ICN PHARMACEUTICALS INC
S-3/A, 1997-12-19
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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                  As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
                                                 on December 19, 1997
                                          Registration No. 333 - 38901
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------

                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                        ----------------------

                          AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

                               FORM S-3

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                 UNDER

                      THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                       ICN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

        (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                Delaware                           33-0628076
      (State or Other Jurisdiction              (I.R.S. Employer
    of Incorporation or Organization)          Identification No.)  

                          3300 Hyland Avenue
                     Costa Mesa, California 92626
                            (714) 545-0100
          (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
  Including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                              Copies To:
                             David C. Watt
   Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
                       ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                          3300 Hyland Avenue
                     Costa Mesa, California 92626
                            (714) 545-0100
       (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
              Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From
time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

     If the only  securities  being  registered on this form are being
offered pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment  plans,  please
check the following box. [ ]

     If any of the securities  being registered on this form are to be
offered on a delayed or  continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under
the  Securities  Act of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in
connection  with dividend or interest  reinvestment  plans,  check the
following box. [X]

     If this Form is filed to register  additional  securities  for an
offering  pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities  Act, check the
following  box and  list the  Securities  Act  registration  statement
number of the earlier  effective  registration  statement for the same
offering. [ ]

     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities  Act, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration  statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]

     If delivery of the  prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to
Rule 434, please check the following box: [ ]

<TABLE>
                    Calculation of Registration Fee
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                               Proposed       Proposed
                                               Maximum        Maximum
Title of Each Class                            Offering       Aggregate   
of Securities to be     Amount to be           Price Per      Offering           Amount of 
Registered (FN1)        Registered             Share          Price              Registration Fee
- -------------------     ------------------     ----------     --------------     ----------------
<S>                     <C>                    <C>            <C>                <C>         
Common Stock,           551,595 shares (FN2)   $47.16 (FN3)   $26,011,151.72     $7,882.17 (FN4)
$.01 par value per
share

Common Stock, $.01      78,518 shares (FN2)    $49.56 (FN5)   $3,891,352.08      $1,147.95
par value per share
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<FN>
(1)  Also includes associated Preferred Stock Purchase Rights.

(2)  Pursuant  to Rule 416,  an  indeterminate  number  of  additional
     shares of  Common  Stock are  registered  hereunder  which may be
     issued in the event that applicable  antidilution provisions with
     respect to the exchange of the  Certificates  or the terms of the
     Warrants (as applicable) become operative.

(3)  The  offering  price  per share was  estimated  pursuant  to Rule
     457(c) solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
     and is based upon the average of the high and low price of shares
     of Common  Stock as  reported  on the New York Stock  Exchange on
     October 27, 1997 (which date was within five  business days prior
     to  the  date  of  the  initial   filing  of  this   Registration
     Statement).

(4)  A fee of  $7,882.17  was paid  upon the  initial  filing  of this
     Registration Statement on October 28, 1997.

(5)  The offering  price is estimated  pursuant to Rule 457(c)  solely
     for the purpose of calculating the  registration fee and is based
     upon the  average  of the high and low  price of shares of Common
     Stock as reported on the New York Stock  Exchange on December 16,
     1997 (which date is within five  business  days prior to the date
     of the filing of this Registration Statement).
</FN>
</TABLE>

     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH
DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE  NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS  EFFECTIVE  DATE UNTIL
THE  REGISTRANT  SHALL  FILE A FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH  SPECIFICALLY
STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME
EFFECTIVE IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF
1933 OR UNTIL THE  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME  EFFECTIVE ON
SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT
TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.




Subject to Completion, Dated December 19, 1997

PROSPECTUS

                       ICN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                    630,113 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

     This  Prospectus  relates to up to 46,818 shares of Common Stock,
par  value   $0.01   per   share   (the   "Common   Stock"),   of  ICN
Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.,   a  Delaware   corporation   ("ICN"  or  the
"Company"),   issuable  by  the  Company  upon  the  exercise  of  its
outstanding five-year representatives warrants (the "Warrants") issued
to H.J.  Meyers & Co., Inc.  ("Meyers") or its designees (the "Warrant
holders").  The Warrants are exercisable until January 27, 1998, at an
exercise  price  of  $18.7151.  This  Prospectus  also  relates  to an
offering  of up to 551,595  shares of Common  Stock that may be issued
upon the exchange of the new and old Bio Capital  Holding  Swiss Franc
Exchangeable  Certificates  due February 17,  2002,  in the  aggregate
principal   amounts  of  Swiss  Francs   37,870,000   and   1,745,000,
respectively  (collectively,  the  "Certificates"),   of  Bio  Capital
Holding, a Guernsey,  Channel Islands trust. Cash will be paid in lieu
of  fractional  shares  upon  the  exchange  of  the  Warrants  or the
Certificates.

     In  addition,  this  Prospectus  relates  to the  resale of up to
31,700  shares (the  "Rzeszow  Shares") of Common  Stock that may from
time to time be  offered or sold by certain  employees  (the  "Rzeszow
Employees") of Polfa Rzeszow S.A. ("Rzeszow"), a Polish pharmaceutical
company.

     The Warrants were issued originally by Viratek,  Inc. ("Viratek")
in connection with an offering by Viratek of units. From and after the
combination   on   November   10,   1994   (the   "Merger")   of   ICN
Pharmaceuticals,   Inc.  ("Old  ICN"),  SPI  Pharmaceuticals  ("SPI"),
Viratek, and ICN Biomedicals, Inc. ("Biomedicals") (collectively,  the
"Predecessor  Companies"),  the  Warrants and  Certificates  have been
exchangeable  into shares of Common  Stock.  In  conjunction  with the
Merger,  SPI, Old ICN and Viratek  merged into ICN Merger  Corp.,  and
Biomedicals   merged  into  ICN  Subsidiary   Corp.,  a  wholly  owned
subsidiary of ICN Merger Corp.,  and ICN Merger Corp.  was renamed ICN
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

     As of  December  16,  1997,  the new and  old  Certificates  were
exchangeable  into  Common  Stock at prices of  $47.146  and  $81.259,
respectively,  per share,  subject to adjustment for dilutive  issues.
Accordingly,  each new and old  Certificate  representing  5000  Swiss
Francs  principal amount is exercisable into 70.99 and 39.96 shares of
Common Stock, respectively. For the purposes of calculating the number
of shares issued on exchange of the  Certificates,  the exchange rates
of 1.494 and 1.59 Swiss Francs per U.S. Dollar are used throughout the
life of the new and old Certificates, respectively.

     In  connection  with  ICN's  acquisition  of an 80%  interest  in
Rzeszow,  ICN  agreed  to issue the  Rzeszow  Shares  covered  by this
Prospectus to the Rzeszow Employees. The offer and sale of the Rzeszow
Shares to the Rzeszow Employees will be made outside the United States
in  compliance  with  Regulation S of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act").

