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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FlylRVbmroiq0jZJsrKrq2Qys9jpSzrJ7qW0Gh3kCtAo35ogofwNft1Cnn4KEbbp
 Y1rpYLuifQxl5K9zisTUbQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001192622-03-000003.txt : 20030522
<SEC-HEADER>0001192622-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030522145259
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001192622-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030522

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAMBREX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000820081
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				222476135
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MEADOWLANDS PLZ
		CITY:			E RUTHERFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07073
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018043000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MEADOWLANDS PLAZA
		CITY:			E. RUTHERFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07073

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEKANDER MONIKA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192622

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10638
		FILM NUMBER:		03716144

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CAMBREX CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE MEADOWLANDS PLZ
		CITY:			EAST RUTHERFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07073
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018043011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CAMBREX CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE MEADOWLANDS PLZ
		CITY:			EAST RUTHERFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07073
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000820081</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAMBREX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192622</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEKANDER MONIKA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><otherText>VP/GM Therapeutics Bus Unit</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5409</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></nat
ureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.6765</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-04-24</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-05-22</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-04-24</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-04-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5000</va
lue></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>85000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">First one-quarter of said grant to become exercisable in whole or in part one year from the date of grant, with a further one quarter of each such grant becoming exercisable in whole or in part on each of the next three anniversaries of such grant date.</footnote><footnote id="F2">521 shares indirectly held in 401(k) Plan</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Linda Kinailuk for Monika Lekander by POA</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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