CombiMatrix

CombiMatrix Corporation operated as a clinical diagnostic laboratory focused on providing sophisticated molecular diagnostic solutions. The company's core business revolved around DNA-based testing to detect genetic abnormalities, serving specialized medical fields. Its primary clients were healthcare professionals, particularly those in reproductive endocrinology, IVF clinics, and pediatrics, who used the company's tests to guide patient care decisions.

The company's history began in the mid-1990s with the invention of a proprietary microarray technology, which analyzed and immobilized genetic material on a modified semiconductor wafer. In 2002, CombiMatrix merged with and became a subsidiary of Acacia Research Corporation. A significant milestone occurred in August 2007, when CombiMatrix spun out from Acacia to become an independent public company. Dr. Amit Kumar, an experienced scientist and executive, led the company as President and CEO from 2001 to 2010, taking it public on the NASDAQ. His background includes a Ph.D. from Caltech, a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard, and experience in venture capital, which shaped the company's research-oriented and commercial strategies. Initially, the firm also explored applications in oncology diagnostics. However, by 2012, CombiMatrix had sharpened its focus to developmental testing, concentrating on reproductive health.

CombiMatrix provided a range of services centered on cytogenetic and cytogenomic technologies. This included pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) for couples undergoing IVF, comprehensive miscarriage analysis to identify chromosomal causes of pregnancy loss, as well as prenatal and pediatric diagnostics for developmental disorders. The company utilized advanced techniques such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chromosomal microarray analysis and next-generation sequencing. A key product was the CombiPGS test, which screened embryo biopsy cells for abnormalities prior to implantation. This service was distinguished by a per-embryo pricing model, a unique approach in the market at the time.

In a strategic move to create a comprehensive genetic information platform, Invitae Corporation acquired CombiMatrix in November 2017. The acquisition, valued at an enterprise total of approximately $34.9 million, combined CombiMatrix's expertise in prenatal and perinatal genetics with Invitae's broader genetic testing portfolio. Following the acquisition, CombiMatrix became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Invitae, and its stock was delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Keywords: CombiMatrix, genetic diagnostics, molecular diagnostics, prenatal diagnosis, miscarriage analysis, pediatric developmental disorders, pre-implantation genetic screening, chromosomal microarray analysis, cytogenomics, next-generation sequencing, reproductive health, DNA testing, Invitae acquisition, Amit Kumar, IVF genetic testing, SNP array, perinatal genetics, clinical laboratory services, genetic abnormality detection, cytogenetics