Name

Chattem Chemicals

Legal name

Chattem Chemicals, Inc.

Website

https://chattemchemicals.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1879

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Chemical and Pharmaceutical Ingredient Manufacturing

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Chemical Manufacturing (325), Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (3259)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO (HLAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small-Molecule API Commercial Manufacturing (HLAGAHAB), Controlled Substances / DEA-Scheduled API Manufacturing (HLAGAHAD), Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG), GMP Scale-Up, Tech Transfer & Process Validation (PPQ) (HLAGAHAL), Small-Molecule CMC Documentation & Regulatory Support (DMF/CMC) (HLAGAHAM)

Keywords

• Active pharmaceutical ingredients
• Specialty chemical manufacturing
• Controlled substance manufacturing
• Sarcosinate surfactants
• Aluminum performance additives

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs): Manufacturing and sale of generic APIs including CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, analgesics, anti-bacterials, and diuretics. Products include controlled substances (Schedule 1-5) under DEA license and FDA compliance. Revenue is generated through direct sale of manufactured APIs to pharmaceutical customers.
2. Surfactants (Hamposyl Product Line): Production and sale of sarcosinate surfactants for personal care, cleaning, industrial chemicals, and energy markets. Chattem is the largest source for sarcosinate surfactants in the United States and largest domestic manufacturer of Hamposyl products. Revenue generated through direct product sales.
3. Glycine Products: Manufacturing and sale of glycine in multiple grades (Technical, Electrochemical, FCC, USP, EP Compendia) for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, personal care, and electronic markets. Market leader for custom specifications and packaging solutions.
4. Aluminum Performance Additives: Production of aluminum-based performance additives for ink, paint, grease, petroleum, and industrial applications. Products include aluminum alkoxides, chelates, and complex grease additives for rheology control.
5. Contract Manufacturing (CDMO): Custom development and manufacturing services for APIs and excipients. Services include process engineering, manufacturing, quality control, regulatory support, and technology transfer. Revenue generated through service fees and manufacturing contracts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Chattem Chemicals, Inc. manufactures generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) — including DEA-licensed Schedule 1-5 controlled substances — as well as Hamposyl sarcosinate surfactants, aluminum-based performance additives (PADDs), and glycine in multiple grades (Technical, Electrochemical, FCC, USP, EP/BP/JP Compendia). The company also provides CDMO/custom development and manufacturing services for APIs and excipients at its cGMP-compliant Chattanooga, Tennessee facility, with on-site R&D, process engineering, quality control, and multi-scale production capabilities.

Product overview

Chattem Chemicals is a specialty chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturer operating in four primary markets: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), Catalysts/Aluminum Additives, Surfactants & Performance Additives (PADDs), and Glycine. The company offers a diversified portfolio including generic APIs (CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, analgesics, anti-bacterials, diuretics), Hamposyl sarcosinate surfactants, aluminum-based performance additives, and multiple glycine grades. As a CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization), Chattem provides custom manufacturing services for APIs and excipients, with supporting R&D, quality control, and regulatory compliance capabilities. The company operates as a subsidiary of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hamposyl: Line of sarcosinate surfactants produced from fatty acids and sarcosine, used in personal care, cleaning, industrial chemicals, and energy markets. Includes Lauroyl Sarcosine, Oleoyl Sarcosine, Cocoyl Sarcosine, and sodium salt solutions (L-30U, L-30K, L-95, C-30K, M-30).

Products and services

• Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) Generic active pharmaceutical ingredients manufactured at a cGMP-compliant facility, including CNS depressants, CNS stimulants, analgesics, anti-bacterials, and diuretics, with DEA Schedule 1-5 controlled substance licensing.
• Hamposyl Surfactants Sarcosinate surfactants including Lauroyl Sarcosine, Oleoyl Sarcosine, Cocoyl Sarcosine, and sodium salt solutions (L-30U, L-30K, L-95, C-30K, M-30) used in personal care, cleaning, industrial chemicals, and energy markets.
• Glycine Glycine products in multiple grades including Technical Grade, Electrochemical Grade, Food Chemical Codex Grade, USP, EP/BP/JP Compendia, and US Drug Master File Pyrogen-Free grades for electronic-grade, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and CMP slurry applications.
• Aluminum Additives High-performance aluminum complex chemicals for aluminum complex grease, coatings, flavor and fragrance, high-purity catalysts, ink rheology modifiers, personal care, and oil field applications.
• PADDs (Performance Additives) Performance additives including aluminum alkoxide products such as AIP (Aluminum Isopropoxide), ATC (Aluminum Tri-Chelate), ASB (Aluminum Tri-Sec Butoxide), ASE-M, AMAD, and Ketalin(s) for industrial applications.
• Custom Manufacturing (CDMO) Contract development and manufacturing services for APIs and excipients, including research and development, process engineering, manufacturing, and quality control all at the same location, with regulatory support for FDA and DEA submissions.
• Reference/Analytical Research Standards In-house API reference standards and impurity catalogue available for purchase, providing high-quality analytical and reference standards for product quality verification.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero Lost Time Accidents for 18+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sun Pharmaceutical IndustriesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and ultimate owner of Chattem Chemicals. Provides global power of research and development group located in India for support. Chattem operates as a subsidiary of Sun Pharma, one of the world's largest generic pharmaceutical companies (NYSE: SUNP). VP Head of Quality (Shirish Ambulgekar) oversees Chattem's quality operations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Siegfried Holding: Siegfried is a Swiss-based pure-play CDMO for small-molecule APIs, including controlled substances — directly comparable to Chattem's small-molecule API + CDMO franchise with overlapping regulatory and customer dynamics.
• Cambrex (Permira-owned): Cambrex is a US/EU small-molecule API and CDMO with DEA-licensed controlled-substance capability, overlapping with Chattem's API manufacturing, custom development, and analytical services offerings.
• Alcami Corporation: Alcami is a US-based CDMO offering small-molecule API manufacturing, formulation development, and analytical services — comparable to Chattem's custom-manufacturing and small-molecule API capabilities.
• Ajinomoto: Ajinomoto is the world's leading glycine producer, competing head-on with Chattem's 50+ year glycine franchise across pharmaceutical, food, and electronic-grade markets.
• Pfanstiehl (a part of Fagen Pharma): Pfanstiehl is a US cGMP manufacturer of specialty excipients and injectable APIs — directly comparable to Chattem's specialty small-molecule API/excipient manufacturing and high-purity capabilities.
• Vertellus (PMC Group): Vertellus is a US specialty chemicals manufacturer producing specialty intermediates and APIs, including pyridine derivatives — comparable niche specialty producer overlap with Chattem's API and specialty chemical focus.
• Innospec Active Chemicals: Innospec is a US-based specialty chemicals producer focused on personal care and performance chemicals — its sarcosinate surfactant and personal-care line is directly comparable to Chattem's Hamposyl franchise.

Broad incumbents

• Croda International: Croda is a global specialty chemicals and personal-care ingredients incumbent offering sarcosinate surfactants and related mild surfactants, competing with Chattem's Hamposyl line in personal care and industrial markets.
• Evonik Industries: Evonik is a global specialty chemicals incumbent producing amino acids (including glycine) and pharmaceutical intermediates, directly comparable to Chattem's glycine and small-molecule API intermediate lines.
• BASF Pharma Solutions: BASF is a global chemical incumbent that produces APIs, excipients, and glycine — a broader incumbent player whose pharma/specialty lines overlap with Chattem's diversified API, glycine, and additives portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Chattem Chemicals