Rainbow Coral Corp. and its joint venture partner, Therakine Ltd. announced that they have reached a major new milestone in the development of a revolutionary new drug delivery technology. The companies reached terms to initiate Phase II of research and analysis on a new injectable, sustained-release technology poised to vastly improve patients' use of a crucial drug in the fight against drug and alcohol dependence.

Naltrexone is a prescription opioid receptor antagonist used primarily in the management of alcohol and opioid dependence. Phase I of the joint venture's research established excellent compatibility between the drug and Therakine's hydrophobic injection matrix as well as a highly promising release profile. Phase II will focus on micronization of the technology as well as extension of its sustained release time.

RBCC has big plans for the breakthrough technology in 2014. If Phase II of research goes as well as Phase I did, the joint venture could soon supply the only intramuscular, programmable release of Naltrexone available anywhere in the $142.5 billion drug delivery industry.