<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM IVAX
     CORPORATION'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1996,
     AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                         7,925
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  411,513<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0      
<INVENTORY>                                    267,227
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               752,711
<PP&E>                                         396,416<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                 0      
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,426,471
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          237,777
<BONDS>                                        305,120
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0      
<PREFERRED>                                    0      
<COMMON>                                       12,026 
<OTHER-SE>                                     829,687
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,426,471
<SALES>                                        334,045
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               334,045
<CGS>                                          189,570
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  189,570
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0      
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               762    
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             5,691  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                44,213 
<INCOME-TAX>                                   6,133  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            35,896 
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0      
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (1)    
<CHANGES>                                      0      
<NET-INCOME>                                   35,895 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  .30    
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .30    
<FN>
<F1>AMOUNT SHOWN IS NET OF ALLOWANCES.
<F2>AMOUNT SHOWN IS NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION.
</FN>