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                                                                      EXHIBIT 23
 
                              CAMBREX CORPORATION
 
                              ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT
 
Cambrex Corporation:
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements
of Cambrex Corporation on Forms S-8 (File Nos. 33-22017, 33-21374, 33-37791,
33-81780, and 33-81782) of our report dated January 16, 1998, on our audits of
the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of
Cambrex Corporation as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1997, which report is included in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
 
Parsippany, New Jersey
March 17, 1998