CombiMatrix Updates Influenza Array with New Flu Sequences from the Centers for Disease Control
BIOWIRE
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Has Released Sequences from Influenza Strains Including Those from the Recent Human Deaths in Indonesia
Acacia Research Corporation announced today that its CombiMatrix group (Nasdaq:CBMX) (Nasdaq:ACTG) is making available an updated version of its Influenza A Array. Incorporated into version 3.0 are the new sequences that have been released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which include the strains from the recent infections and deaths in Indonesia.
For more information about the CDC’s release, see the following link: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CDC_FLU_GENES?SITE=AP& SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-08-23-01-15-16. (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser’s address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)
CombiMatrix’s arrays are being used today in various testing programs in different regions of the world to track Eurasian avian influenza H5N1, or bird flu. These tests are utilizing version 2.0 of the Influenza A Array. Subsequent programs will utilize version 3.0 and other updated versions that CombiMatrix will make available as new sequence and mutation information becomes public.
As before, the new Influenza A Microarray can identify all strains of Influenza A, including bird and human varieties. By tracking changes in genetic makeup of the virus, this array can differentiate highly pathogenic from less-lethal flu strains and can identify strains that may be resistant to drug therapy.
“Again we demonstrate the strength of our technology in taking the most up-to-date genetic information and incorporating it into an array that can be used for research and diagnostics,” said Dr. Amit Kumar, President and CEO of CombiMatrix. “We applaud the CDC in its effort to make this information public, and we support its efforts as well as that of the WHO in encouraging other labs around the world to do the same.”
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 CUSTOMARRAYS(TM), 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 46 patent portfolios covering technologies used in a wide variety of industries including audio/video enhancement & synchronization, broadcast data retrieval, computer memory cache coherency, credit card fraud protection, database management, data encryption & product activation, digital media transmission (DMT(R)), digital video production, dynamic manufacturing modeling, enhanced Internet navigation, hearing aid ECS, image resolution enhancement, interactive data sharing, interactive television, laptop docking station connectivity, microprocessor enhancement, multi-dimensional bar codes, network data storage, resource scheduling, rotational video imaging, spreadsheet automation, user activated Internet advertising and web conferencing & collaboration software.
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.
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