Xylocain 5% ointment

Xylocain (lidocaine) is one of the most famous local anesthetics in medical history. It was originally developed in Sweden by chemist Nils Löfgren and his colleague Bengt Lundqvist at Stockholm University in the 1940s. The brand was initially commercialized by the Swedish pharmaceutical giant Astra (now AstraZeneca).

In 2016, as part of a strategic shift, AstraZeneca sold the commercialization rights for its global anesthetics portfolio, including Xylocain, to the South African pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare. Today, while Xylocain remains a staple in medical and personal care, it is managed by Aspen's global network. Manufacturing takes place in various specialized pharmaceutical facilities globally to meet international demand.