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                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each officer and director of Cambrex
Corporation, a Delaware corporation, whose signature appears below constitutes
and appoints Cyril C. Baldwin, Jr., James A. Mack, and Peter Tracey, and each of
them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all Annual Reports on Form 10-K which
said Cambrex Corporation may be required to file pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any and all amendments thereto and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents or their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF each of the undersigned has executed this instrument as
of the 26th day of January 1995.
 

                                              
/s/ Cyril C. Baldwin, Jr.                        /s/ Ilan Kaufthal
---------------------------------------------    ---------------------------------------------
Cyril C. Baldwin, Jr.                            Ilan Kaufthal
Chairman of the Board and                        Director
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
/s/ Peter Tracey                                 /s/ Robert W. Lear
---------------------------------------------    ---------------------------------------------
Peter Tracey                                     Robert W. Lear
Vice President                                   Director
(Principal Financial and
  Accounting Officer)

/s/ Francis X. Dwyer                             /s/ Robert LeBuhn
---------------------------------------------    ---------------------------------------------
Francis X. Dwyer                                 Robert LeBuhn
Director                                         Director

/s/ Kathryn Rudie Harrigan, PhD                  /s/ James A. Mack
---------------------------------------------    ---------------------------------------------
Kathryn Rudie Harrigan, PhD                      James A. Mack
Director                                         Director
 
/s/ George J.W. Goodman                          /s/ Arthur I. Mendolia
---------------------------------------------    ---------------------------------------------
George J.W. Goodman                              Arthur I. Mendolia
Director                                         Director

                                                 /s/ Dean P. Phypers
                                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                                 Dean P. Phypers
                                                 Director

 
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