Aspercreme
Aspercreme is a US OTC topical analgesic brand (lidocaine, diclofenac, trolamine salicylate) sold through major retailers and online channels, serving adults with everyday muscle, joint, and arthritis pain relief needs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersChattanooga, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aspercreme does
Aspercreme is a US-based over-the-counter topical analgesic brand established in 1970 by George Sperti and operated from Chattanooga, Tennessee as a brand under Chattem, Inc., a subsidiary of Opella Healthcare Group SAS (Sanofi's consumer healthcare business unit). The brand produces and sells a diversified portfolio of pain relief products—including creams, gels, roll-ons, dry sprays, and patches—built around three active-ingredient platforms: maximum-strength 4% lidocaine (the #1 topical lidocaine brand in the US), 1% diclofenac gel (prescription-strength NSAID now available OTC for arthritis), and trolamine salicylate 10% cream. Multiple delivery formats and scent options, including essential-oil-infused and fragrance-free variants, address different pain locations and consumer preferences. A separate 3-in-1 foot cream combines lidocaine with moisturizing and odor-fighting benefits.
The company generates revenue through one-time unit sales of OTC products distributed through major US retail chains, pharmacies, and online channels, with no prescription required. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the brand offers a $3 coupon through its email signup and markets HSA/FSA eligibility to broaden consumer adoption. Marketing is multi-channel, combining a website with a Pain Management Hub of educational content, an interactive Product Finder tool, an email/savings program, and organic social engagement with an in-house medical team available for inquiries. Customer segmentation is horizontal across adults with general aches, arthritis sufferers, and foot pain sufferers, served without B2B contracts or enterprise concentration.
Aspercreme's competitive position rests on 50+ years of brand equity, regulatory positioning around maximum-strength lidocaine and prescription-to-OTC diclofenac, and a national retail distribution footprint. The brand achieved B Corp certification in 2023 (with phased global rollout through 2025) and its Chattanooga manufacturing facility achieved ZERO LANDFILL status, with 96% of waste recycled. Aspercreme partners with TerraCycle for consumer-recyclable packaging. The brand has 11-50 employees at the brand level, operates only in the US, and does not publicly disclose revenue.
Aspercreme firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aspercreme
- Legal name
- Chattem, Inc.
- Website
- https://aspercreme.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aspercreme is a US OTC topical analgesic brand (lidocaine, diclofenac, trolamine salicylate) sold through major retailers and online channels, serving adults with everyday muscle, joint, and arthritis pain relief needs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aspercreme industry classification
Industry- Product category
- OTC Topical Analgesics
- NAICS
- Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (45611), Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (456110), Health and Personal Care Retailers (456)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- OTC Pain Relief & Fever (Analgesics, Anti-inflammatory, Topical Pain Relief) (CRADAMAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pain Relief & Anti-Inflammatory (Analgesics) (HLAIADAA)
Keywords
Where Aspercreme is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chattanooga
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aspercreme business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- OTC Topical Pain Relief Products: Aspercreme generates revenue through the sale of over-the-counter topical analgesic products including creams, gels, roll-ons, sprays, and patches. Products are sold through retail channels and online without prescription.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard OTC consumer pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Aspercreme product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aspercreme produces and sells over-the-counter topical analgesic products including creams, gels, roll-ons, sprays, and patches for temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain. The portfolio features maximum-strength 4% lidocaine formulations, 1% diclofenac NSAID arthritis gel, and 10% trolamine salicylate cream, sold through retail pharmacies, mass-market retailers, and online channels without prescription.
