Revive Therapeutics (OTC:RVVTF) said today it inked a collaborative research deal with Sanyal Biotechnology looking to explore the use of cannabinoids as potential treatments for liver diseases.

The collaborative deal will initially focus on the use of cannabidiol on a novel autoimmune hepatitis model, using the Diamond model which was designed and developed by Sanyal Biotechnologyspecifically for Revive.

“We look forward to working with Revive to further understand how cannabinoids’ strong anti-inflammatory properties has the potential to treat a number of liver diseases. SanyalBio will explore cannabidiol on a number of liver disease models based on SanyalBio’s Diamond mouse model as well as obtaining a full understanding of the mechanism of action of cannabidiol in autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and fibrosis,” Sanyal Biotech co-founder & chief medical officer Dr. Arun Sanyal said in a prepared statement.

Toronto-based Revive Therapeutics said it hopes that the research partnership will lead to a better model of autoimmune hepatitis to allow for advanced research of cannabinoids for treating AIH and other liver diseases.

“We are very pleased to collaborate with SanyalBio and Dr. Arun Sanyal, who brings an impressive track record and expertise in the preclinical and clinical development of novel therapies for liver diseases. Our focus into the research and development of novel therapies that target the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors is becoming a significant value driver of our product pipeline and as our research progresses it will allow Revive to engage in further collaborations, business development opportunities, and potential commercial activities,” Revive CEO Craig Leon said in a press release.

In May, Revive said it inked a research agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to develop a drug delivery technology for cannibinoids.