Since its creation in 1981, Cambrex has transformed from a fine chemical manufacturer to a business with a singular focus on small molecule therapeutics. With over 40 years’ experience and a growing team of over 2,200 experts servicing global clients from our sites in North America and Europe, we are tried and trusted in branded and generic markets for API and dosage form development and manufacturing.

Our drug substance expertise

From laboratory to commercial supply, enjoy working with the small molecule experts at Cambrex for your custom development, manufacturing or generic API.

Our drug product expertise

From pre-formulation and clinical supply to commercial manufacturing and packaging, Cambrex delivers your complex dosage forms with expertise.

Our analytical services expertise

Trust our analytical development and testing experts to rapidly advance your molecule for the greatest chance of success.

You can read about our history below.

2022

Cambrex completes the first phase of a $30 Million capacity expansion project in High Point, NC.

Cambrex acquires Q1 Scientific – a leading provider of environmentally-controlled cGMP stability storage services for the pharmaceutical, medical device and life science industries, located in Waterford, Ireland.

Cambrex completes its expansion of large-scale manufacturing capabilities in Charles City, IA.

Cambrex expands the biopharmaceutical services business to include an additional 11 cGMP laboratories in Durham, NC.

2021

Cambrex invests $30 Million to expand its manufacturing Center of Excellence in High Point, NC.

Cambrex introduces new kilogram-scale GMP manufacturing capabilities in Tallinn, Estonia.

Cambrex expands its analytical services capabilities at its Longmont, Colorado facility.

2020

Cambrex invests $50 Million to expand its multipurpose large-scale manufacturing capabilities in the US.

Cambrex completes major expansion of solid form screening facility in Edinburgh, UK.

Cambrex completes biopharmaceutical expansion at Durham, NC facility.

2019

Cambrex acquired by an affiliate of the Permira funds.

Cambrex completes the acquisition of Avista Pharma Solutions, adding early stage API and finished dosage form development and testing services to its global contract development & manufacturing network.

2018

Cambrex completes acquisition of Halo Pharma, adding drug product development and manufacturing capabilities to existing API services.

Cambrex invests in new continuous flow technology at its High Point, NC facility.

Cambrex invests $5 million to expand laboratory facilities at its Karlskoga, Sweden site, to augment capability and capacity for process development and scale up, handling of potent substances, crystallization studies and solid phase characterization.

2017

Cambrex invests in new small scale capacity at its Charles City, IA facility with the installation of two 500 gallon glass lined reactors and creates a third small scale work center, further increasing flexibility for customer projects.

Cambrex expands its High Point, NC facility with the addition of a new $3.2 million, 11,000 sq.ft. analytical laboratory, in response to growing customer demand for analytical development and validation services in support of cGMP products at the clinical stage.

Cambrex invests $24 million in a new facility to manufacture highly potent APIs (HPAPIs) at its Charles City, IA plant.

Cambrex invests in new capacity and continuous flow technology at its Karlskoga, Sweden facility for the production of high purity intermediates.

2016

Cambrex significantly expands its cGMP API manufacturing and storage capabilities in Charles City, IA. The company also increases its large-scale manufacturing capability in Karlskoga, Sweden with the installation of new multi-purpose reactors and control room upgrades.

Cambrex opens a new pilot plant at its site in Paullo (Milan) Italy, allowing greater speed and flexibility for small scale API production.

Cambrex also expands its clinical stage API capabilities with the acquisition of PharmaCore, Inc. in High Point, NC, a leading early phase chemistry specialist with expertise in developing, scaling up and manufacturing small molecule APIs for clinical phase projects.

2015

Our 45,000 sq. ft temperature and humidity-controlled cGMP warehouse space at Cambrex Charles City, IA is completed.

2013

Charles City, IA completes a major 7,000 sq. ft. facility expansion to increase API manufacturing capabilities for both existing products and a new product.

2010

To broaden its biocatalysis offering, Cambrex acquires IEP GmbH in Wiesbaden, Germany.

2009

Paullo, (Milan), Italy completes the addition of a new cGMP API production facility.

2008

Cambrex expands its group of world class R&D chemists by acquiring Prosyntest in Tallinn, Estonia. Steven Klosk is appointed as CEO while remaining President. Cambrex Charles City completes the addition of a high potency development centre.

2001

Cambrex obtains DEA licensing for controlled substance API manufacturing.

1995

Cambrex expands further into the pharmaceutical market with the acquisition of the Nobel Pharma Chemistry businesses, Nobel Chemicals AB and Profarmaco S.r.l., located in Karlskoga, Sweden and Paullo, Milan, Italy.

1991

Cambrex enters the life sciences arena with the acquisition of Salsbury Chemicals, a manufacturer of bulk intermediates and APIs, as well as high-level research in nitration chemistry, and Zeeland Chemicals, producer of specialty intermediates and hydrogenation chemistry.

The Charles City, IA site is established.

1990

Cambrex is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

1987

The company changes its name to Cambrex Corporation and becomes listed on the NASDAQ.

1981

Originally named CasChem, the company is founded when the castor oil and derivatives product lines are acquired from NL Industries.

Release & QC Testing

Servcies Overview