EXHIBIT 99.1

                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

               MERGER AGREEMENT BETWEEN IVAX AND BERGEN TERMINATED

         Miami, Florida, March 20, 1997 -- IVAX Corporation (AMEX:IVX) today
announced that Bergen Brunswig Corporation has unilaterally terminated, without
good cause, the previously announced merger agreement between IVAX and Bergen.

         "Although we saw great opportunity in a merger of equals with Bergen,
we are prepared to proceed on an independent basis," said Phillip Frost, IVAX
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Recognizing the possibility that the
Bergen merger might not be approved or completed, we developed, together with
our advisors, a number of contingency strategies geared towards the success of
an independent IVAX, and look forward to announcing and implementing those
strategies in the near term."

         "I joined IVAX only a few weeks ago, but in that short time I have been
tremendously impressed with the quality of IVAX' people and technologies," said
Robert C. Strauss, IVAX' new President and Chief Operating Officer. "Despite
today's developments, I am very positive about IVAX' prospects, and hold great
enthusiasm for IVAX' future."

         IVAX Corporation, headquartered in Miami Florida, is a holding company
with subsidiaries engaged primarily in the research, development, manufacture
and marketing of health care products, including generic and branded
pharmaceuticals, intravenous solutions and related products, and IN VITRO
diagnostics.

         EXCEPT FOR THE HISTORICAL MATTERS CONTAINED HEREIN, STATEMENTS IN THIS
PRESS RELEASE ARE FORWARD LOOKING AND ARE MADE PURSUANT TO THE SAFE HARBOR
PROVISIONS OF THE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. INVESTORS ARE
CAUTIONED THAT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES WHICH
MAY AFFECT IVAX' BUSINESS AND PROSPECTS, INCLUDING ECONOMIC, COMPETITIVE,
GOVERNMENTAL, TECHNOLOGICAL AND OTHER FACTORS DISCUSSED IN IVAX' FILINGS WITH
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.



                                         CONTACT: Joseph C. Jones
                                                  Vice President -
                                                  Corporate Communications
                                                  IVAX Corporation
                                                  305-575-6042

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