EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, March 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cambrex, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), today announced the completion of initial engineering studies for its new large-scale active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility in Charles City, Iowa. This milestone marks significant progress toward the company’s previously announced $120 million investment in expanding its API manufacturing capabilities in the United States. Groundbreaking for the new facility is expected to take place at the end of 2026.
The Charles City expansion will add a new 140,000 liter capacity plant, including large and medium scale reactors, advanced Hastelloy agitated filter dryers and upgrades to existing manufacturing units. At the end of this expansion phase, the site will see its large-scale manufacturing capacity increase by 20%. This expansion is designed to support complex chemistry including controlled substances, high potency APIs (HPAPIs), and liquid-phase peptide manufacturing at commercial scale, positioning Cambrex as a trusted partner for pharmaceutical innovators.
In Europe, Cambrex continues to invest with a $30 million expansion underway at its Milan, Italy site. The project will add new analytical development and process R&D capabilities, as well as upgrades to several production plants. The Milan R&D expansion is expected to be completed in the second half of 2027, with additional land acquired to support future growth and increased demand for CDMO services.
Claudio Russolo, Chief Operating Officer, commented: “Our Milan, Italy facility has a distinguished heritage of supporting the development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, and this year marks its 80th anniversary of operation. We are committed to continued investment to meet growing market demand for complex chemicals, including tides, high potency molecules and controlled substances.
Cambrex’s continued investments reflect its commitment to providing modernized solutions for tidal and complex small molecule development and manufacturing. The company’s scientific approach and commitment to operational excellence ensures that Cambrex remains at the forefront of supporting the next generation of life-changing therapies.
About Cambrex
Cambrex is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing drug substance development and manufacturing throughout the drug life cycle, as well as comprehensive analytical and IND clearance services.
With 45 years of experience and a growing team of more than 2,000 experts serving global clients in North America and Europe, Cambrex offers a range of specialized drug substance technologies and capabilities, including continuous flow, controlled substances, peptide synthesis, solid state science, materials characterization and high potency APIs.
SOURCE Cambrex
