Gentris Corp. has entered an exclusive 10-year licensing agreement with Falco Biosystems, Ltd. medical testing laboratories in Japan. The agreement establishes Japan’s first GLP-compliant pharmacogenomics laboratory. The partnership, to be called “Gentris Japan,” will offer pharmacogenomics services to the pharmaceutical industry in Japan, the second-largest pharmaceutical market in the world after the U.S.

“It is evident that pharmacogenomics is going to be as important to drug development, and ultimately the public, in Japan as it is in the U.S. and Europe,” commented Gentris chief executive officer Michael Murphy. “For several drugs routinely prescribed in Japan, research has identified clear relationships between individual genetic differences and how these drugs are metabolized. Gentris Japan will work to ensure that people receive safer and more effective medications, at the appropriate dosage, based on these individual genetic variations.”

“Our mission is to help society achieve higher standards of living and health through information, technology and services,” said Falco chairman and president Hiroharu Akazawa. “Partnering with Gentris to introduce the first GLP-compliant pharmacogenomics laboratory in Japan is a great step in the advancement of personalized medicine. Gentris’ superior standards of practice and longstanding leadership in the field of pharmacogenomics make the company an ideal partner for Falco. We look forward to working together to bring safer and more effective drugs to the Japanese public.”