CMDX to Offer Commercial Genetic Test from its CLIA Certified Laboratory

Acacia Research Corporation has announced that its CombiMatrix group's subsidiary, CombiMatrix Molecular Diagnostics (CMDX) is planning to commercially launch its molecular diagnostic service offering in August, 2006.

This product offering, which is already being sold in Europe through CMDX' distributor Array Genomics, is in the final phases of internal human/clinical validation prior to U.S. launch.

This service utilizes CMDX' Constitutional Genetic Array Test (CGAT), which is designed to genetically identify over 50 common genetic disorders in one test.

Over two thirds of young children with developmental disorders are either undiagnosed or miss-diagnosed through conventional techniques, making it difficult to provide appropriate treatment or counseling.

CMDX' CGAT array is designed to provide capability to identify the specific inherited genetic abnormality that is the cause of the clinical disorder.

"We are exited about the launch of our first molecular diagnostic service offering from CMDX," stated Matt Watson, CEO of CMDX.

"During the second quarter we began selling our first diagnostic chip into the European market, and during the third quarter of this year we will be offering our first service."

"We are actively developing further tests based on both our oligo- and BAC capabilities that augment our microarray portfolio and over the next three quarters, we have plans to launch three to five additional products into the molecular diagnostics market."

Dr. Amit Kumar, President and CEO of CombiMatrix, and Chairman of CMDX, stated, "This launch and the additional upcoming launches signal the achievement of a major milestone for CombiMatrix."

"CMDX is among a small group of companies that is providing array-based human molecular diagnostics services, and over the next 18 months, our plan is to have the industry's broadest portfolio of array based diagnostic services on the market."