On Oct. 30, 2026, Cambrex, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced the groundbreaking of its $120 million expansion at its Charles City, Iowa facility.

The expansion will add 160,000 liters of manufacturing capacity, increasing the site’s total capacity by approximately 25% to nearly one million liters to support the development and commercial manufacturing of small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and synthetic peptides. The project is anticipated to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2028.

Cambrex celebrated the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on October 29, bringing together company leaders, employees, state and local officials and members of the Charles City community. The milestone comes as the Charles City site celebrates its 100th anniversary, marking a century of operations at the facility.

The Charles City facility provides development and manufacturing services for small molecule APIs, synthetic peptides and pharmaceutical intermediates, supporting projects from clinical development through commercial-scale production. The expansion builds on the site’s existing infrastructure and technical expertise while providing additional capacity to meet customer demand.

Cambrex is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides drug substance development and manufacturing across the entire drug lifecycle, as well as comprehensive analytical services. With over 45 years of experience and a team of 2,000 experts servicing global clients from 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, biocatalysis, material characterization, complex synthetics, and highly potent APIs.