McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co.

What McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co. does

McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co. is a US-based consumer health company that develops and markets the PEPCID brand portfolio of over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn and acid reducer products. The company operates as a subsidiary of Kenvue, the publicly traded consumer health company (NYSE: KVUE) that was spun off from Johnson & Johnson in 2023, and its commercial operations are published through Kenvue Brands LLC. PEPCID products contain famotidine, a histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonist that reduces stomach acid production, with formulations including Original Strength (10mg) and Maximum Strength (20mg) tablets, PEPCID COMPLETE dual-action chewable tablets combining famotidine with calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide antacids, and PEPCID Soothing Gummies (a dietary supplement line using tricalcium phosphate rather than famotidine).

The company generates revenue through one-time OTC retail sales across multiple formats and price points, distributed through retail pharmacies, drug stores, mass merchandisers, grocery chains, and online retailers in the United States. Its go-to-market is a hybrid of direct-to-consumer marketing (consumer website, email signup, coupons, social media) and product-led growth through content marketing, physician recommendation (#1 doctor recommended OTC acid reducer brand), and category education (heartburn causes, diet tips, pregnancy-related heartburn, GLP-1 user content). Customer segments are horizontal and use-case-based, targeting adults with occasional or frequent heartburn, pregnant women, and GLP-1 medication users.

The brand holds the #1 selling H2 brand position with 35 years of market presence, is backed by 50+ clinical studies, and holds registered PEPCID, PEPCID COMPLETE, and PEPCID AC trademarks. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by retailer. The company does not disclose revenue or headcount trends beyond a 1,001-5,000 employee range, and operates exclusively in the US market.

Name

McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co.

Legal name

Kenvue Brands LLC

Website

https://pepcid.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co. develops and markets the PEPCID brand of OTC heartburn and acid reducer products containing famotidine. Operating as a Kenvue subsidiary, it sells tablets, chewables, and gummies through US retail and online channels to consumers with occasional or frequent heartburn.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

OTC Pharmaceuticals / Consumer Healthcare

akta.pro primary industry

Digestive Health OTC (Antacids, Laxatives, Anti-diarrheals, Probiotics OTC) (CRADAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Probiotics & Digestive Health Supplements (CRADAGAF)

Keywords

• OTC heartburn medications
• Acid reducer products
• Famotidine pharmaceuticals
• H2 receptor antagonists
• Consumer digestive health

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. OTC Pharmaceutical Retail Sales: McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals generates revenue through the sale of PEPCID brand over-the-counter heartburn and acid reducer products. Products are sold through retail channels including pharmacies, drug stores, mass merchandisers, and online retailers as one-time purchase transactions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co. develops, manufactures, and markets the PEPCID brand portfolio of over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn and acid reducer products. The portfolio centers on famotidine-based histamine-2 (H2) blocker tablets and chewable tablets, dual-action chewables combining famotidine with antacids, and tricalcium phosphate-based soothing gummies. Products are sold as one-time retail purchases through pharmacies, drug stores, mass merchandisers, grocery stores, and online retailers in the United States.

Product overview

PEPCID® is a portfolio of over-the-counter heartburn relief products containing the active ingredient famotidine, a histamine-2 blocker (H2 blocker). The product line consists of three core product families: (1) Original Strength and Maximum Strength PEPCID AC® tablets providing single-action H2 blocker heartburn relief in 10mg and 20mg famotidine doses respectively, with the Maximum Strength available in Icy Cool Mint flavor; (2) PEPCID COMPLETE® dual-action chewable tablets combining famotidine with antacids (calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide) for fast-acting and long-lasting relief, available in multiple flavors and including a portable ON-THE-GO format; and (3) Soothing Gummies dietary supplements (Stress Relief and Sleep Support variants) using tricalcium phosphate as the active ingredient formulated without famotidine, targeting complementary wellness needs. All PEPCID® products are designed to relieve or prevent occasional heartburn, acid indigestion, and sour stomach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PEPCID AC Original Strength: Original Strength PEPCID AC tablets with 10mg famotidine for heartburn relief
• PEPCID AC Maximum Strength
• PEPCID COMPLETE
• PEPCID COMPLETE On-the-Go
• PEPCID Soothing Gummies