     The Company has agreed to bear all  expenses in  connection  with
the registration of the Common Stock on behalf of the Warrant holders,
the Certificate holders, and the Rzeszow Employees.

     The  Rzeszow   Employees  and  any   broker-dealers,   agents  or
underwriters  that  participate  with  the  Rzeszow  Employees  in the
distribution of the Rzeszow Shares may be deemed to be  "underwriters"
within the meaning of the Securities Act and any commissions  received
by such  broker-dealers,  agents or underwriters and any profit on the
resale of the  Rzeszow  Shares  purchased  by them may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

     The  Common  Stock  is  traded  on the New  York  Stock  Exchange
("NYSE")  under the symbol  "ICN." On December 16,  1997,  the closing
sale price per share, as reported by the NYSE, was $49.9375.

     The  Rzeszow  Shares may be sold from time to time by the Rzeszow
Employees,  or, in certain cases,  by their  transferees or assignees.
Such sales may be made in the over-the-counter  market, on the NYSE or
other  exchanges (if the Common Stock is listed for trading  thereon),
or otherwise at prices and at terms then prevailing, at prices related
to the then current market price or at negotiated  prices. The Rzeszow
Shares may be sold by any one or more of the following methods:  (a) a
block trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged  will  attempt to
sell the  securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of
the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (b) purchases by
a broker or dealer as  principal  and resale by such  broker or dealer
for its account; (c) ordinary brokerage  transactions and transactions
in which the broker solicits purchasers;  and (d) privately negotiated
transactions.  In addition,  any Rzeszow  Shares that qualify for sale
pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144 rather  than  pursuant
to this Prospectus.

     AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY  INVOLVES A HIGH
DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS."

     THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION
NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS  PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

          The Date of this Prospectus is _____________, 1997.


Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
Registration Statement relating to these securities has been filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These Securities may not
be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the
Registration Statement becomes effective. This Prospectus shall not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor
shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in
which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to
registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction.


                         AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     The Company is subject to the  informational  requirements of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
in accordance  therewith  files  reports,  proxy  statements and other
information   with  the  Securities  and  Exchange   Commission   (the
"Commission"  or "SEC").  Such  reports,  proxy  statements  and other
information  filed by the Company may be inspected and copies obtained
(at prescribed rates) at the public reference facilities maintained by
the  Commission  in  Washington,  D.C.  at  450  Fifth  Street,  N.W.,
Judiciary  Plaza,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  and at the  Commission's
Regional Offices in New York, at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New
York, New York 10048,  and in Chicago,  at Citicorp  Center,  500 West
Madison Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago,  Illinois 60661. Copies of such
material  can be obtained  (at  prescribed  rates),  by writing to the
Public Reference  Section of the Commission,  450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C. 20549.  Such material also is available  through the
Commission's Website  (http://www.sec.gov).  Such material also can be
inspected at the NYSE, 20 Broad Street,  New York, New York 10005,  on
which the Common Stock is listed.

     This  Prospectus is part of a Registration  Statement on Form S-3
(together with all amendments and exhibits thereto,  the "Registration
Statement")  filed  by the  Company  with  the  Commission  under  the
Securities Act with respect to the Common Stock.  This Prospectus does
not contain all the information set forth or incorporated by reference
in the Registration  Statement and the exhibits and schedules relating
thereto,  certain  portions of which have been omitted as permitted by
the Commission's rules and regulations.  For further  information with
respect to the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby,  reference
is made to the  Registration  Statement and the exhibits thereto which
are on file at the offices of the  Commission and may be obtained upon
payment of the fee prescribed by the Commission as described above.

            INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following reports and documents filed by the Company with the
Commission  pursuant to the  Exchange Act are  incorporated  into this
Prospectus by reference as of their respective dates:

     1.   Annual  Report  on Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended
          December 31, 1996,  dated March 31, 1997, as amended by Form
          10-K/A, dated July 24, 1997.

     2.   Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  three  months  ended
          March 31, 1997, dated May 15, 1997.

     3.   Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  three  months  ended
          June 30, 1997, dated August 14, 1997.

     4.   Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  three  months  ended
          September 30, 1997, dated November 14, 1997.

     5.   Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 18, 1997.

     6.   The description of the Common Stock and associated Preferred
          Stock  Purchase   Rights   contained  in  the   Registration
          Statement on Form 8-A, dated November 10 ,1994.

     All reports and other documents filed by the Company  pursuant to
Sections  13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to
the  date of this  Prospectus  and  prior  to the  termination  of the
offering  of the  Common  Stock  pursuant  to  this  Prospectus  (this
"Offering")  shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by reference in this
Prospectus  and to be a part  hereof  from the date of  filing of such
reports and documents.  Any statement  contained herein or in a report
or  document  incorporated  or  deemed  to be  incorporated  herein by
reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Prospectus to the extent that a statement  contained herein or in
any  subsequently  filed report or document that is or is deemed to be
incorporated   by  reference   herein   modifies  or  supersedes  such
statement.  Any  statement  so  modified  or  superseded  shall not be
deemed,  except as so modified or superseded,  to constitute a part of
this Prospectus.

     The making of a modifying or superseding  statement  shall not be
deemed an admission  for any purpose  that the modified or  superseded
statement,  when  made,  constituted  a  misrepresentation,  an untrue
statement of a material  fact or an omission to state a material  fact
that is required to be stated or that is necessary to make a statement
not misleading in light of the circumstances in which it was made.

     THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE,  WITHOUT CHARGE, TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM
A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, ON THE REQUEST OF SUCH PERSON,
A COPY OF ANY OR ALL OF THE REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS  INCORPORATED HEREIN
BY REFERENCE  (OTHER THAN EXHIBITS  THERETO,  UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE
SPECIFICALLY   INCORPORATED   BY   REFERENCE   INTO  SUCH  REPORTS  OR
DOCUMENTS).  WRITTEN  REQUESTS  FOR SUCH COPIES  SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO
DAVID C. WATT, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND CORPORATE
SECRETARY, ICN PHARMACEUTICALS,  INC., 3300 HYLAND AVENUE, COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA 92626. TELEPHONE INQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO DAVID C. WATT
AT (714) 545-0100.

                              THE COMPANY

     ICN is a  multinational  pharmaceutical  company  that  develops,
manufactures,  distributes  and  sells  pharmaceutical,  research  and
diagnostic products and provides radiation  monitoring  services.  The
Company pursues a strategy of  international  expansion which includes
(i) the consolidation of the Company's  leadership position in Eastern
Europe and Russia;  (ii) the  acquisition of high margin products that
complement existing product lines and can be registered and introduced
into  additional  markets to meet the specific needs of those markets;
and (iii) the creation of a pipeline of new products  through internal
research  and  development,  as well  as  strategic  partnerships  and
licensing  arrangements.  References to ICN or the Company include the
subsidiaries of ICN, unless the context requires otherwise.

