<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-21
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>y74753exv21.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX-21: SUBSIDIARIES
<TEXT>
<PAGE>
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                               CAMBREX CORPORATION

                                   EXHIBIT 21

                           SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT


<Table>
<Caption>
SUBSIDIARY                                                          INCORPORATED IN:
----------                                                          ----------------
<S>                                                                 <C>
Cambrex Charles City, Inc. .......................................  Iowa
Cambrex Profarmaco Milano S.r.l. .................................  Italy
Cambrex Karlskoga AB..............................................  Sweden
AS Cambrex Tallinn................................................  Estonia
</Table>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>