Opella North America
Opella North America, formerly Chattem, is a Chattanooga-based consumer-healthcare company producing and marketing over-the-counter medicines, personal-care products, dietary supplements, and medicated skin-care products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Opella North America is the United States consumer-healthcare business formerly known as Chattem, Inc. and, before that, the Chattanooga Medicine Company. Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, it develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes over-the-counter healthcare products, toiletries, dietary supplements, topical analgesics, oral-care products, and medicated skin- and hair-care products. The company operates as part of Opella, the consumer-healthcare business separated from Sanofi Consumer Healthcare. The company traces its origins to 1879, when Zeboim Cartter Patten founded the Chattanooga Medicine Company. It incorporated in 1909 and has remained associated with Chattanooga throughout its history. During the Second World War, the business became a major supplier of K-rations to the United States Army, producing approximately 34 million rations between 1942 and 1945 and receiving five Army-Navy “E” Awards for wartime support. The company adopted the Chattem name and became publicly traded in 1969. Chattem’s later growth was built substantially around the acquisition and revitalization of established but under-marketed consumer brands. From 1989 through 1992, sales and profitability increased as the company invested in acquired brands and supported them with mass-media advertising and retail distribution. Its portfolio has included products in pain relief, skin and hair care, oral care, allergy treatment, gastrointestinal health, sleep, and other consumer-health categories. Recognized brands associated with the business include Allegra, Gold Bond, Flexall, Icy Hot, Rolaids, Sun-In, Pamprin, Dexatrim, Aspercreme, Selsun Blue, ACT, Unisom, Kaopectate, Nasacort, and Xyzal. The company has historically sold products through mass merchandisers, drugstores, supermarkets, and other retail channels. In 2005, its ten largest customers accounted for 70% of sales, with Wal-Mart alone representing 36%, illustrating the importance of concentrated retail distribution. The company supported its retail relationships with a dedicated sales organization and broadcast advertising. Manufacturing has been centered in Chattanooga, where the company has produced roughly two-thirds of its products, with the balance made by third-party manufacturers. Important portfolio developments included the acquisition of five consumer-health brands—ACT Anti-Cavity Mouthwash, Unisom, Cortizone 10, Kaopectate, and Balmex—from assets being divested in connection with the Johnson & Johnson–Pfizer consumer-healthcare transaction. In 2013, Chattem reacquired full rights to Rolaids and relaunched the antacid brand after years of recalls and quality-control problems under prior ownership. It sold Dexatrim to NVE Pharmaceuticals in 2014. Sanofi agreed to acquire Chattem in December 2009 for approximately $1.9 billion in cash, completing the transaction in 2010. In 2020, Sanofi Consumer Healthcare was reorganized and branded as Opella, and Chattem became part of Opella North America. In 2024, Sanofi announced an agreement to sell a 50% stake in Opella to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, while retaining 48.2% and bringing Bpifrance in as a 1.2% shareholder. Opella North America therefore remains an active operating business within the Opella consumer-health platform, with a portfolio focused on widely distributed self-care and personal-health products.
History
Opella North America originated as the Chattanooga Medicine Company, founded in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1879 by Zeboim Cartter Patten. The company incorporated in 1909 and retained its Chattanooga base. Its early business developed around medicinal and consumer-health products, and its manufacturing capabilities became particularly important during the Second World War. From 1942 to 1945, the company produced approximately 34 million K-rations for the United States Army and received five Army-Navy “E” Awards recognizing wartime production and support. The business adopted the Chattem name and went public in 1969. Its strategy later shifted toward building a portfolio of established consumer brands rather than relying primarily on internally originated products. Between 1989 and 1992, Chattem recorded substantial growth by purchasing under-marketed brands and investing in their distribution and advertising. This strategy also exposed the company to portfolio risk: in 1993, sales declined 14% after Warner-Lambert removed the Rolaids business from Chattem. In 1994, Chattem issued $75 million of high-yield bonds to fund a one-time special dividend. The company continued to expand its portfolio in the following decade. In 2006, it announced a planned purchase of five brands—ACT Anti-Cavity Mouthwash, Unisom, Cortizone 10, Kaopectate, and Balmex—that were to be divested in connection with the Johnson & Johnson–Pfizer