iCure Pharma, a domestic company specializing in transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS), said Friday that it has signed a distribution agreement with ArborMed Pharmaceuticals to distribute its pain relief patch in the U.S.

Under the agreement, ArborMed Pharmaceuticals will assume all responsibility for obtaining approval to marketing the product in the U.S.

“As a result of this contract, the company has proved its ability to develop and manufacture patches not only in Korea but also in the U.S,” an iCure Pharma official said. “Once the company completes its cGMP level plant in Wanju, North Jeolla Province, it will be able to meet the demand for products in the U.S. market.”

The company also plans to market its product in advanced countries with the agreement aggressively, he added.

ArborMed Pharmaceuticals also expressed expectations on the agreement.

“iCure’s TDDS product pipeline and R&D capabilities have made it an ideal partner for the company to market its product in the U.S.,” ArborMed CEO Manish Singhal said. “We look forward to cooperating with iCure in gaining license and launching the product in the U.S.”

According to “Transdermal Drug Delivery Technologies, Companies & Markets,” a report published by Jain PharmaBiotech, the U.S. TDDS market stands at 10.2 trillion won ($9.5 billion) in 2016.