Amersham International merges its Life Science division with Pharmacia & Upjohn's Pharmacia Biotech in a 55:45 joint venture, forming Amersham Pharmacia Biotech. Three weeks later, Amersham International merges with Nycomed to form Nycomed Amersham plc and the Nycomed Amersham Imaging business. The new company has combined revenues of £1.5 billion and focuses on its two world leading businesses in life sciences and diagnostic imaging.