	advanced tobacco atpi merger talks end advanced tobacco products inc said it has ended talks on being uired by sterling drug inc sty but has resumed uisition talks with other parties the company had previously announced that a major u s based company that it did not identify was evaluating its nicotine technology advanced said sterling s board has decided not to enter the nicotine product market it said it received a dlr payment to deal exclusively with sterling through march six advanced said it had suspended merger talks with other parties as a result of the exclusivity agreement reuter 
