New River Pharmaceuticals (NRPH), a Neurotech Index 30 company, entered into a licensing agreement with the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at UCSF to investigate a new approach toward improving the use of opioid analgesics in the treatment of pain by reducing the development of tolerance.

According to a press release, preclinical work has suggested that doses of methadone administered with morphine at certain ratios could be used to increase analgesia and decrease the potential for opioid tolerance and dependence.

While opiates are extremely effective pain-killers, like all medications, they come with side effects, such as tolerance and in some cases addiction.

Under the agreement, New River will pay a licensing fee, potential milestones and royalty payments in exchange for an exclusive license to pursue the commercial development of the technology for the treatment of pain.