At the final annual meeting of the International BiotechnologyAssociation (IBA), members voted unanimously to merge withthe Association of Biotechnology Companies (ABC). The newentity is called the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

ABC will vote on the merger at its own final annual meeting inApril. The result of that vote, like the IBA vote, is a forgoneconclusion. The two biotechnology trade organizations haveestablished a joint committee, consisting of five board-appointed officials from each to iron out any remaining policydisagreements. This will be an easy task, said IBA spokesmanEric ChristiansEn, since IBA and ABC "are really not that farapart on much."

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