Aspercreme

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.

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

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

• Topical analgesics
• Pain relief creams
• OTC pain medication
• Lidocaine products
• Arthritis pain relief

Headquarters

HQ city

Chattanooga

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, Operations, Personnel

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TerraCyclecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAspercreme 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/aspercreme
• Facebookfacebook.com/aspercreme

Compliance1 record

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 Aspercreme