<TABLE> <S> <C>


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

<MULTIPLIER>                   1,000
       

<S>                                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                 6-MOS

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                                     DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                                          JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                                                                     88,396
<SECURITIES>                                                                                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                                             148,282  <F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                                                                    0
<INVENTORY>                                                                               177,100
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                                          564,238
<PP&E>                                                                                    204,868  <F2>
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                                            893,444
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                                     143,902
<BONDS>                                                                                   104,574
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                                           0
<PREFERRED>                                                                                     0
<COMMON>                                                                                   12,150
<OTHER-SE>                                                                                607,524
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                                              893,444
<SALES>                                                                                   340,707
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                                          340,707
<CGS>                                                                                     229,986
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                                             229,986
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                                          169,943
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                                            3,046
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                                         10,920
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                                          (61,682)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                                (647)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                                      (63,916)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                                             10,600
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                           (2,137)
<CHANGES>                                                                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                                                             (55,453)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                                               (.46)
<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>
        

</TABLE>