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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
                                January 25, 2001





                          QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


 NORTH CAROLINA                340-23520                       56-1714315
 (State or other         (Commission File No.)               I.R.S. Employer
  jurisdiction                                            Identification Number
of incorporation)



             4709 CREEKSTONE DRIVE, RIVERBIRCH BUILDING, SUITE 200,
                        DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA 27703-8411
                    (Address of principal executive offices)



                                 (919) 998-2000
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                       N/A
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)




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ITEM 5.           OTHER EVENTS.

         On January 24, 2001, Quintiles Transnational Corp. issued a press
release regarding its financial results for the period ended December 31, 2000.
A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.01 and incorporated
by reference herein.




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ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      Exhibits.

Exhibit Number             Description of Exhibit
- --------------             ----------------------

99.01                      Press Release, dated January 24, 2001, of Quintiles
                           Transnational Corp.


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                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                    QUINTILES TRANSNATIONAL CORP.



                                    By: /s/ James L. Bierman
                                        ----------------------------------------
Dated: January 25, 2001                 James L. Bierman
                                        Chief Financial Officer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number             Description of Exhibit
- --------------             ----------------------

99.01                      Press Release, dated January 24, 2001, of Quintiles
                           Transnational Corp