     The Company  distributes  and sells a broad range of prescription
and  over-the-counter  pharmaceutical and nutritional products in over
60 countries  worldwide,  primarily in North  America,  Latin America,
Western Europe and Eastern Europe. These pharmaceutical products treat
viral and  bacterial  infections,  diseases  of the  skin,  myasthenia
gravis,  cancer,  cardiovascular  disease,  diabetes  and  psychiatric
disorders.   Among  the  Company's  products  is  the  broad  spectrum
antiviral  agent  ribavirin,  which is marketed in the United  States,
Canada  and  most  of  Europe   under  the  trade  name   Virazole(R).
Virazole(R)  is  currently  approved  for  commercial  sale in over 40
countries for one or more of a variety of viral infections,  including
respiratory  syncytial  virus  ("RSV"),  herpes  simplex,   influenza,
chicken pox, hepatitis and human  immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the
United States,  Virazole(R)  is approved only for use in  hospitalized
infants and young  children with severe lower  respiratory  infections
due to RSV.

     The Company believes it has substantial  opportunities to realize
growth from its internally  developed  compounds.  These compounds are
the result of significant  investments in its research and development
activities  related to nucleic acids conducted over three decades.  On
July 28, 1995, the Company entered into an Exchange License and Supply
Agreement  (the  "Agreement")  and a Stock  Purchase  Agreement with a
subsidiary of Schering-Plough  Corporation ("Schering") to license the
Company's  proprietary  drug  ribavirin  as a  treatment  for  chronic
hepatitis C in  combination  with  Schering's  alpha  interferon  (the
"Combination Therapy").  The Agreement provided the Company an initial
non-refundable payment by Schering of $23,000,000,  and future royalty
payments to the Company for marketing of the drug,  including  certain
minimum royalty rates.  Schering will have exclusive  marketing rights
for ribavirin for hepatitis C worldwide,  except that the Company will
retain  the  right  to  co-market  in the  countries  of the  European
Economic  Community.  In  addition,   Schering  will  purchase  up  to
$42,000,000 in Common Stock upon the achievement of certain regulatory
milestones.  Under the  Agreement,  Schering  is  responsible  for all
clinical  developments  and regulatory  activities  worldwide.  During
1996,  clinical trials commenced with the enrollment of more than 2000
patients.  In December 1997, the Company was informed by Schering that
Schering had filed a New Drug Application for the Combination  Therapy
with the U.S.  Food and Drug  Administration  (the  "FDA").  See "Risk
Factors   --   No   Assurance   of    Successful    Development    and
Commercialization of Future Products."

     The Company  believes it is  positioned to expand its presence in
the  pharmaceutical  markets in Eastern and Central Europe. In 1991, a
75% interest was acquired in Galenika Pharmaceuticals  ("Galenika"), a
large drug  manufacturer  and distributor in Yugoslavia.  Galenika was
subsequently  renamed  ICN  Yugoslavia.  This  acquisition  added  new
products and  significantly  expanded the sales volume of the Company.
With the investment in ICN  Yugoslavia,  the Company became one of the
first   Western   pharmaceutical   companies  to  establish  a  direct
investment  in  Eastern  Europe.  ICN  Yugoslavia  continues  to  be a
significant  part of the Company's  operations  although its sales and
profitability  have, at times,  been  substantially  diminished  owing
principally to the imposition of sanctions on Yugoslavia by the United
Nations.   However,   the  United  Nations  Security  Council  adopted
resolutions,  that in December  1995,  suspended and, in October 1996,
lifted  economic   sanctions   imposed  on  the  Federal  Republic  of
Yugoslavia  since May of 1992.  The suspension and lifting of economic
sanctions  enabled ICN Yugoslavia to resume  exporting  certain of its
product lines to Russia,  other Eastern European Markets,  Africa, the
Middle East and the Far East.  See "Risk  Factors -- Risk of Operation
in Yugoslavia."

     In 1995, the Company  acquired a 75% interest in Oktyabr,  one of
the largest  pharmaceutical  companies in the Russian  Federation.  In
1996,  the Company  purchased an  additional  15% interest in Oktyabr,
raising  its  ownership  to 90%.  Additionally,  in 1996  and 1997 the
Company greatly  expanded its Russian presence through the acquisition
of four additional pharmaceutical companies:  Leksredstva,  located in
Kursk;  Polypharm,  located in  Chelyabinsk;  Marbiopharm,  located in
Yoshkar-Ola; and AO Tomsky Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant ("Tomsk")
located in Tomsk. The combined sales of these five companies establish
the Company among the largest pharmaceutical companies in Russia today
and a pioneer and leader in the privatization  movement.  In 1996, the
Company   acquired  a  60%   interest  in   Alkaloida   Chemical   Co.
("Alkaloida"), one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in terms of
sales in Hungary  and a major world  producer of morphine  and related
compounds.  In October 1997,  the Company  acquired an 80% interest in
Rzeszow,  a pharmaceutical  company located in Poland.  The Company is
currently exploring acquisition  opportunities in Russia and the Czech
Republic.  See "Risk Factors -- Risk of Operations in Eastern  Europe,
Russia and China."

     In August 1997, ICN Puerto Rico, Inc. (the "Subsidiary") acquired
the worldwide  rights  (except  India) to seven  products:  Alloferin,
Ancotil, Glutril, Limbitrol, Mestinon, Prostigmin and Protamin from F.
Hoffmann-La  Roche  Ltd.  ("Roche").   The  Subsidiary  also  obtained
worldwide  rights outside of the United States and India to Efudix and
Librium.  The  Company  received  the product  rights in exchange  for
$90,000,000  payable  in a  combination  of  1,600,000  shares  of the
Company's Common Stock valued at $40,000,000 and 2,000 shares of a new
issue  of  the  Company's   convertible   preferred  stock  valued  at
$50,000,000.  Each share of the Company's  convertible preferred stock
is convertible into 1,000 shares of Common Stock at a conversion price
equivalent  to $25 per share.  The  Company  guaranteed  Roche a price
initially at $25.75 per share of Common Stock, increasing at a rate of
6% per annum for three years,  with the Company being  entitled to any
proceeds  realized by Roche from the sale of these  shares  during the
guarantee  period in excess of the  guaranteed  price.  Also in August
1997,  the  Subsidiary   purchased   Roche's   Humacao,   Puerto  Rico
manufacturing  plant (the "Humacao,  Puerto Rico Plant"),  which meets
current U.S. Food and Drug Administration Good Manufacturing Practices
for various products, including: Aleve, Naprosyn, EC Naprosyn, Anaprox
and Cytovene,  for  $55,000,000  in cash and the assumption of certain
debt. Simultaneously, Roche leased the Humacao, Puerto Rico Plant from
the  Company  for two years at  $8,000,000  per annum.  On December 5,
1997, the Company acquired the worldwide  rights to Levo-Dromoran  and
Tensilon from subsidiaries of Roche, and pursuant to an option granted
by  Roche  to  the  Company  in   connection   with  the  August  1997
transaction,  the  Company  obtained  the U.S.  rights to  Efudix  and
Librium  for  a  total  aggregate   purchase  price  of  approximately
$89,000,000 (the purchase price for which was paid utilizing the price
appreciation in the Common Stock issued to Roche in August 1997).

