ADVANCED TOBACCO <ATPI> MERGER TALKS END Advanced Tobacco Products Inc said it has ended talks on being acquired by Sterling Drug Inc <STY> but has resumed acquisition 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 200,000 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.