<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, 1997, JUNE 30, 1997, SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, AND FOR THE THREE, SIX
AND NINE MONTH PERIODS THEN ENDED, AND AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997, 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-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997             DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          59,662                  39,766                  40,647                  49,877
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   16,505                  14,260                  17,351                  17,885
<ALLOWANCES>                                       399                     411                     420                   1,196
<INVENTORY>                                     15,040                  14,063                  17,025                  15,357
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                93,646                  70,639                  77,414                  85,113
<PP&E>                                          30,367                  33,136                  33,424                  35,047
<DEPRECIATION>                                   5,897                   6,333                   6,953                   7,504
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 189,899                 189,980                 197,046                 204,228
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           15,109                   9,395                   9,048                   6,580
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,143                   1,145                   1,145                   1,146
<OTHER-SE>                                     168,355                 174,158                 181,571                 190,580
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   184,889                 189,980                 197,046                 204,228
<SALES>                                         21,637                  40,636                  62,804                  88,781
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                21,637                  40,636                  62,804                  88,781
<CGS>                                            4,846                  11,909                  18,024                  25,430
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    4,846                  11,909                  18,024                  25,430
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    11                      23                      32                     809
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  89                     179                     238                     238
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 10,434                  17,824                  28,092                  40,395
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,965                   6,773                  10,675                  15,351
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              6,469                  11,051                  17,417                  25,044
<DISCONTINUED>                                   1,649                   3,443                   5,194                   6,926
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,118                  14,494                  22,611                  31,970
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.29                     .51                     .79                    1.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.28                     .50                     .78                    1.09


</TABLE>