     In addition to its  pharmaceutical  operations,  the Company also
develops,   manufacturers   and  sells,   through  its  wholly   owned
subsidiary,  ICN  Biomedicals,  Inc.,  a broad range of  research  and
diagnostic  products and radiation  monitoring  services.  The Company
markets these products internationally to major scientific,  academic,
health care and governmental  institutions  through catalog and direct
mail marketing programs.

     The  principal  executive  offices of the  Company are located at
3300 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa, California 92626. The telephone number
at such address is (714) 545-0100.

                             RISK FACTORS

     An investment in the Common Stock  involves a high degree of risk
and may not be  appropriate  for  investors  who cannot afford to lose
their entire investment.  A holder of the Certificates should be fully
aware of the risk factors set forth herein, when evaluating whether to
convert their Certificates into Common Stock. This Prospectus contains
or incorporates statements that constitute  forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities  Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Those statements appear in a number of places in this Prospectus
and in  the  documents  incorporated  by  reference  and  may  include
statements  regarding,  among  other  matters,  the  Company's  growth
opportunities,  the Company's acquisition strategy, regulatory matters
pertaining to governmental  approval of the marketing or manufacturing
of certain of the Company's  products and other factors  affecting the
Company's  financial  condition or results of operations.  Prospective
investors are cautioned that any such  forward-looking  statements are
not guarantees of future performance and involve risks,  uncertainties
and other  factors  which may cause  actual  results,  performance  or
achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking known and
unknown  statements.  Such  factors  include the various  risk factors
described below.

     DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OPERATIONS

     Approximately 75% and 80% of the Company's net sales for 1995 and
1996, respectively, and approximately 78% and 80% of the Company's net
sales  for  the  nine  months  ended  September  30,  1996  and  1997,
respectively,  were  generated  from  operations  outside  the  United
States.  The Company  operates  directly and through  distributors  in
North America, Latin America (principally Mexico),  Western Europe and
Eastern  Europe  and  through  distributors  elsewhere  in the  world.
Foreign operations are subject to certain risks inherent in conducting
business abroad,  including possible nationalization or expropriation,
price and exchange controls,  limitations on foreign  participation in
local  enterprises,   health-care  regulation  and  other  restrictive
governmental  actions.  Changes in the relative  values of  currencies
take place from time to time and may  materially  affect the Company's
results  of  operations.   Their  effects  on  the  Company's   future
operations are not predictable.  The Company does not currently have a
hedging program to protect against foreign  currency  exposure and, in
certain of the countries in which the Company  operates,  no effective
hedging program is available.

     RISK OF OPERATIONS IN YUGOSLAVIA

     ICN  Yugoslavia  represents  a  material  part  of the  Company's
business.  Approximately  46% and 44% of the  Company's  net sales for
1995 and 1996,  respectively,  were from ICN Yugoslavia.  In addition,
approximately  50% and 62% of the Company's  operating income for 1995
and 1996, respectively, and approximately 45% and 32% of the Company's
net sales  for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1996 and 1997,
respectively,  were from ICN Yugoslavia.  ICN Yugoslavia,  a 75% owned
subsidiary,  operates  in a  business  environment  that is subject to
significant  economic  volatility  and  political   instability.   The
economic   conditions  in  Yugoslavia  include  continuing   liquidity
problems,  unemployment,  a weakened  banking  system and a high trade
deficit.  Between May 1992 and December 1995, ICN Yugoslavia  operated
under United Nations'  sanctions that severely  limited the ability to
import raw materials and prohibited  all exports.  While the sanctions
have been suspended,  certain risks, such as hyperinflation,  currency
devaluations,  wage and price controls and potential government action
could  continue  to have  material  adverse  impact  on the  Company's
financial position and results of operations.

     During 1992 and 1993,  the rate of  inflation in  Yugoslavia  was
over one billion percent per year.  Inflation was dramatically reduced
in January 1994 when the government  enacted a  stabilization  program
designed  to  strengthen  its  currency.   This  program  reduced  the
annualized  inflation  rate  to  five  percent  by the  end  of  1994,
increased the  availability of hard currency,  stabilized the exchange
rate of the dinar and  improved  the  overall  economy.  In 1995,  the
effectiveness of the stabilization program began to wane, resulting in
a decline in the  availability of hard currency and an acceleration of
inflation to an annual rate of 90% by year end. In November  1995, the
dinar was  devalued  from a rate of 1.4 dinars per U.S.$1 to a rate of
4.7 dinars per U.S.$1.

     During 1996, inflation increased further to an annual rate of 95%
and the availability of hard and local currency  continued to decline.
The lifting of sanctions  by the United  Nations  eventually  provided
opportunities  to export  outside  of  Yugoslavia.  A policy of strict
monetary  control in Yugoslavia has kept inflation at a current annual
level  of  approximately  40%.  However,   Yugoslavia  has  not  fully
recovered  the  international  status it held  before  sanctions  were
imposed and management believes that economic reform and privatization
is  necessary  before  the  economy  will  improve  dramatically.  The
Yugoslavian  government is still  negotiating to regain  membership in
the International  Monetary Fund and World Bank.  Management  believes
that the 1997 Presidential and  parliamentary  elections may result in
political  change that would lead to economic  reform,  although  such
elections  also  have the  potential  to create  additional  political
instability and currency devaluations.

     In an  effort  by the  National  Bank of  Yugoslavia  to  control
inflation   through  tight  monetary   controls,   Yugoslavia  is  now
experiencing  severe liquidity  problems.  This has resulted in longer
collection  periods  on  ICN  Yugoslavia's  receivables.  Most  of ICN
Yugoslavia's  customers  are slow to pay due to delays of health  care
payments by the  government.  This has also resulted in ICN Yugoslavia
being unable to make timely  payments on its payables.  ICN Yugoslavia
is attempting to reduce its  receivables  and improve its cash flow by
restricting future sales;  however,  these actions may result in sales
and earnings in 1997 that are lower than such amounts in 1996.

