McCord Research: A 35-Year Legacy of Transformative Innovation in Skin and Wound Care
Since its founding in 1989, McCord Research has stood as a beacon of clinical excellence and scientific leadership in the skin and wound care industry. Born from a deeply personal family medical crisis, McCord Research was established with one mission: to develop medically advanced, patient-centered products that deliver measurable outcomes. That mission quickly evolved into a track record of national impact.
Just ninety days after its first clinical innovation — a topical solution for radiation dermatitis — McCord Research secured a contract with Acme United, then one of the largest medical distributors in the country. The technology was so compelling that it was adopted after a single introductory meeting. The product introduced a new standard in advanced skin care and became the first of its kind in cleansing lotions — now considered a core component in nearly every advanced wound care regimen.
A Partner to the Best in the Industry
The success with Acme ignited a domino effect. In 1991, Hollister Incorporated invited McCord Research to create a groundbreaking wound and skin care line. The result was Restore® — a brand that rapidly rose to market leadership through Hollister’s national rollout. Restore® became synonymous with innovation, quality, and clinical reliability, firmly establishing McCord Research as a behind-the-scenes powerhouse in wound care.
That success caught the attention of Medline Industries, then a $375 million company seeking to move beyond commodity duplication into proprietary innovation. In 2002, Medline partnered with McCord to launch the Remedy® line. Over the next 25 years, Remedy® became the largest brand in advanced wound care, treating millions of patients and driving Medline’s transformation into a multibillion-dollar global healthcare leader. Remedy® continues to command more than 40% of the market share today.
In 2008, 3M turned to McCord Research to help maintain its leadership in skincare innovation. Within a year, the Cavilon® advanced skincare line was launched, backed by 3M’s marketing and clinical infrastructure. The success of Cavilon® and the Remedy® line solidified McCord Research’s position as the scientific engine behind more than 50% of the market share in advanced skin and wound care for many years.
Unmatched Speed and Reliability in Crisis
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and global supply chains collapsed, McCord Research was the company McKesson — one of the largest healthcare distributors in the world — called upon in their time of urgent need. Despite never having manufactured a hand sanitizer before, McCord’s scientific team developed a high-grade, FDA-compliant formula in just 30 days, securing alcohol and packaging even when Fortune 500 companies like Medline and 3M were turned away.
McCord delivered over 2 million units monthly at the peak of the crisis, reinforcing its reputation for speed, precision, and resilience under pressure.
Now, the Future: A McCord Brand for the Most Advanced Wound Care
After decades of powering other companies’ success, McCord Research is launching its most ambitious project yet — a proprietary, next-generation wound care line under the McCord brand. These “smart dressings” are the first of their kind, designed to sense and respond to the wound microenvironment. They feature:
Thermo-responsive action that adjusts to temperature shifts in inflamed
or ischemic tissue
Ion-activated micelles for targeted delivery of antimicrobial agents
Biofilm penetration and pathogen elimination via on-demand cation release
Electrolyte-based modulation of macrophage activity to regulate wound
healing phase transitions
pH-modulating chemistry that restores proper ionic balance and tissue
integrity
This leap into bio-interactive smart materials is not just a scientific breakthrough — it is a clinical imperative for the growing population of patients suffering from chronic, non-healing wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, and graft-prep wounds.
35 Years of Regulatory Excellence and Clinical Trust
Over its 35-year history, McCord Research has never experienced an FDA finding, recall, or adverse event. Its products have treated tens of millions of patients, including the most medically vulnerable. That kind of track record is not just rare — it’s virtually unheard of.
At McCord Research, we don’t just make products — we build legacies. Our legacy is advancing science, elevating standards, and empowering the clinicians who rely on us to deliver daily healing.
The future of wound care is smart. The future is McCord.
