<ARTICLE>           5

<LEGEND>


Exhibit 27
                              Financial Data Schedule
                      Mylan Laboratories Inc. and Subsidiaries
                             Article 5 of Regulation S-X


The  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information   extracted  from  the
Consolidated  Balance Sheet at December 31, 1998 and the Consolidated  Statement
of Earnings for the nine months ended  December 31, 1998 and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>

<CIK>                                 0000069499  
<NAME>                                   none
                                          
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                          9-MOS            
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     MAR-31-1999             

<PERIOD-END>                          DEC-31-1998              
                                               
<CASH>                                    188,114             
<SECURITIES>                               17,061             
<RECEIVABLES>                             188,999             
<ALLOWANCES>                               38,239             
<INVENTORY>                               146,989             
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                          531,326             
<PP&E>                                    239,324             
<DEPRECIATION>                             86,828             
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                          1,158,313             
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                      90,087             
<BONDS>                                    30,648             
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                   64,884
<OTHER-SE>                                959,066             
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>            1,158,313             
<SALES>                                   530,505             
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                          530,505             
<CGS>                                     253,591             
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             253,591
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          158,171         
<LOSS-PROVISION>                              530         
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                          1,390         
<INCOME-PRETAX>                           136,735         
<INCOME-TAX>                               57,184         
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        79,551         
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0         
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0      
<CHANGES>                                      0      
<NET-INCOME>                               79,551      
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 .64         
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 .63