Skin tight.

• Author: Mildenberg, David
• Position: NC TREND: Western Region

If Theraworx is a well-known brand a year from now, western North Carolina just may have a historic economic boost. The brand's parent company Avadim Technologies, expects to add 550 jobs over the next five years, mostly at a new Black Mountain headquarters and manufacturing site, and has the potential to reach $1 billion in sales, Chief Executive Officer Steven Woody says. State and local governments have pledged more than $6 million in incentives if job targets are met.

It may sound hyperbolic for a 100-employee company with 2015 revenue of $4.1 million. But lifelong Asheville-area resident Woody says that's just the start for Avadim, which has signed contracts with hospitals and college athletic programs, and is working on deals with CVS, Walgreen's and Dick's Sporting Goods.

For the last three months, Avadim has sold products through Guthy-Renker, the California-based online retailer that uses Hollywood celebrities such as Cindy Crawford and Jane Seymour in TV infomercials. Florida State and Duke universities are providing their athletes with Theraworx anti-infection spray. "Our goal is to be in 100,000 pharma locations by the end of 2017," Woody says.

After attending UNC Asheville, Woody, 55, advised medical products companies on how to hurdle government regulations and clinical trials. Both steps can take years before products are sold, which is the story of Avadim. In 2007, he bought the rights and equipment needed to make Theraworx and spent six years testing, modifying, gathering data and earning government approvals.

Avadim's initial product, a topical applied to skin by spray, foam or towels, helps prevent urinary-tract...