MUKILTEO-CombiMatrix Corp., a developer of genetic research tools, has won a $2.2 million contract from the federal government to continue work on biological and chemical weapons detection.
“We continue to develop additional products, including those being funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, to ensure a broad and integrated suite of tools to detect and to identify threats to the health of humans and animals regardless of their origin,” said Amit Kumar, president and chief executive of CombiMatrix.
Based in Mukilteo, CombiMatrix previously has worked with the U.S. Department of Defense on products that detect toxins, bacteria and viruses. Unique to this platform is its “on chip” electrochemical detection process, which eliminates the need for expensive, less-portable optical instruments. These systems are in use at several military and government laboratories as well as civilian installations.
The federal agency awarded CombiMatrix a one-year contract, announced Tuesday.
CombiMatrix’s David Danley, who directs the company’s efforts on Homeland Security and Defense programs, points to the recent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom as evidence that governments around the world should further the advancement of such multipathogen- and chemical- detection systems.
“Although the terrorist activity utilized explosives, the threat of chemical or biological weapons persists,” Danley said. “Our products are being designed to address biothreat agents as well as infectious diseases of public-health concern, including influenza A and the ‘bird flu’ subtype along with other upper-respiratory infections.”
On Aug. 15, CombiMatrix, which deals mostly in biotechnology and nanotechnology, will spin off from its parent company, Acacia Research Corp., which focuses mostly on digital audio, video and data technology. CombiMatrix has struggled financially recently but raised about $5 million from a stock sale.
The company’s stock ended Tuesday’s trading at 66 cents a share, up less than 1 percent for the day.
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