The US active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturer said it will install development and analytical equipment at the facility in Paullo to support the production of potent actives.
It also said it will increase hydrogenator and centrifuge capacity, predicting the project will be completed this year.
Cambrex declined to comment further.
As with other recent expansions, Cambrex cited increasing demand as the driver for the investment.
Aldo Magnini, MD of the firm’s Milan division, said: “We have seen increased growth of activity among highly potent molecules in the past decade for use in therapeutics for cancer and other indications, and it is now becoming more appropriate in the generic API business as patents on these begin to expire.”
The comments are in keeping with statements Cambrex made in August, when confirmed it plans to start building a facility for high potency APIs at its site in Charles City, Iowa.
At the time CEO Steven M. Klosk said: “We are making this investment to address a growing demand in the market for manufacturing capacity that is capable of handling highly potent products. We expect the new facility to be ready for production in early 2019."