CombiMatrix Arrays Used in a Harvard RNA Research Program.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 10, 2003

Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:CBMX) (Nasdaq:ACTG) announced today that Gregory L. Verdine, Harvard College Professor and Erving Professor of Chemistry in Harvard University's Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, will use CombiMatrix arrays to map three-dimensional binding sites for oligonucleotides on folded RNA molecules.

This research program aims to discover, in an unbiased screen, discontinuous RNA epitopes that will serve as therapeutic targets for drug intervention. This program may enable the discovery of new drugs and approaches to modulate the operation of RNA molecules in cells.

Professor Verdine said, "We are looking forward to working with CombiMatrix and its technology for our novel discovery program. CombiMatrix's flexible array fabrication technology makes this project feasible and enables us to rapidly evaluate potential targets for drug intervention."

"We are excited about working with Professor Verdine and his laboratory at Harvard," said Amit Kumar, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of CombiMatrix. "This collaboration underscores the flexibility of our chip technology. We have demonstrated the utility of our platform for many applications including gene expression studies, mutation analysis, warfare agent detection, molecular diagnostics, siRNA drug discovery and synthesis."

About Acacia Research Corporation

Acacia Research Corporation comprises two operating groups, Acacia Technologies Group and CombiMatrix Group.

The CombiMatrix group is developing a platform technology to rapidly produce customizable active biochips, which are semiconductor-based tools for use in identifying and determining the roles of genes, gene mutations and proteins. CombiMatrix's technology has a wide range of applications including DNA synthesis/diagnostics, siRNA synthesis, drug discovery, and immunochemical detection. CombiMatrix provides DNA arrays to researchers under the CustomArray(TM) brand.

CombiMatrix's Express Track(SM) drug discovery program is a systems biology approach, using its technology, to target common viral diseases with siRNA compounds. The initial focus of Express Track(SM) are the following viral diseases:

Virus                                Collaborator
----------------------------------   ---------------------------------

SARS                                 NIAID/USAMRIID
HIV type 1                           irsiCaixa-Dr. Bonaventura Clotet
HIV type 2                           To Be Announced
West Nile virus                      To Be Announced
Human Papillomavirus type 16         To Be Announced
Human Herpes 8 (Kaposi's sarcoma)    To Be Announced
Smallpox (Variola)                   To Be Announced
Influenza virus A                    To Be Announced
Influenza virus B                    To Be Announced
Hepatitis C                          To Be Announced

CombiMatrix is also establishing applications of its arrays through
other partnerships as follows:

Project                              Collaborator
----------------------------------   ---------------------------------
Cancer Diagnosis (Lymphoma)          University of Washington/Rational
                                     Diagnostics
RNA Drug Targets                     Professor Gregory L. Verdine,
                                     Harvard University

Parasite
----------------------------------

Leishmania                           Seattle Biomedical Research
                                      Institute
Trypasonoma                          Seattle Biomedical Research
                                      Institute

The Acacia Technologies group licenses its Digital Media Transmission ("DMT") technology to media and electronics companies. The DMT technology covers the transmission and receipt of digital audio and digital video content, commonly known as audio on-demand, video on-demand, and audio/video streaming, and is supported by 5 U.S. and 17 international patents.

Acacia Research-Acacia Technologies (Nasdaq:ACTG) and Acacia Research-CombiMatrix (Nasdaq:CBMX) are both classes of common stock issued by Acacia Research Corporation and are intended to reflect the performance of the respective operating groups and are not issued by the operating groups.

Information about Acacia Research Corporation and the Acacia Technologies group is available at www.acaciaresearch.com. Information about the CombiMatrix group is available at www.combimatrix.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the recent economic slowdown affecting technology companies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid technological change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, legislative, regulatory and competitive developments and general economic conditions. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, and other SEC filings discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.