Tokyo's Astellas Pharma Inc. and Vancouver, British Columbia's Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc. entered a license deal for the latter's lead drug candidate rosiptor.

Under the deal, Astellas will receive the exclusive right to develop and sell rosiptor in Japan and other countries in the Asia-Pacific, including South Korea, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia but excluding China and India.

Aquinox will receive $25 million up front under the deal. The company is also eligible for up to $130 million in milestone payments, as well as royalties on future rosiptor sales.

Rosiptor is in clinical development for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, characterized by discomfort or pain related to the urinary bladder.