Cambrex, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has announced it has completed initial engineering studies for its new, large-scale active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing plant in Charles City, Iowa. 

 

The milestone moves the company closer to its previously announced $120 million US expansion, with groundbreaking slated for late 2026.

 

The Charles City facility will feature 140,000 liters of capacity, including large- and mid-scale reactors, advanced Hastelloy agitated filter dryers, and upgraded manufacturing suites. Once operational, the expansion is expected to boost the site’s large-scale manufacturing capacity by 20%, supporting complex chemistries such as controlled substances, highly potent APIs (HPAPI), and commercial-scale liquid phase peptide manufacturing.

 

The expansion positions Cambrex as a key partner for pharmaceutical innovators aiming to scale complex therapies.

 

In Europe, Cambrex is simultaneously investing $30 million at its Milan, Italy site, adding new analytical development and process R&D capabilities and upgrading multiple production plants. The Milan expansion is expected to finish in the second half of 2027, with additional land acquired to support future growth and rising demand for CDMO services.

 

Claudio Russolo, Chief Operating Officer, commented: “Our Milan, Italy site has a distinguished legacy of supporting pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, and this year marks its 80th anniversary of operation. We are committed to ongoing investments to meet the growing market demand for complex chemistries, including tides, highly potent molecules, and controlled substances.”