CAMBREX CORPORATION

                                 CEO STATIONARY



__________, 2005

[Insert Name and Address]

Re: Acceleration of "Underwater" Stock Options

Dear [insert first name],

One June 1, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Cambrex Board of Directors
accelerated the vesting of all your unvested stock options having an exercise
price of $18.675 or greater granted under the Company's Stock Option Plans. The
acceleration eliminates future compensation expense the Company would otherwise
recognize with respect to these options once the Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123(r) "Share-Based Payment", issued by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board, is implemented for reporting periods beginning
January 1, 2006.

While the options are now vested, the Committee believed it appropriate to
require the Company's officers (and employees) to hold the shares acquired upon
the exercise of these options until their original vesting date or, if earlier,
the expiration date due to retirement.

Please feel free to call me if you have any questions.


Sincerely,

John R. Leone