Acacia Research Subsidiary Awarded Department of Defense Contract.PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 1999-- Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq/NM:ACRI) announced today that its subsidiary, CombiMatrix Corporation, has been awarded a Phase I SBIR SBIR Small Business Innovation Research (program/grant) SBIR Space Based Infra-Red SBIR Speaker-Boundary Interference SBIR Site Backsurface-referenced Ideal Plane/Range (silicon wafers) Department of Defense contract to use CombiMatrix's proprietary biochip biochip Small-scale device, analogous to an integrated circuit, constructed of or used to analyze organic molecules associated with living organisms. One type of theoretical biochip is a small device constructed of large organic molecules, such as proteins, and capable of technology to develop Nanode Array Sensor Microchips. This work is expected to enable simultaneous detection of numerous chemical and biological warfare biological warfare, employment in war of microorganisms to injure or destroy people, animals, or crops; also called germ or bacteriological warfare. Limited attempts have been made in the past to spread disease among the enemy; e.g. agents using the company's proprietary technology. The chemical and biological warfare agent testing program at CombiMatrix was initiated in response to heightened interest by the U.S. government in threats posed by chemical and biological warfare. The CombiMatrix biochip system integrates the miniaturization min·i·a·tur·ize tr.v. min·i·a·tur·ized, min·i·a·tur·iz·ing, min·i·a·tur·iz·es To plan or make on a greatly reduced scale. min of semiconductors with new developments in biotechnology and chemistry. The company's core technology utilizes a unique buffering system to create "virtual reactors" -- tiny chemical flasks the size of a human hair, that are separated from each other without glass walls. The CombiMatrix technology synthesizes DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. , peptides and other chemicals in these miniaturized electrochemical electrochemical /elec·tro·chem·i·cal/ (-kem´i-k'l) pertaining to interaction or interconversion of chemical and electrical energies. e·lec·tro·chem·i·cal adj. flasks on a tiny semiconductor chip. The biochips are inexpensively produced on existing semiconductor fabrication lines. In June, CombiMatrix received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the core patent on its novel biochip. CombiMatrix's unique biochip system may offer significant advantages over current products on the market. Acacia Research has a 53% equity ownership in CombiMatrix, which is located in Burlingame, Calif. Acacia Research is a diversified company with interests in several enterprises -- CombiMatrix Corp. (biochips/drug discovery technology), Greenwich Information Technologies LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control (video and audio-on-demand technology), MerkWerks Corp. (software development), Signature-mail.com llc (personalized e-mail service), Soundbreak.com Incorporated (Internet music and e-commerce), Soundview Technologies Incorporated (V-chip technology), Whitewing Labs Inc. (marketer of nutritional supplements) and Acacia Capital Management (investment advisory services). |
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