Cambrex invests $120 million to expand U.S. API manufacturing, boosting capacity, supply chain resilience, and leadership in peptide therapeutics.
Cambrex, a prominent global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has announced a significant $120 million investment aimed at expanding its U.S. manufacturing capabilities. The initiative underscores Cambrex’s mission to bolster domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and strengthen the resilience of the U.S. drug supply chain, while positioning itself as a key player in the rapidly expanding peptide therapeutics sector.
According to Thomas Loewald, CEO of Cambrex, the investment comes at a crucial time as customers—working closely with federal and state agencies—are actively pursuing the reshoring of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States, the world’s largest pharmaceutical market. “Ensuring local API production is vital for safeguarding the nation’s supply chain security and long-term resilience,” Loewald explained. “We are experiencing robust demand from clients seeking to collaborate with Cambrex and leverage this enhanced production capacity.”
The newly announced funding will fuel a 40% increase in manufacturing capacity at Cambrex’s Charles City, Iowa facility, bringing the site’s total production volume close to one million liters. The Charles City plant, spread across 45 acres, is one of the most advanced and versatile manufacturing hubs in the country. It produces a wide range of APIs and pharmaceutical intermediates, including highly potent compounds and controlled substances, supporting both large-scale commercial and specialized therapeutic applications.
Loewald emphasized that the company’s latest expansion is part of Cambrex’s broader strategy to support the long-term stability of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply network. “As the demand for domestic manufacturing of essential therapies continues to rise, Cambrex remains deeply committed to investing in infrastructure that reinforces national drug supply reliability,” he said. “This investment at Charles City—the nation’s largest independent API manufacturing facility—demonstrates our dedication to meeting customer needs in both small molecule and peptide production.”
This new initiative builds upon a series of strategic investments Cambrex has made in recent years to enhance its research, development, and production network. Key milestones include:
• The 2022 expansion of highly potent API and large-scale manufacturing capacity at the Charles City, Iowa site.
• The 2023 launch of new, state-of-the-art laboratories and small-to-medium volume commercial manufacturing spaces in High Point, North Carolina, tailored for therapies targeting rare diseases and orphan drug designations.
• The 2025 expansion of GMP manufacturing capacity for peptide therapeutics in Waltham, Massachusetts, designed to serve the fast-growing peptide drug market.
Through this sustained investment strategy, Cambrex continues to demonstrate its long-term commitment to advancing pharmaceutical innovation, strengthening U.S.-based manufacturing, and addressing the growing global demand for reliable and high-quality API production.
