Cambrex Subsidiaries Earn Top Honors for Green Chemistry and Sustainability
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., July 7, 2026 /CNW/ — Cambrex, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced that its subsidiary Snapdragon Chemistry, together with NewAmsterdam Pharma, has received the American Chemical Society’s 2026 Green Chemistry Challenge Award for the Greener Synthetic Pathway in the Synthesis of Pharmaceuticals. The award recognizes the development of a sustainable organocatalytic process to manufacture the chiral tetrahydroquinoline core for obicetrapib, a late-stage investigational therapy for dyslipidemia.
Breakthrough in Sustainable Synthesis
NewAmsterdam Pharma, in collaboration with Snapdragon Chemistry, developed an industrial-scale synthesis of an organocatalyzed asymmetric Povarov cyclization to produce the chiral tetrahydroquinoline core, a key intermediate in obicetrapib synthesis. Compared with the previous manufacturing route, the organocatalytic process significantly improved overall efficiency and sustainability, delivering substantial gains in yield, reducing process mass intensity by approximately 80%, eliminating aqueous waste generation, shortening manufacturing cycle time by approximately 70%, and lowering manufacturing costs by approximately 50%.
EcoVadis Gold Rating for Cambrex Milan Facility
Furthering its sustainability leadership, Cambrex’s Milan facility has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold rating, placing it among the top 5% of organizations evaluated for environmental, social, and ethical performance. This distinction reflects Cambrex’s comprehensive sustainability strategy, including a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions network-wide and a goal to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030.
Renewable Energy Partnership for Q1 Scientific
Additionally, Q1 Scientific, a Cambrex company, has partnered with Flogas through a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) to source renewable electricity from the Cronalaght Wind Farm. This partnership will cover approximately 50% of the Q1 Scientific Waterford site’s electricity demand, supporting both client and community environmental goals and reinforcing Cambrex’s position as a responsible industry leader.
CEO Comments on Sustainability Commitment
Thomas Loewald, CEO at Cambrex, commented, “At Cambrex, we are dedicated to continually reducing our environmental impact for the benefit of our communities and ensuring long-term, sustainable manufacturing solutions for our customers.”
About Cambrex
Cambrex is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides drug substance development and manufacturing across the entire drug lifecycle, as well as comprehensive analytical services. With over 45 years of experience and a team of 2,000 experts servicing global clients from North America and Europe, Cambrex offers a range of specialized drug substance technologies and capabilities, including continuous flow, controlled substances, peptide synthesis, solid-state science, biocatalysis, material characterization, complex synthetics, and highly potent APIs.
