<ARTICLE>                      5
<LEGEND>                                    
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  IVAX
CORPORATION'S FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                   1000
       
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                           SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                                     234,979
<SECURITIES>                                                     0
<RECEIVABLES>                                               86,289  <F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     0
<INVENTORY>                                                146,012
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           503,034
<PP&E>                                                     196,499  <F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             791,681
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      203,178
<BONDS>                                                     89,391
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                            0
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<COMMON>                                                    11,777
<OTHER-SE>                                                 450,381
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               791,681
<SALES>                                                    469,960
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                           469,960
<CGS>                                                      298,826
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              298,826
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                 0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             5,669
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           5,347
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             13,369
<INCOME-TAX>                                                 5,631
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                          7,404
<DISCONTINUED>                                              40,733
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                315
<CHANGES>                                                  (3,048)
<NET-INCOME>                                                45,404
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                  .38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                  .38
<FN>
<F1>  AMOUNT SHOWN IS NET OF ALLOWANCES.
<F2>  AMOUNT SHOWN IS NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION.
</FN>