Product overview
Aspercreme is a topical pain relief brand offering a diversified portfolio of OTC analgesic products. The product line includes creams (with lidocaine, trolamine salicylate, or essential oils), roll-ons, gels (diclofenac-based arthritis gel), sprays, and patches. The core portfolio features lidocaine-based products (4% concentration, maximum OTC strength) for temporary minor pain relief, diclofenac gel for prescription-strength arthritis pain, and trolamine salicylate cream for joint pain. Products are available in various formulations including fragrance-free, essential oil-infused, and specialized formats like foot pain cream. The brand positions itself as the #1 topical lidocaine brand in the US and is owned by Opella Healthcare Group (Sanofi Consumer Healthcare business unit).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aspercreme® Arthritis Pain Relief Gel
- Aspercreme® Pain Relief Cream with Lidocaine
- Aspercreme® Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream with Rosemary & Mint Essential Oils
- Aspercreme® Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream with Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- Aspercreme® 3-in-1 Lidocaine Pain Relief Cream for Foot Pain
- Aspercreme® Pain Relief Cream
- Aspercreme® Lidocaine Odor Free Pain Relief Roll-On
- Aspercreme® Lidocaine Pain Relief Roll-On with Essential Oils
- Aspercreme® Lidocaine Pain Relief Dry Spray
- Aspercreme® Lidocaine Pain Relief Patch
Quantifiable outcome
- 4% lidocaine concentration - maximum allowed for OTC topical analgesics
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Aspercreme
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aspercreme technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Aspercreme partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- TerraCyclecoreAspercreme partners with TerraCycle to recycle packaging materials that curbside recyclers don't accept. Consumers can collect Aspercreme packaging and send it to TerraCycle for free recycling, earning points redeemable in TerraCycle's online store or donatable to charity. This partnership is part of Opella's broader sustainability initiative to keep packaging out of landfills.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Aspercreme competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Salonpas: Hisamitsu's OTC topical analgesic patch and spray portfolio (methyl salicylate/menthol) competing in the same patch and spray formats Aspercreme markets, particularly in mass retail.
- Icy Hot: Sister brand under the same Chattem/Opella parent, offering topical menthol-based pain relief patches, creams, and sprays for muscle and joint pain — directly overlapping with Aspercreme's positioning and shelf competition.
- Voltaren: Haleon (formerly GSK Consumer Healthcare) brand built around 1% diclofenac topical gel for arthritis pain — competes head-to-head with Aspercreme's prescription-strength diclofenac arthritis gel in the same OTC channel.
- Bengay: Johnson & Johnson legacy topical analgesic brand (menthol/methyl salicylate) sold through the same mass and pharmacy channels — overlapping OTC muscle and joint pain use cases with Aspercreme.
- Tiger Balm: Iconic OTC menthol/camphor topical analgesic (ointments, patches, liniments) with comparable muscle/joint pain use cases and a similar format-by-format go-to-market approach.
- Capzasin: Chattem/Opella capsaicin-based topical arthritis and joint pain brand — a sister brand to Aspercreme that addresses the same arthritis pain consumer through a different active ingredient.
- Biofreeze: Performance Health's flagship menthol-based topical pain relief line widely sold in retail and professional (chiropractic, physical therapy) channels — competing directly for the same pain-relief shelf set and consumer occasions.
Emerging players
- Theraworx: Specialty topical brand targeting muscle cramps and associated pain, sold through pharmacy and online channels — overlapping with Aspercreme's targeted-pain-relief positioning at the higher-margin end of the category.
- Blue-Emu: Niche OTC topical analgesic brand built around emu oil and trolamine salicylate, overlapping with Aspercreme's original cream positioning in the joint and muscle pain niche.
Broad incumbents
- Aleve: Bayer's broad OTC pain reliever (oral naproxen) operating across the same consumer pain-sufferer segment and retail footprint as Aspercreme, anchoring category demand for analgesia solutions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Aspercreme social profiles
Digital presenceAspercreme compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Aspercreme financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aspercreme leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aspercreme funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aspercreme M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aspercreme
What does Aspercreme do?
Aspercreme produces and sells over-the-counter topical analgesic products including creams, gels, roll-ons, sprays, and patches for temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain. The portfolio features maximum-strength 4% lidocaine formulations, 1% diclofenac NSAID arthritis gel, and 10% trolamine salicylate cream, sold through retail pharmacies, mass-market retailers, and online channels without prescription.
Is Aspercreme a public or private company?
Aspercreme is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Aspercreme founded?
Aspercreme was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aspercreme based?
Aspercreme is headquartered in Chattanooga, United States, in the North America region.
How does Aspercreme make money?
One revenue line is on record: OTC Topical Pain Relief Products.
Who are Aspercreme's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Salonpas, Icy Hot, Voltaren, Bengay, Tiger Balm, Capzasin and Biofreeze. Emerging players are Theraworx and Blue-Emu. Aleve is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Aspercreme have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aspercreme.
What industry is Aspercreme in?
Aspercreme's product category is OTC Topical Analgesics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAMAC, OTC Pain Relief & Fever (Analgesics, Anti-inflammatory, Topical Pain Relief), with a secondary code of HLAIADAA, Pain Relief & Anti-Inflammatory (Analgesics). Its NAICS code is 45611 and its SIC code is 2844.