consumer-healthcare merger. The brands were expected to add approximately $150 million in annual revenue, although the transaction depended on regulatory approval. Chattem’s business model centered on national retail distribution. Its products were sold through mass merchants, pharmacies, food retailers, and other channels, supported by a sales force and broadcast advertising. In 2005, the ten largest customers represented 70% of company sales, and Wal-Mart accounted for 36% on its own. Manufacturing remained concentrated in Chattanooga, with approximately two-thirds of products made at company facilities and the remainder produced by third parties. In December 2009, Sanofi announced a cash acquisition of Chattem valued at approximately $1.9 billion. The deal was completed in 2010 and brought Chattem into the French pharmaceutical company’s consumer-healthcare operations. In January 2013, Chattem acquired the full rights to Rolaids. The brand had suffered recalls and quality-control difficulties under Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare, which had led to much of the product line being discontinued. Chattem relaunched Rolaids in September 2013 with new trade dress, although production was not expected to return to Chattanooga. In March 2014, Chattem sold Dexatrim to NVE Pharmaceuticals. Sanofi reorganized its consumer-healthcare operations as Opella in 2020. Chattem subsequently operated under the Opella North America name, retaining a portfolio of over-the-counter medicines and personal-care brands. The portfolio has included pain-relief products such as Icy Hot, Aspercreme, Flexall, Capzasin, Sportscreme, and Arthritis Hot; skin- and hair-care brands such as Gold Bond and Selsun Blue; and health and wellness brands including Allegra, ACT, Kaopectate, Nasacort, Unisom, and Xyzal. In 2024, Sanofi announced the sale of a 50% stake in Opella to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Sanofi retained 48.2%, while Bpifrance acquired 1.2%. Opella North America consequently became part of a consumer-healthcare group with mixed strategic and private-equity ownership. The North American business remains active and focused on broad retail distribution of self-care, wellness, topical-treatment, oral-care, and personal-care products.
- 2024
Opella ownership diversified
[1]Sanofi announced the sale of 50% of Opella to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, retaining 48.2% while Bpifrance acquired 1.2%.
- 2020
Opella identity adopted
[1]Sanofi Consumer Healthcare became Opella, and the North American Chattem operation adopted the Opella identity.
- 2014
Dexatrim sold
[1]Chattem sold Dexatrim to NVE Pharmaceuticals.
- 2013
Rolaids rights acquired and brand relaunched
[1]Chattem acquired full rights to Rolaids and returned the antacid brand to market with revised trade dress.
- 2010
Sanofi acquisition completed
[1]Chattem became part of Sanofi following the completion of Sanofi’s approximately $1.9 billion cash acquisition.
- 2006
Five-brand acquisition announced
[1]Chattem announced plans to acquire ACT, Unisom, Cortizone 10, Kaopectate, and Balmex from assets being divested in the Johnson & Johnson–Pfizer consumer-healthcare transaction.
- 1993
Loss of Rolaids business affects sales
[1]Chattem reported a 14% sales decline after losing the Warner-Lambert Rolaids business.
- 1969
Chattem becomes publicly traded
[1]The company adopted the Chattem name and went public.
- 1945
Wartime production completed
[1]The company had produced approximately 34 million K-rations and received five Army-Navy “E” Awards for wartime support.
- 1942
K-ration production begins
[1]The company began producing K-rations for the United States Army during the Second World War.
Products and positioning
A mass-market consumer-healthcare business built around established over-the-counter and personal-care brands, broad retail distribution, and self-care products spanning pain relief, allergy, gastrointestinal health, sleep, oral care, and skin and hair care.
Allergy medicine
Allegra
An over-the-counter allergy brand included in Opella North America’s health and wellness portfolio. It is marketed through national retail channels as part of the company’s self-care offering.
Medicated skin care
Gold Bond
A medicated skin-care brand associated with products for common skin concerns. Gold Bond is one of Opella North America’s principal skin-care brands and is distributed through mass retail, pharmacy, and food-retail channels.
Topical pain relief
Icy Hot
A topical analgesic brand positioned for temporary relief of everyday muscle and joint discomfort. It is part of the company’s pain-relief category alongside Aspercreme, Flexall, Capzasin, Sportscreme, and Arthritis Hot.
Topical pain relief
Aspercreme
A topical pain-relief brand in Opella North America’s consumer-health portfolio. It is marketed as a self-care treatment and distributed through the company’s broad retail network.
Antacid
Rolaids
An antacid brand whose full rights were acquired by Chattem in 2013. Following recalls and quality-control problems under previous ownership, Chattem relaunched Rolaids in September 2013 with updated trade dress.