     ICN Yugoslavia  began the year with a net monetary asset exposure
of  $134,000,000  which was  subject  to  foreign  exchange  loss if a
devaluation  of the dinar were to occur.  During the first nine months
of 1997,  the Company  reduced  its  monetary  exposure by  converting
dinar-denominated accounts receivable into notes receivable payable in
dinars,  but fixed in dollar  amounts.  The first  conversion was made
early in the  first  quarter  of 1997  with  $50,000,000  of  accounts
receivable  converted into a one year note with interest at LIBOR plus
one percent.  A second conversion was arranged at the end of the first
quarter of 1997 through an agreement with the  Yugoslavian  government
to purchase  $50,000,000 of drugs. The sales under this agreement were
converted into a note  receivable  bearing  interest at LIBOR plus one
percent on the outstanding  balance and has special payment guarantees
with the payment fixed in dollar  amounts.  The second  agreement also
allows  the  Company  to  offset  payroll  tax   obligations   against
outstanding  accounts  receivable  balances.  Subsequent  to these two
agreements,  the Company negotiated an arrangement with the government
of Yugoslavia  under which ICN Yugoslavia  would commit to continue to
provide  products,  in dollar  denominated  sales,  in an amount up to
$50,000,000  per  calendar  quarter for one year,  and the  government
would pay a  minimum  of  $9,500,000  per  month  towards  outstanding
receivables.  However,  at no point in time can the  amount due to ICN
Yugoslavia  from the government  exceed  $200,000,000,  including both
accounts  and  notes  receivable.  Receivables  that  arise  from this
agreement  are interest  bearing with  interest at the LIBOR rate plus
one  percent.  As of  September  30, 1997,  ICN  Yugoslavia  had a net
monetary  asset  position  of  $48,000,000  which  would be subject to
foreign exchange loss if a devaluation of the dinar were to occur.

     The Company was able to reduce its  overall  accounts  receivable
balance from the  beginning of the year  through  collections  and the
conversion  of   $130,000,000   of  accounts   receivable  into  notes
receivable  discussed  above.  As of September 30, 1997,  the accounts
receivable balance was $74,471,000. The willingness of the Yugoslavian
government to provide the Company  protection  against  devaluation on
its  receivables  in exchange for longer payment terms is a reflection
of the strict adherence to government policy on controlling  inflation
by limiting the amount of hard  currency in  circulation.  This policy
was initially  established with the start of the stabilization program
in 1994.

     With 80% of ICN  Yugoslavia  sales  arising  from  government  or
government-sponsored entities, ICN Yugoslavia is financially dependent
on the Yugoslavian  government.  Additionally,  ICN Yugoslavia is also
subject to credit risk in that 60% of its December 31, 1996,  domestic
accounts  receivables and 31% of its year-to-date sales are with three
major customers.

     ICN Yugoslavia is subject to price  controls in  Yugoslavia.  The
size  and  frequency  of   government-approved   price  increases  are
influenced  by local  inflation,  devaluations,  cost of imported  raw
materials and demand for ICN Yugoslavia  products.  During 1995,  1996
and the first nine months of 1997, ICN Yugoslavia received fewer price
increases than in the past due to lower relative  levels of inflation.
As inflation increases,  the size and frequency of price increases are
expected to increase.  Price increases  obtained by ICN Yugoslavia are
based  on  economic  events  preceding  such  an  increase  and not on
expectations of ongoing  inflation.  A lag in approved price increases
could  reduce the gross  margins that ICN  Yugoslavia  receives on its
products.  Although the Company expects that ICN Yugoslavia will limit
sales of products  that have poor margins  until an  acceptable  price
increase is received,  the impact of an  inability to obtain  adequate
price  increases  in the future  could  have an adverse  impact on the
Company as a result of  declining  gross  profit  margins or declining
sales in an effort to maintain existing gross margin levels.

     RISK OF OPERATIONS IN RUSSIA, EASTERN EUROPE AND CHINA

     The Company has invested a total of approximately $28,404,000 for
majority interests in five pharmaceutical companies located in Russia.
The  Company  also  invested  approximately  $22,100,000  in its 60.0%
interest  in ICN  Hungary.  In  October  1997,  the  Company  invested
approximately $33,700,000, and 31,700 shares of Common Stock valued at
$1,709,000   to  be  issued  to  certain   employees   (see   "Selling
Stockholders"),  in an  80%  interest  in  Rzeszow,  a  pharmaceutical
company  located in Poland,  and has committed to invest an additional
$20,000,000  in 1998 and  1999,  which  will  give the  Company  a 90%
interest in Rzeszow.  In  September  1996,  the Company  committed  to
invest an aggregate  of  $24,000,000  in a joint  venture with Jiangsu
Provincial  Wuxi  Pharmaceutical   Corporation   ("Wuxi"),  a  Chinese
state-owned pharmaceutical corporation.  Although the Company believes
that investment in Russia,  Eastern  Europe,  China and other emerging
markets  offers  access to growing  world  markets,  the  economic and
political  conditions  in  such  countries  are  uncertain.   See  "--
Dependence on Foreign Operations."

     NO ASSURANCE OF SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION 
     OF FUTURE PRODUCTS

     The Company's future growth will depend,  in large part, upon its
ability to develop or obtain and  commercialize  new  products and new
formulations  of or indications for current  products.  The Company is
engaged  in an  active  research  and  development  program  involving
compounds  owned by the  Company or  licensed  from  others  which the
Company may, in the future, desire to develop commercially.  There can
be no  assurance  that the Company  will be able to develop or acquire
new  products,  obtain  regulatory  approvals to use such products for
proposed or new clinical  indications in a timely manner,  manufacture
its potential products in commercial volumes or gain market acceptance
for such products. In addition, the Company may require financing over
the next several years to fund costs of development  and  acquisitions
of new  products  and, if  Virazole(R)  is approved  for  treatment of
chronic hepatitis C in Combination  Therapy (for which there can be no
assurance),  to expand the  production and marketing of Virazole(R) in
the  countries of the European  Union,  where the Company has retained
co-marketing  rights under the License Agreement.  It may be desirable
or necessary for the Company to enter into licensing arrangements with
other pharmaceutical  companies in order to market effectively any new
products or new indications for existing  products such as the License
Agreement  with  Schering  for  the  marketing  of   Virazole(R)   for
Combination Therapy (if approved).  There can be no assurance that the
Company  will be  successful  in raising  such  additional  capital or
entering into such marketing  arrangements,  if required, or that such
capital will be raised,  or such  marketing  arrangements  will be, on
terms favorable to the Company.

     LIMITED PATENT PROTECTION

     The Company may be  dependent on the  protection  afforded by its
patents  relating to  Virazole(R)  and no assurance can be given as to
the breadth or degree of  protection  which these  patents will afford
the  Company.  The  Company  has patent  rights in the  United  States
expiring in 1999 relating to the use of Virazole(R) to treat specified
human  viral  diseases.   If  future  development  of  Virazole(R)  in
Combination  Therapy  is  successful  and  approval  is granted in the
United States,  an additional  award of exclusivity will be granted of
up to three years from date of approval  (Waxman-Hatch  Act); however,
there can be no assurance that such  development will be successful or
that such approval will be obtained.  While the Company has patents in
certain  foreign  countries  covering  the use of  Virazole(R)  in the
treatment of certain  diseases,  which coverage and expiration  varies
and which patents  expire at various  times through 2006,  the Company
has no, or limited,  patent rights with respect to Virazole(R)  and/or
its use in certain foreign  countries where  Virazole(R) is currently,
or in the future  may be,  approved  for  commercial  sale,  including
France,  Germany and Great Britain.  However, the Company and Schering
intend  to file  applications  for  approval  of  Combination  Therapy
through a centralized  procedure in the European Union (which includes
France,  Germany and Great Britain).  If such approval is granted, the
Company  and  Schering  would  be  afforded  either  six or ten  years
(depending  upon  the  particular   country)  of  protection  for  the
Combination  Therapy  against  competition.  There can be no assurance
that  the  loss  of  the  Company's  patent  rights  with  respect  to
Virazole(R)  upon  expiration  of the  Company's  patent rights in the
United  States,  Europe and elsewhere  will not result in  competition
from other drug manufacturers or will not otherwise have a significant
adverse effect upon the business and operations of the Company.

