CombiMatrix and the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology of the University of Tokyo Enter Into a Technology Access Collaboration and Purchasing Agreement.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--May 30, 2002

Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq:ACRI) announced today that its subsidiary CombiMatrix Corporation's Japanese subsidiary, has entered into a technology access collaboration and purchasing agreement with the Genome Science Laboratory at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) of the University of Tokyo. Under the terms of the agreement, the RCAST has installed a CombiMatrix gene chip synthesizer and entered into a multi-year agreement to purchase blank chips that will be used in the development of diagnostic microarray applications, drug lead development and target gene identification for the drug discovery industry.

The agreement includes a memorandum of understanding that in the event of the discovery or development of novel and valuable content, candidates or products, the parties will establish an agreement for the commercialization of those discoveries. Such an agreement enables both CombiMatrix and RCAST to benefit from the discoveries made using this platform. This agreement also enables CombiMatrix to continue to execute its strategy to leverage the strength of its partners to co-develop products.

Prof. Hiroyuki Aburatani, M.D. Ph.D., Director of the Genome Science Laboratory at RCAST said, "We are excited to have access to this new technology. We have years of experience working with several commercially available biochips and have developed several spotted array systems in house. The CombiMatrix system offers flexibility and customization of array design that has been unavailable on the market. We have developed genomic technology, proteomic technology and data that are important to the drug discovery market. The CombiMatrix system will allow us to very quickly verify our past results, change our probe sequences, and adjust our experimental designs to quickly and economically advance our research."

"We are excited to work closely with Prof. Aburatani who is the recognized leader in gene expression research in Japan," said Michael Chansler, Director of International Business Development at CombiMatrix. "Through our collaboration we have identified several areas of research that will lead to the development of unique data and products valuable to the clinical diagnostics product development and the pharmaceutical industry drug discovery and rescue efforts. The agreement to co-commercialize discoveries will further advance CombiMatrix's strategy to optimize value from its platform technology."

CombiMatrix KK is the subsidiary and exclusive supplier of CombiMatrix products in Japan. The CombiMatrix Custom Microarray Synthesizer allows pharmaceutical and life science researchers to specify gene targets, design and synthesize custom semiconductor based microarrays. All equipment, software and database technologies can be installed behind the firewall of the customer for privacy of data and speed of experimental design reiteration.

About RCAST Genome Science Laboratory

The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo was founded in 1987 with the long-term goal of revitalizing the science and technology fields of research and development through a new, interdisciplinary approach to basic research. The Genome Science Laboratory is a division of the Laboratory for Systems Biology and Medicine (LSBM) at RCAST, which is headed by Dr. Tatsuhiko Kodama. The LSBM group of laboratories research and develop new technology and intellectual property that is important in the genomic, proteomic and drug discovery industries.

About CombiMatrix

CombiMatrix is developing a platform technology that has a wide range of applications, from DNA synthesis/diagnostics to immunochemical detection. The platform allows the company 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. The company is designing its products principally to be responsive to the needs of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and academic researchers in analyzing raw genomic data in the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products. CombiMatrix's Web site is located at www.combimatrix.com.

About Acacia Research Corporation

Acacia Research develops, licenses and provides products for the life science and media technology sectors. Acacia licenses its V-chip technology to television manufacturers and owns pioneering technology for digital streaming and video-on-demand. Acacia's CombiMatrix subsidiary is developing a biochip technology for the life science market. Acacia Research's website is located at www.acaciaresearch.com.

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