<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR TEKELEC AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000790705
<NAME>                        TEKELEC
<MULTIPLIER>                                                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                                                    U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                  MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                         1
<CASH>                                                             19,996
<SECURITIES>                                                       12,032
<RECEIVABLES>                                                      18,660
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          411
<INVENTORY>                                                        11,131
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                   63,414
<PP&E>                                                             26,527
<DEPRECIATION>                                                     17,844
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     83,943
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                              19,853
<BONDS>                                                                 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                             0
<COMMON>                                                           58,557
<OTHER-SE>                                                          5,533
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                       83,943
<SALES>                                                            20,577
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                   20,577
<CGS>                                                               6,678
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       6,678
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                   12,035
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                      0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                     2,397
<INCOME-TAX>                                                          769
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                 1,628
<DISCONTINUED>                                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                         0
<CHANGES>                                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                                        1,628
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                        0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        0.12