CombiMatrix Names Dr. Camran Nezhat of Stanford University, School of Medicine, to Its Scientific Advisory Board.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2003

Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:CBMX)(Nasdaq:ACTG) announced today that CombiMatrix has named internationally renowned pioneer surgeon, Dr. Camran Nezhat, M.D. of Stanford University, to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Nezhat has co-authored two textbooks (Operative Gynecologic Laparoscopy, McGraw-Hill, 2000, and Endometriosis: Advanced Techniques and Surgical Management, Springer Verlag, 1995) and many scientific papers and has received numerous awards.

In the late '70s, Dr. Nezhat introduced a technique known as video laparoscopy that has revolutionized modern abdominal and pelvic surgery. He has pioneered numerous minimally invasive surgical techniques and has trained hundreds of surgeons. Dr. Nezhat is also one of the world's experts in endometriosis, fibroids, and other women's health issues.

"I look forward to working with CombiMatrix and providing guidance and advice as they develop diagnostic and therapeutic applications utilizing their microarray platform," said Dr. Nezhat. "I am impressed by the power and flexibility of CombiMatrix's array technology and believe the company is uniquely positioned. I look forward to contributing to the company's growth and to working with the other advisory board members."

"We are pleased to have Dr. Nezhat join our advisory board," said Amit Kumar, Ph.D., President and CEO of CombiMatrix. "His knowledge and insight will be invaluable as we continue to develop our technology for multiple applications."

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, drug discovery, and immunochemical detection. CombiMatrix's Express Track(SM) and siRNA Solutions(TM) are approaches to target 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 partnerships to expand the use
and applications of its arrays. These partnerships include:

Project                             Collaborator

Cancer Diagnosis (Lymphoma)         University of Washington/Rational
                                    Diagnostics

The Acacia Technologies group licenses its DMT and V-Chip technologies 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.