Japan's SymBio will develop and commercialize pain medicine Ionsys in an exclusive licensing deal with the U.S.-based Medicines Co., marking its first product in the Japanese market and a company push to expand abroad. "This partnership further signals an important commitment of our company to pursue growth opportunities outside the United States through partnerships and to deliver innovation in the management of patients with acute post-operative pain to the Japanese market," Medicines Co. President Glenn Sblendorio said in a press release. An upfront payment of $10 million goes to the Medicines Co. under the agreement, which also includes unspecified sales milestone payments terms and regulatory approvals. A Phase I study of healthy Japanese patients has already been completed. The drug is used as an analgesic for postsurgery patients and was approved by the U.S. FDA earlier this year. It recently received a positive opinion by European regulators. Release