QUEST BIOTECHNOLOGY <QBIO> UNIT IN MERGER PACT Quest Biotechnology Inc said its new subsidiary, Quest Blood Substitute Inc, signed the agreement and plan of merger with Hunt Research Corp and its affiliate, ICAS Corp. It said Quest Blood expects to complete the merger within the next several weeks. Terms were not disclosed. In a related transaction, Quest Blood said it executed an agreement with Alza Corp, which will make Alza a preferred shareholder of Quest Blood and offer Alza the right to acquire a total equity position of up to 25 pct of Quest Blood in exchange for acquisition of patent rights to Alza technology.