East Rutherford – October 30, 2026 -- Cambrex has started construction on a $120 million expansion at its Charles City, Iowa, facility, adding 160,000 liters of manufacturing capacity for small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and synthetic peptides.
Expansion lifts Charles City capacity by about 25% to nearly one million liters
The contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) expects to complete the project in the fourth quarter of 2028. The added volume raises the site's total capacity by approximately 25%, to nearly one million liters.
Cambrex held a groundbreaking ceremony on October 29 with company leaders, employees, state and local officials and members of the Charles City community. The start of construction coincides with the site's 100th anniversary.
Commercial-scale small molecule and peptide capacity targets late-stage customer programs
Claudio Russolo, Cambrex Chief Operating Officer and incoming Chief Executive Officer, described the project as part of the company's "continued investment in U.S. manufacturing." He said the added commercial-scale capacity for both small molecule and peptide production strengthens Cambrex's ability to support customers as programs move from development to commercialization.
The Charles City site supplies small molecule APIs, synthetic peptides and pharmaceutical intermediates, covering projects from clinical development through commercial-scale production. The expansion builds on the site's existing infrastructure and technical expertise and is intended to meet customer demand.