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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): September 11, 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 September 11, 2001, Quintiles Transnational Corp. issued the press
release 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 September 11, 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: September 11, 2001                          James L. Bierman
                                                   Chief Financial Officer



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


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

99.01                      Press Release, dated September 11, 2001, of Quintiles
                           Transnational Corp.