An American trade association of companies involved in biotechnology and services to biotechnology companies (e.g., accounting, law, etc.). Formed in 1984, the ABC tended to consist of the smaller firms involved in biotechnology (and service firms that worked for all biotechnology companies). In 1993, the Association of Biotechnology Companies (ABC) was merged with the Industrial Biotechnology Association (IBA) to form the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).