedics

Send us Fan MailThis is a deep-dive extended interview with the team behind ForCast Orthopedics — a company working to change how periprosthetic joint infection is treated. It's for orthopedic surgeons, arthroplasty specialists, and anyone interested in how a clinical idea becomes a medical device company.The conversation brings together Dr. Jared Foran (CSO and co-founder), Dr. Leo Whiteside (the surgeon whose intraarticular infusion technique underlies the product), and Peter Noymer (CEO). Together they trace the origin of the idea from residency-era frustration with antibiotic elution curves, through multiple failed prototypes, to the current catheter-based system designed to make Whiteside's technique practical and scalable.The discussion covers the pharmacokinetic rationale for intraarticular infusion, the clinical and economic case for tackling PJI more aggressively, the regulatory strategy including Orphan Drug and QIDP designations, what it takes to pitch early-stage med tech to investors, and what ForCast's scientific advisory board actually does for product strategy. If you're curious about what a surgeon-founded company looks like from the inside — the pivots, the regulatory burden, the reimbursement complexity, and the moment the team knew the idea was worth building — this is the conversation.Learn more about ForCast Orthopedics: https://forcastortho.com⏱️ Chapters:00:00 Introductions01:44 The clinical origin of the idea02:57 Why intraarticular infusion works: the pharmacokinetic argument06:00 What ForCast brought to Leo's technique07:34 Peter's personal and professional motivation08:46 The emotional spark that drove Jared to pursue it10:35 Early questions and challenges developing the technique13:30 Success rates and the evidence base14:41 From good idea to viable company: the business case16:49 Surprising early prototype results and what they revealed19:15 Common mistakes new innovators make20:00 How to approach investors before clinical proof exists22:06 Orphan Drug and QIDP designations explained25:21 FDA endpoints and what has to be proven26:08 Balancing regulatory requirements with clinical reality27:03 How the scientific advisory board shapes product strategy28:53 What makes surgeons trust or resist a new technology30:43 Feedback from early adopters33:05 The kit that surgeons have been waiting for33:25 The biggest barrier to hospital adoption35:20 What true success looks like for ForCast37:20 Timeline for widespread adoption37:48 The hardest part of the journey38:18 What "from idea to market" means after living it39:14 Advice for the surgeon with an idea on a napkin41:07 What has been most fulfilling43:20 Closing thoughtsListen to the AHF Podcast on your preferred platform:Buzzsprout: https://ahfpodcast.buzzsprout.comApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ahf-podcast/id1749521487Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CrGJyvRiQFTCU3FFFVvHcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ahf-podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@anteriorhipfoundationHomepage: https://anteriorhipfoundation.comThis podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The content discussed does not constitute medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for professional judgment. Clinicians should rely on their own training, experience, and clinical decision-making when applying information from this discussion.#AnteriorHipFoundation #AHFPodcast #ForCastOrthopedics #PeriprostheticJointInfection #PJI #IntraArticularInfusion #MedicalDeviceInnovation #OrthopedicInfection #TotalHipArthroplasty #TotalKneeArthroplasty #ArthroplastyInfection #MedTechStartup #OrphanDrug