     As a general policy,  the Company expects to seek patents,  where
available, on inventions concerning novel drugs, techniques, processes
or other  products  which it may  develop or  acquire  in the  future.
However,  there can be no assurance that any patents  applied for will
be granted, or that, if granted, they will have commercial value or as
to the breadth or the degree of  protection  which these  patents,  if
issued,  will  afford  the  Company.   The  Company  intends  to  rely
substantially on its unpatented proprietary know-how, but there can be
no  assurance  that others will not develop  substantially  equivalent
proprietary  information  or otherwise  obtain access to the Company's
know-how.  Patents for  pharmaceutical  compounds are not available in
certain countries in which the Company markets its products.

     Marketing  approvals  in  certain  foreign  countries  provide an
additional level of protection for products  approved for sale in such
countries.

     UNCERTAIN IMPACT OF ACQUISITION PLANS

     The Company  intends  aggressively  to continue  its  strategy of
targeted  expansion  through the acquisition of compatible  businesses
and product  lines and the  formation  of strategic  alliances,  joint
ventures and other business combinations.  Should the Company complete
any  material  acquisition,   the  Company's  success  or  failure  in
integrating the operations of the acquired company may have a material
impact on the future  growth or success of the Company.  Since some or
all of these potential  acquisitions may be affected with the issuance
of Common Stock by the Company to the sellers of the businesses  being
acquired or financed  with the issuance of Common Stock or  securities
convertible into Common Stock,  the interest of existing  stockholders
in the  Company  may  be  diluted  (which  dilution  may  be  material
depending  on the size and the  number of  acquisitions  consummated).
Subject to sufficient  authorized and unissued  shares of Common Stock
being   available,   no  stockholder   approval  of  any   acquisition
transaction  would be  required  unless the number of shares of Common
Stock issued by the Company in  connection  with the  transaction  (or
series  of  related  transactions)  were  to  exceed  20% of the  then
outstanding shares of Common Stock.

     POTENTIAL LITIGATION EXPOSURE

     ICN  is  a  defendant  in a  consolidated  class  action  lawsuit
alleging,  among other things,  violations of federal  securities laws
(the   "Class   Action").    Plaintiffs    alleged   that   ICN   made
misrepresentations  of material  facts and  omitted to state  material
facts in 1994 and 1995  concerning  the  Company's  NDA for the use of
Virazole(R)  for  monotherapy  treatment  of chronic  hepatitis C (the
"Hepatitis C NDA").  In July 1997,  the Company and the  plaintiffs in
the Class Action agreed to settle the  litigation for the sum of $15.0
million.  The settlement is in the process of being  documented and is
subject to the approval of the court. A settlement hearing is expected
to be held in January 1998.  The Company  intends to urge the district
court to approve the settlement of the Class Action. If the settlement
is not approved,  and the Class Action proceeds to trial, the ultimate
outcome of any such trial cannot be predicted with certainty,  and any
unfavorable  outcome  could  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
Company.

     Pursuant  to  an  Order  Directing   Private   Investigation  and
Designating Officers to Take Testimony,  entitled In the Matter of ICN
Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., (P-177) (the "Order"), a private investigation
is  being  conducted  by the  SEC  with  respect  to  certain  matters
pertaining  to the status and  disposition  of the Hepatitis C NDA. As
set forth in the Order, the investigation concerns whether, during the
period  June 1994  through  February  1995,  the  Company,  persons or
entities  associated  with it and others,  in the offer and sale or in
connection  with the purchase and sale of ICN  securities,  engaged in
possible violations of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act and Section
10(b)  of the  Exchange  Act and  Rule  10b-5  thereunder,  by  having
possibly:  (i) made false or misleading statements or omitted material
facts with respect to the status and  disposition  of the  Hepatitis C
NDA;  (ii)  purchased  or sold  Common  Stock while in  possession  of
material, non-public information concerning the status and disposition
of the  Hepatitis  C  NDA;  or  (iii)  conveyed  material,  non-public
information  concerning the status and  disposition of the Hepatitis C
NDA, to other persons who may have purchased or sold Common Stock. The
Company is cooperating with the Commission in its  investigation.  The
Company has and continues to produce  documents to the SEC pursuant to
its request and the SEC has taken the  depositions of certain  current
and former officers, directors and employees of the Company.

     The Company has received a Subpoena (the "Subpoena") from a Grand
Jury  in  the  United  States  District  Court,  Central  District  of
California  requesting  the  production of documents  covering a broad
range of matters  over  various  time  periods.  The Company and Milan
Panic,  Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer,  are  subjects of the
investigation.  The  Company has and  continues  to  cooperate  in the
production of documents pursuant to the Subpoenas. A number of current
and former  employees  of the  Company  have been  interviewed  by the
government in connection with the investigation.

     The  ultimate  outcome of the SEC and Grand  Jury  investigations
cannot be predicted and any unfavorable  outcome could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.

     DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL

     The Company believes that its continued  success will depend to a
significant  extent upon the efforts and abilities of its  management,
including  Milan Panic,  its Chairman,  President and Chief  Executive
Officer.  The loss of their  services  could have a  material  adverse
effect on the Company. The Company cannot predict what effect, if any,
the  Commission's  investigation  of the Company,  as described  under
"Potential  Litigation  Exposure,"  and the  Subpoena  may have on Mr.
Panic's ability to continue to devote services on a full time basis to
the  Company.  See " --  Potential  Litigation  Exposure,"  above.  In
addition,  Mr. Panic,  who served as Prime Minister of Yugoslavia from
July 1992 to March 1993,  remains active in  Yugoslavian  politics and
may again serve in a governmental office in the future.

     POTENTIAL PRODUCT LIABILITY EXPOSURE AND LACK OF INSURANCE

     The  Company  could be exposed to  possible  claims for  personal
injury  resulting from allegedly  defective  products.  Even if a drug
were  approved  for  commercial  use  by an  appropriate  governmental
agency,  there can be no  assurance  that  users  will not claim  that
effects  other  than those  intended  may  result  from the  Company's
products. The Company generally self-insures against potential product
liability  exposure with respect to its marketed  products,  including
Virazole(R).  While to date no  material  adverse  claim for  personal
injury  resulting  from  allegedly   defective   products,   including
Virazole(R),  has been successfully  maintained against the Company or
any of its  predecessors,  a substantial  claim, if successful,  could
have a material adverse effect on the Company.