Medicated hair care
Selsun Blue
A medicated hair-care brand included in Opella North America’s skin and hair-care category. It complements Gold Bond and other topical-care products in the company’s portfolio.
Oral care
ACT
An oral-care brand, including ACT Anti-Cavity Mouthwash, acquired by Chattem as part of a five-brand transaction associated with the Johnson & Johnson–Pfizer consumer-healthcare merger.
Sleep aid
Unisom
An over-the-counter sleep-support brand acquired by Chattem in the 2006 five-brand transaction. The portfolio also includes Unisom Natural Nights.
Gastrointestinal medicine
Kaopectate
A gastrointestinal-health brand acquired by Chattem through the 2006 divestiture transaction. It remains part of the health and wellness grouping associated with Opella North America.
Medicated skin care
Cortizone 10
A topical medicated skin-care brand acquired by Chattem in the group of five consumer-health products connected with the Johnson & Johnson–Pfizer merger divestitures.
Nasal allergy medicine
Nasacort
An allergy and nasal-care brand listed within Opella North America’s health and wellness portfolio. It broadens the company’s self-care offering beyond oral allergy medicines.
Allergy medicine
Xyzal
An over-the-counter allergy brand included among Opella North America’s health and wellness offerings and distributed through consumer retail channels.
Dietary supplement and weight-management product
Dexatrim
A former Chattem portfolio brand that was sold to NVE Pharmaceuticals in March 2014. It is therefore no longer part of Opella North America’s current portfolio.
Controversies
2010
Rolaids recalls and quality-control problems under prior ownership
Rolaids experienced a series of recalls and quality-control problems while owned by Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare. The disruptions led to much of the line being discontinued before Chattem acquired the brand’s full rights and relaunched it in 2013.
Brand decisions
2024
Sell a controlling stake in OpellaM&ABackground
Sanofi pursued a change in ownership for Opella while maintaining a substantial minority interest and bringing in a public-sector investment partner.
Action taken
Sanofi announced the sale of 50% of Opella to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, retained 48.2%, and enabled Bpifrance to acquire 1.2%.
Aftermath
Opella North America became part of a jointly owned consumer-healthcare group rather than a wholly owned Sanofi subsidiary.
2020
Adopt the Opella consumer-healthcare identityStrategyBackground
Sanofi reorganized its consumer-healthcare activities under the Opella name with the longer-term intention of separating the business from the pharmaceutical group.
Action taken
Sanofi Consumer Healthcare became Opella, and Chattem adopted the Opella North America identity.
Aftermath
The North American operation continued as the regional business responsible for a large portfolio of over-the-counter and personal-care brands.
2014
Sell DexatrimM&ABackground
Chattem continued to adjust its portfolio of consumer-health brands after becoming part of Sanofi.
Action taken
Chattem sold Dexatrim to NVE Pharmaceuticals.
Aftermath
Dexatrim left the Chattem and subsequent Opella North America portfolio.
2013
Relaunch RolaidsProduct launchBackground
Rolaids had been weakened by recalls and quality-control issues under previous ownership, with much of its product line discontinued.
Action taken
Chattem acquired the full rights to Rolaids and returned the brand to market in September 2013 with new trade dress.
Aftermath
Rolaids was restored to Chattem’s consumer-health portfolio, although production was not expected to return to Chattanooga.
2009
Sanofi acquires ChattemM&ABackground
Sanofi sought to strengthen its consumer-healthcare business in the United States through the purchase of Chattem and its portfolio of established over-the-counter brands.
Action taken
Sanofi agreed to acquire Chattem in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.9 billion; completion followed in 2010.
Aftermath
Chattem became a Sanofi subsidiary and later formed part of Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, which was reorganized as Opella in 2020.
Acquisition value. $1.9 billion announced transaction value (December 2009 announcement; completed in 2010)
2006
Acquire five divested consumer-health brandsM&ABackground
The proposed Johnson & Johnson–Pfizer consumer-healthcare merger required the divestiture of several mature brands. Chattem identified ACT Anti-Cavity Mouthwash, Unisom, Cortizone 10, Kaopectate, and Balmex as portfolio additions.
Action taken
Chattem announced plans to acquire the five brands, subject to approval of the broader merger by United States authorities.
Aftermath
The transaction was expected to contribute approximately $150 million in annual revenue and expanded Chattem’s oral-care, sleep, skin-care, and gastrointestinal-health presence.
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