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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): July 21, 1999




                          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 July 21, 1999, Quintiles Transnational Corp. (the "Company") issued
a press release regarding its financial results for the period ended June 30,
1999. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.01 and
incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 7.

         (c)  EXHIBITS

         Exhibit No.              Description of Exhibit
         -----------              ----------------------

         99.01                    Press release, dated July 21, 1999.


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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/ Rachel R. Selisker
                                           ----------------------------------
Dated: July 21, 1999                           Rachel R. Selisker
                                               Chief Financial Officer and
                                               Executive Vice President Finance



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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



         Exhibit No.                     Description of Exhibit
         -----------                     ----------------------

         99.01                           Press release, dated July 21, 1999