     GOVERNMENT REGULATION

     FDA approval  must be obtained in the United  States and approval
must be obtained from comparable  agencies in other countries prior to
marketing  or  manufacturing  new  pharmaceutical  products for use by
humans in such  respective  jurisdictions.  Obtaining FDA approval for
new products and  manufacturing  processes  can take a number of years
and  involves  the  expenditure  of  substantial  resources.  Numerous
requirements must be satisfied, including preliminary testing programs
on animals and  subsequent  clinical  testing  programs on humans,  to
establish product safety and efficacy.  No assurance can be given that
authorization  of the commercial sale of any new drugs or compounds by
the Company for any  application or of existing drugs or compounds for
new  applications  will be secured  in the United  States or any other
country,  or that, if such  authorization  is secured,  those drugs or
compounds will be commercially successful.

     The FDA in the United  States and other  regulatory  agencies  in
other countries also periodically  inspect  manufacturing  facilities.
Failure to comply with applicable  regulatory  requirements can result
in, among other things,  sanctions,  fines,  delays or  suspensions of
approvals, seizures or recalls of products, operating restrictions and
criminal prosecutions. Furthermore, changes in existing regulations or
adoption of new  regulations  could  prevent or delay the Company from
obtaining future regulatory approvals.

     The  Company  is  subject to price  control  restrictions  on its
pharmaceutical  products  in the  majority  of  countries  in which it
operates.   To  date,   the  Company  has  been  affected  by  pricing
adjustments  in Spain and by the lag in  allowed  price  increases  in
Yugoslavia and Mexico,  which have created lower sales in U.S. dollars
and reductions in gross profit. Future sales and gross profit could be
materially affected if the Company is unable to obtain price increases
commensurate with the levels of inflation.

     COMPETITION

     The Company  operates in a highly  competitive  environment.  The
Company's competitors, many of whom have substantially greater capital
resources  and  marketing   capabilities   and  larger   research  and
development  staffs and  facilities  than the  Company,  are  actively
engaged in marketing  products  similar to those of the Company and in
developing new products  similar to those proposed to be developed and
sold by the Company.  Others may succeed in  developing  products that
are more effective than those marketed or proposed for  development by
the Company.  Progress by other  researchers in areas similar to those
being  explored  by the  Company  may  result in  further  competitive
challenges.  In early 1996,  MedImmune,  Inc.  began  marketing in the
United States  RespiGam(R),  a prophylactic  drug for the treatment of
RSV.  The  Company  is aware of several  other  ongoing  research  and
development  programs which are attempting to develop new prophylactic
and  therapeutic  products for treatment of RSV.  Although the Company
will follow  publicly  disclosed  developments  in this field,  on the
basis of currently  available  data, it is unable to evaluate  whether
RespiGam(R) or the other  technology being developed in these programs
poses  a  threat  to the  Company's  current  market  position  in the
treatment  of RSV or its revenue  streams.  In  addition,  a number of
companies and researchers are engaged in developmental efforts for the
treatment  of  Hepatitis  C,  including  through  the use of  protease
inhibitors.  The  Company  may also face  increased  competition  from
manufacturers of generic  pharmaceutical  products when certain of the
patents covering certain of its currently marketed products expire.

     INDEBTEDNESS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY

     As of September 30, 1997,  after giving effect to the  redemption
of certain  indebtedness  of the Company in November 1997 (see "Recent
Developments") and repayment of indebtedness  related to the Company's
acquisition  of a plant in Puerto  Rico,  the Company had  outstanding
long-term  debt of  $342,000,000.  The  indenture  for  certain of the
Company's debt contains, and other debt instruments of the Company may
in the future contain,  a number of significant  covenants that, among
other  things,  restrict  the  ability  of the  Company  to dispose of
assets,  incur additional  indebtedness,  repay other  indebtedness or
amend other debt instruments,  pay dividends,  create liens on assets,
enter  into  investments  or   acquisitions,   engage  in  mergers  or
consolidations,   make  capital  expenditures  or  engage  in  certain
transactions with subsidiaries and affiliates,  and otherwise restrict
certain  corporate  activities.  The Company's  strategy  contemplates
continued  strategic  acquisitions,  and a portion of the cost of such
acquisitions may be financed through  additional  indebtedness.  There
can be no assurance  that  financing  will continue to be available on
terms  acceptable  to the  Company or at all.  In the  absence of such
financing,  the Company's  ability to respond to changing business and
economic  conditions,   to  fund  scheduled  investments  and  capital
expenditures,  to make  future  acquisitions  or  developments  and to
absorb adverse operating results may be adversely affected.

                          RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

On November 16, 1997,  the Company  completed its  redemption of its 8
1/2% Convertible  Subordinated  Notes due 1999 (the "8 1/2% Notes") at
102.125% of the principal amount plus accrued  interest.  In addition,
on November 7, 1997,  the Company  completed  its  redemption of the 5
5/8% Xr Capital  Holding  Exchangeable  Certificates  due 2001 (the "5
5/8%  Certificates"),  issued by a trust (the "Trust")  established by
the Company in 1986,  at 100% of the  principal  amount  plus  accrued
interest.  In  connection  with the  redemption  of the 8 1/2%  Notes,
$114,800,000 in principal  amount were converted into 5,200,000 shares
of Common  Stock,  and the balance of $61,000 in principal  amount was
redeemed for cash at 102.125% of the principal  amount.  In connection
with  the  redemption  of  the  5  5/8%  Certificates,   Swiss  Francs
59,000,000 in principal amount were exchangeable into 1,300,000 shares
of Common Stock,  and the balance of Swiss Francs 180,000 in principal
amount was  redeemed  for cash at 100% of the  principal  amount  plus
accrued interest. As part of the redemption and the termination of the
Trust,  Swiss Francs  36,000,000 of collateral was released and became
available to the Company for general corporate purposes.

     On December  5, 1997,  the Company  acquired  the U.S.  rights to
Efudix and Librium from Roche and  worldwide  rights to  Levo-Dromoran
and Tensilon from subsidiaries of Roche for a total aggregate purchase
price of  approximately  $89,000,000 (the purchase price for which was
paid  utilizing the price  appreciation  in the Common Stock issued to
Roche in August  1997).  In August  1997,  the  Company  had  acquired
worldwide rights to seven Roche products, rights outside of the United
States to Efudix and Librium  and an option to obtain the U.S.  rights
to these two products. See "The Company."

                            USE OF PROCEEDS

     The Company will only receive  proceeds  from the exercise of the
Warrants  and the  issue of  Common  Stock  upon the  exercise  of the
Warrants. If all of the 46,818 outstanding Warrants are exercised, the
Company  will  receive   aggregate  gross  proceeds  of  approximately
$870,000.

