<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
                             EXHIBIT No. 27

            APPLIED BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                     (in thousands, except share data)

     This schedule contains summary financial information extract from the
Applied Bioscience International Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheet and Statement
of Operations included within this Form 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1995
<CASH>                                           4,927
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   64,769
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,356
<INVENTORY>                                      1,249
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                75,354
<PP&E>                                         139,170
<DEPRECIATION>                                  57,673
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 172,686
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           57,291
<BONDS>                                         33,761
<COMMON>                                           295
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                      68,534
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   172,686
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                93,665
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   66,230
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                24,062
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   240
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,647
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  2,123
<INCOME-TAX>                                       912
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,211
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,211
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.04