Cambrex Breaks Ground on $120 Million Iowa Manufacturing Expansion, Boosting Capacity by 25%
CHARLES CITY, October 29, 2026 | Cambrex Breaks Ground on $120 Million Expansion | From left to right: Joe Nettleton, VP Operations and Site Leader, Cambrex Charles City; Timothy Fox, CEO, Charles City Area Development Corporation; Senator Chuck Grassley, United States Senate; Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, State of Iowa; John Andrews, VP Operations, Cambrex; Claudio Russolo, COO and incoming CEO, Cambrex.
Cambrex, a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has broken ground on a $120 million expansion of its pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Charles City, Iowa, increasing production capacity for small molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and synthetic peptides.
The project will add 160,000 liters of manufacturing capacity, expanding the facility’s total capacity by approximately 25% to nearly one million liters. Construction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2028.
The investment represents a significant expansion of Cambrex’s U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, strengthening its ability to support drug developers from clinical development through commercial-scale production.
Cambrex held a groundbreaking ceremony on October 29, 2026, attended by company executives, employees, state and local officials, and community representatives.
Among those attending were U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Iowa Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer, Cambrex Chief Operating Officer and incoming CEO Claudio Russolo, and representatives of the Charles City Area Development Corporation.
The groundbreaking coincides with the Charles City facility’s 100th anniversary, marking a century of manufacturing operations at the site.
“This groundbreaking marks an important milestone in our continued investment in U.S. manufacturing and in the Charles City site,” said Claudio Russolo, chief operating officer and incoming CEO of Cambrex.
“As the site celebrates its 100th anniversary, this expansion reflects both its long history and its continued importance to our future. By expanding commercial-scale capacity for both small molecule and peptide manufacturing, we are strengthening our ability to support customers as their programs advance from development through commercialization.”
The Charles City facility specializes in the development and manufacturing of small molecule APIs, synthetic peptides and pharmaceutical intermediates.
Its operations support pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies throughout the drug development lifecycle, from clinical-stage manufacturing to commercial production.
The additional capacity will build on the site’s existing manufacturing infrastructure and technical capabilities, allowing Cambrex to accommodate growing customer demand for pharmaceutical ingredients and specialized drug substances.
The expansion also reinforces the company’s focus on domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity as drug developers seek reliable production partners with established technical expertise and commercial-scale capabilities.
Cambrex provides drug substance development, manufacturing and analytical services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology customers across North America and Europe.
The company employs approximately 2,000 specialists and offers capabilities including peptide synthesis, continuous flow chemistry, biocatalysis, controlled substances manufacturing, highly potent APIs and complex chemical synthesis.
The $120 million investment is scheduled to come online in late 2028, positioning the Charles City facility to support additional pharmaceutical manufacturing programs and larger-scale production requirements.
Cambrex did not disclose the number of jobs expected to be created by the expansion or whether the project will receive state or local economic development incentives.
The project marks a major investment in the century-old Iowa manufacturing site and will increase Cambrex’s capacity to serve pharmaceutical customers developing both small molecule medicines and synthetic peptide therapies.
