<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM JONES MEDICAL
INDUSTRIES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME AS OF
MARCH 31, 1996, JUNE 30, 1996, SEPTEMBER 30, 1996, AND FOR THE THREE, SIX
AND NINE MONTH PERIODS THEN ENDED, AND AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996, AND FOR THE
TWELVE MONTH PERIOD THEN ENDED.  THIS SCHEDULE IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996             SEP-30-1996             DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                           8,827                  57,890                  46,518                  52,172
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    9,230                  11,536                  10,577                  11,689
<ALLOWANCES>                                       230                     244                     252                     388
<INVENTORY>                                     14,939                  14,212                  12,895                  12,753
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                35,565                  86,084                  72,356                  80,551
<PP&E>                                          23,468                  24,620                  27,588                  29,591
<DEPRECIATION>                                   4,360                   4,672                   4,840                   5,421
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 115,056                 166,482                 154,885                 177,233
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           41,724                  21,652                   8,950                  10,032
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           979                   1,119                   1,120                   1,137
<OTHER-SE>                                      59,654                 136,184                 140,288                 160,782
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   115,056                 166,482                 154,885                 177,233
<SALES>                                         12,321                  28,739                  46,261                  64,181
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                12,321                  28,739                  46,261                  64,181
<CGS>                                            4,306                   4,855                   6,105                  20,277
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    4,306                   4,855                   6,105                  20,277
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    32                      54                      64                     200
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 262                     364                     472                     553
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  3,296                  10,572                  10,825                  19,750
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,371                   4,398                   4,519                   8,232
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,925                   6,174                   6,306                  11,518
<DISCONTINUED>                                   1,824                   3,413                   5,070                   6,621
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     3,749                   9,587                  11,376                  18,139
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .15                     .36                     .42                    0.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .15                     .35                     .41                    0.65


</TABLE>