Abbott's acquisition of Ibis Biosciences clears US anti-trust

US health care major Abbott Laboratories has received clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 for its  purchase of the remaining equity ownership in Ibis Biosciences, an Isis  subsidiary, which was a key condition to Abbott's acquisition of Ibis.

Abbott recently exercised its option to purchase Ibis (Marketletter  December 22, 2008). The closing of the acquisition is subject to the  satisfaction of other terms and conditions of a stock purchase agreement  between the parties and is expected to occur in January.