CombiMatrix Molecular Diagnostics and University of California, Los Angeles Researchers to Collaborate on Gene-Based Melanoma Test.NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:CBMX) (Nasdaq:ACTG ACTG Acting ACTG AIDS Clinical Trial Group ACTG Actuating/Actuator ) announced today that CombiMatrix Molecular Diagnostics (CMD CMD cerebromacular degeneration. ), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CombiMatrix, will collaborate with Scott W. Binder, M.D. and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles UCLA comprises the College of Letters and Science (the primary undergraduate college), seven professional schools, and five professional Health Science schools. Since 2001, UCLA has enrolled over 33,000 total students, and that number is steadily rising. (UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX ) to develop a gene-based test for the diagnosis of malignant melanoma Malignant Melanoma Definition Malignant melanoma is a type of cancer arising from the melanocyte cells of the skin. Melanocytes are cells in the skin that produce a pigment called melanin. using routinely prepared formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material. In addition to collaborating on this project with CMD, Dr. Binder and his team at UCLA will provide clinically validated patient samples for the development and validation phase of the project. This new laboratory test will be designed to aid pathologists in discriminating between atypical pigmented moles and malignant melanoma. It will serve as an adjunct to traditional morphologic and immunohistochemical methods and will provide physicians with additional tools to diagnose and manage this complex disease. There are an estimated 60,000 new cases of melanoma reported in the U.S. every year and 8,000 melanoma-related deaths. It is the fastest growing cancer in the country, increasing at more than twice the rate of prostate cancer prostate cancer, cancer originating in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the leading malignancy in men in the United States and is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in men. and 3 times that of breast cancer, and it is responsible for 79% of all skin cancer-related deaths. "The average American's chances of developing melanoma will increase from 1 in 75 in the year 2000 to 1 in 50 by 2010," said David Baunoch, Ph.D., President and COO of CMD. "As such, it is becoming increasingly important for the clinical diagnostics community to provide pathologists with more effective tools to aid in the diagnosis and management of this vexing disease." "Our collaboration with CMD on this important project will combine UCLA's significant research capabilities with the power of CombiMatrix's next generation gene microarrays to develop a clinical molecular test that will help us more accurately diagnose melanoma and improve patient outcomes," said Dr. Binder. "We are excited about this project, and the early progress we have made in developing the protocols," said Matt Watson, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of CMD. "Assuming that we are able to gain CLIA CLIA Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 Congressional legislation that promulgated quality assurance practices in clinical labs, and required them to measure performance at each step of the testing process from the beginning to the end-point of a certification in early 2006, and our development efforts proceed as planned, we hope to have this test available to physicians and patients by the middle of 2006." 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 arrays, which are semiconductor-based tools for use in identifying and determining the roles of genes, gene mutations and proteins. The CombiMatrix's group's technology has a wide range of potential applications in the areas of genomics, proteomics, biosensors, drug discovery, drug development, diagnostics, combinatorial chemistry, material sciences and nanotechnology. The Acacia Technologies group develops, acquires, and licenses patented technologies. Acacia controls 34 patent portfolios, which include over 130 U.S. patents, and certain foreign counterparts, covering technologies used in a wide variety of industries including audio/video enhancement & synchronization, broadcast data retrieval, computer memory cache coherency, credit card fraud Credit card fraud is a wide-ranging term for theft and fraud committed using a credit card or any similar payment mechanism as a fraudulent source of funds in a transaction. The purpose may be to obtain goods without paying, or to obtain unauthorized funds from an account. protection, database management, data encryption & product activation, digital media transmission (DMT See DSL. (R)), digital video production, dynamic manufacturing modeling, enhanced Internet navigation, high resolution optics, image resolution enhancement, interactive data sharing, interactive television, hearing aid ECS See eComStation. , interstitial Internet advertising, laptop docking station connectivity, microprocessor enhancement, multi-dimensional bar codes, network data storage, resource scheduling, rotational video imaging and spreadsheet automation. 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 the Acacia Technologies Group and the CombiMatrix Group is available at www.acaciaresearch.com. Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and 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 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 Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 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. |
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