<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM IVAX
     CORPORATION'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1997,
     AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
       

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                              MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                         74,812
<SECURITIES>                                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                 207,912<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                                   271,124
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              690,427
<PP&E>                                                        423,538<F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                              1,338,433
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                         217,177
<BONDS>                                                       411,982
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                               0
<PREFERRED>                                                         0
<COMMON>                                                       12,148
<OTHER-SE>                                                    665,082
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                1,338,433
<SALES>                                                       284,550
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              284,550
<CGS>                                                         182,985
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                 182,985
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                              110,908
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                3,234
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              7,819
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                (9,688)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                   (3,221)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                            (7,939)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                     0
<CHANGES>                                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                                   (7,939)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    (.07)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                       0<F3>
<FN>
<F1> AMOUNT SHOWN IS NET OF ALLOWANCES.
<F2> AMOUNT SHOWN IS NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION.
<F3> AMOUNT IS ANTIDILUTIVE.
</FN>