<ARTICLE>                                   5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM IVAX
CORPORATION'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                   1000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                     SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                               117,141
<SECURITIES>                                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        125,042  <F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                               0
<INVENTORY>                                          156,250
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     551,501
<PP&E>                                               199,275  <F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                             0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       841,770
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                178,651
<BONDS>                                              104,467
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                              12,151
<OTHER-SE>                                           515,044
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         841,770
<SALES>                                              467,064
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     467,064
<CGS>                                                343,582
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        343,582
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     248,725
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       4,917
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    12,256
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     (83,171)
<INCOME-TAX>                                          55,913
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                (142,670)
<DISCONTINUED>                                         (780)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      (2,137)
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                       (145,587)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         (1.20)
<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 ANTI-DILUTIVE.
</FN>