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                                                                               .
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                                                                      EXHIBIT 21

                              CAMBREX CORPORATION

                           SUBSIDIARIES OF REGISTRANT

<Table>
<Caption>
SUBSIDIARY                                                    INCORPORATED IN:
- ----------                                                    ----------------
                                                           
CasChem, Inc. ..............................................  Delaware
Cosan Chemical Corporation..................................  New Jersey
Nepera, Inc. ...............................................  New York
Cambrex North Brunswick, Inc. ..............................  Delaware
Cambrex Charles City, Inc. .................................  Iowa
Zeeland Chemicals, Inc. ....................................  Michigan
Cambrex Bio Science Walkersville, Inc. .....................  Delaware
Seal Sands Chemicals Limited................................  England
Cambrex Profarmaco Milano S.r.l. ...........................  Italy
Cambrex Karlskoga AB........................................  Sweden
Cambrex Bio Science Verviers Sprl...........................  Belgium
Cambrex Bio Science Rockland, Inc. .........................  Delaware
Cambrex Bio Science Copenhagen ApS..........................  Denmark
Cambrex Profarmaco Cork Limited.............................  Ireland
Cambrex Profarmaco Landen NV................................  Belgium
Cambrex Bio Science Nottingham Limited......................  England
Cambrex Bio Science Baltimore, Inc. ........................  Delaware
Cambrex Bio Science Hopkinton, Inc. ........................  Delaware
</Table>