<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SCHERING-PLOUGH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND RELATED EXHIBITS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 437200 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 571200 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 574100 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 2256500 <PP&E> 3284900 <DEPRECIATION> 1105200 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5196300 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2295800 <BONDS> 42000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 507400 <OTHER-SE> 1733000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5196300 <SALES> 4241500 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 4241500 <CGS> 807400 <TOTAL-COSTS> 807400 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 522800 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1239000 <INCOME-TAX> 303600 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 935400 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 935400 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.54 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.51