Products and services

• Original Strength PEPCID AC Tablets with Famotidine Famotidine 10mg tablet that prevents and relieves occasional heartburn. Starts to relieve heartburn in 15-30 minutes and controls acid all day or all night. For adults and children 12 years and older.
• Maximum Strength PEPCID AC Tablets with Famotidine Famotidine 20mg tablet for prevention and relief of heartburn. Works before, during, or after symptom onset. Prevents heartburn when taken 10-60 minutes before a meal and provides up to 12 hours of acid control.
• PEPCID AC Maximum Strength Heartburn Relief, Icy Cool Mint Maximum Strength PEPCID AC tablets (20mg famotidine) in Icy Cool Mint flavor. Provides an instant cooling sensation with long-lasting heartburn relief.
• PEPCID COMPLETE Chewable Tablet with Famotidine & Antacids Dual action chewable tablet combining an antacid (calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide) that starts neutralizing acid in seconds with famotidine that controls acid all day or all night. Available in Tropical, Berry, and Cool Mint flavors.
• PEPCID COMPLETE ON-THE-GO Chewable Tablet with Famotidine & Antacids Travel-friendly individually wrapped dual action chewable tablets in Berry flavor. Combines an antacid for instant acid neutralization with famotidine for all-day acid control.
• PEPCID Soothing Gummies, Heartburn Relief + Stress Relief Dietary supplement gummies with 500mg tricalcium phosphate for occasional heartburn relief and 40mg lemon balm extract for stress relief. Peach-raspberry flavor. Formulated without famotidine.
• PEPCID Soothing Gummies, Heartburn Relief + Sleep Support Dietary supplement gummies with 500mg tricalcium phosphate for occasional heartburn relief and 3mg melatonin for sleep support. Strawberry flavor. Formulated without famotidine. For use 30-60 minutes before bedtime.

Quantifiable outcome

• Starts to relieve heartburn in 15-30 minutes
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gaviscon: Gaviscon is an OTC antacid brand owned by Reckitt using alginate raft technology for heartburn relief. It competes with PEPCID for OTC heartburn consumers with a differentiated mechanism.
• Rolaids: Rolaids is an OTC antacid brand providing fast-acting heartburn and sour stomach relief. It competes with PEPCID in the OTC heartburn aisle through immediate symptom relief positioning.
• Tums: Tums is a leading OTC antacid brand (calcium carbonate) owned by Haleon. It competes with PEPCID across an overlapping consumer base but addresses immediate relief rather than all-day acid control.
• Nexium 24HR: Nexium 24HR is an OTC PPI brand for frequent heartburn marketed by Haleon/Pfizer. It competes directly with PEPCID in the OTC heartburn category via the proton pump inhibitor mechanism.
• Alka-Seltzer: Alka-Seltzer is an OTC antacid brand owned by Haleon providing fast-acting heartburn relief. It competes with PEPCID COMPLETE's dual-action positioning in the immediate-relief segment of the OTC heartburn category.
• Prilosec OTC: Prilosec OTC is a leading over-the-counter PPI brand for frequent heartburn marketed by Haleon. It competes directly with PEPCID in the OTC heartburn aisle but uses omeprazole (PPI) rather than famotidine (H2 blocker).
• Mylanta: Mylanta is an OTC antacid brand combining aluminum/magnesium hydroxide and simethicone for heartburn relief. It competes with PEPCID COMPLETE's antacid-plus-H2 dual action format in the OTC heartburn space.

Broad incumbents

• Haleon: Haleon is a global consumer health major owning OTC brands including Prilosec OTC, Nexium 24HR, Tums, Advil and Centrum. It competes with Kenvue/McNeil across OTC digestive and broader consumer health categories worldwide.
• Church & Dwight: Church & Dwight is a diversified consumer products major with OTC positions including digestive and acid-related products, competing broadly with Kenvue/McNeil in consumer health channels.
• Perrigo Company: Perrigo is a major OTC drugs manufacturer and the largest US store-brand OTC producer, supplying private label versions of famotidine and other heartburn remedies that compete with PEPCID on price and shelf.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pepcid
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PepcidBrand
• Facebookfacebook.com/Pepcid
• Instagraminstagram.com/pepcid

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co.