     No assurance  can be given,  however,  that all or any portion of
the Warrants will be exercised.  If any of the Warrants are exercised,
the  Company  intends  to  use  the  proceeds  for  general  corporate
purposes.

     The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of
the  551,595  shares  of  Common  Stock  that  may  be  issued  to the
Certificate  holders,  upon the exchange of the Certificates  from and
after the  Merger  described  above,  or from any sales of the  31,700
shares of Common Stock by the Rzeszow Employees.

     Warrant holders are referred to the terms of the Warrants and the
related agreements relating to the Warrants for information  regarding
their exchange rights. A copy of the Warrant  Agreement is attached as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a
part.

     Certificate holders are referred to the terms of the Certificates
and the related  agreements  pertaining to such rights for information
regarding their exchange  rights.  Copies of the indenture and related
documents are attached as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part.

     The transfer  agent for the Common  Stock is the  American  Stock
Transfer & Trust  Company  unless and until a successor is selected by
the Company.

                         SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     The  Company  agreed to issue 50  Shares  to each of the  Rzeszow
Employees  in an  offering  made  outside of the United  States  under
Regulation S of the  Securities  Act. The total number of Shares to be
offered to the Rzeszow  Employees is 31,700  Shares.  This  Prospectus
covers the resale from time to time of the Rzeszow Shares. Because the
Rzeszow Employees may sell all or part of the Rzeszow Shares that they
hold  pursuant to this  Prospectus  and because  this  Offering is not
being  underwritten  on a firm  commitment  basis,  no estimate can be
given as to the amount of the  Company's  Shares  that will be held by
the Rzeszow Employees upon termination of this Offering.

     As  of  December   16,   1997,   the   Company  had   outstanding
approximately 47,514,194 shares of Common Stock. The Shares to be sold
by the Rzeszow  Employees  represent in the aggregate  less than 1% of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

                         PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     If all of the Warrants  outstanding as of December 4, 1997,  were
exercised, 46,818 shares of Common Stock would be issued. The Warrants
were issued  pursuant to a Warrant  Agreement  between the Company and
Meyers, and have usual and customary  antidilution  provisions as more
fully described in the Warrant Agreement. The Warrants are exercisable
until 5:00 p.m.,  Pacific  Time,  on January  27,  1998 at an exercise
price of $18.7151 per share.  This  Prospectus  also has been prepared
for the benefit of the Certificate  holders who exchange  Certificates
for the  Common  Stock.  There  can be no  assurance  that  any of the
Warrant  holders  or  Certificate  holders  will  exchange  any of the
Warrants or Certificates into Common Stock.

     The  Rzeszow  Shares may be sold from time to time by the Rzeszow
Employees or by their transferees and assigns.  Such sales may be made
in the over-the-counter market, on the NYSE or other exchanges (if the
Common  Stock is listed for trading  thereon),  or otherwise at prices
and at terms then  prevailing,  at prices  related to the then current
market price or at negotiated  prices.  The Rzeszow Shares may be sold
by any one or more of the  following  methods:  (a) a block  trade  in
which  the  broker  or  dealer so  engaged  will  attempt  to sell the
securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block
as principal to facilitate the transaction;  (b) purchases by a broker
as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account;  (c)
ordinary  brokerage  transactions and transactions in which the broker
solicits  purchasers;  and (d) privately negotiated  transactions.  In
addition,  any Rzeszow  Shares that qualify for sale  pursuant to Rule
144  may  be  sold  under  Rule  144  rather  than  pursuant  to  this
Prospectus.

     The  Rzeszow   Employees  and  any   broker-dealers,   agents  or
underwriters  that  participate  with  the  Rzeszow  Employees  in the
distribution of the Rzeszow Shares may be deemed to be  "underwriters"
within the meaning of the Securities Act and any commissions  received
by such  broker-dealer,  agent or  underwriter  and any  profit on the
resale of the  Rzeszow  Shares  purchased  by them may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

     Under the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder, any person
engaged  in a  distribution  of the  Rzeszow  Shares  offered  by this
Prospectus may not  simultaneously  engage in market making activities
with respect to the Common Stock,  during any  applicable  "restricted
period" prior to the commencement of such  distribution.  In addition,
and without  limiting the  foregoing,  the Rzeszow  Employees  will be
subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations  thereunder including,  without limitation,  Regulation M,
the provisions of which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of
Common Stock by the Rzeszow Employees.

     To the extent required,  the Company will use its best efforts to
file, during any period in which exchanges are being made, one or more
supplements  to this  Prospectus to describe any material  information
with respect to the plan of distribution  not previously  disclosed in
this  Prospectus or any material  change to such  information  in this
Prospectus.

                             LEGAL MATTERS

     The  legality of the Common Stock  offered  hereby will be passed
upon for the  Company  by David C.  Watt,  Executive  Vice  President,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Company. As of December
16, 1997, Mr. Watt  beneficially  owned 99,673 shares of Common Stock,
including  97,678  shares  which he has the right to acquire  upon the
exercise of currently exercisable stock options.

                    INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

     The consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995,
and the consolidated  statements of income,  stockholders'  equity and
cash flows for each of the three  years in the period  ended  December
31, 1996,  incorporated  by reference  in this  Prospectus,  have been
included herein in reliance on the report,  which includes an emphasis
of matter  paragraph  related to the Company's net monetary  assets at
ICN  Yugoslavia  which would be subject to foreign  exchange loss if a
devaluation of the dinar were to occur,  of Coopers & Lybrand  L.L.P.,
independent public accountants, given on the authority of that firm as
experts in auditing  and  accounting.  With  respect to the  unaudited
interim financial information for the periods ended September 30, 1997
and  1996,   incorporated  by  reference  in  this   Prospectus,   the
independent  accountants  have reported that they have applied limited
procedures in accordance with  professional  standards for a review of
such  information.  However,  their  separate  report  included in the
Company's  quarterly  report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March
31, June 30 and  September  30, 1997,  and  incorporated  by reference
herein,  states  that they did not audit  and they do not  express  an
opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree
of reliance on their reports on such information  should be restricted
in light of the limited nature of the review procedures  applied.  The
accountants are not subject to the liability  provisions of Section 11
of the  Securities  Act for  their  report  on the  unaudited  interim
financial  information  because  that  report is not a  "report"  or a
"part" of the  Registration  Statement  prepared or  certified  by the
accountants  within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities
Act.

     Any financial statements and schedules hereafter  incorporated by
reference in the Registration  Statement of which this Prospectus is a
part,  that  have  been  audited  and are the  subject  of a report by
independent  accountants  will  be so  incorporated  by  reference  in
reliance  upon such  reports and upon the  authority  of such firms as
experts in accounting  and auditing to the extent  covered by consents
filed with the Commission.

     NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO
GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS,  OTHER THAN THOSE
CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,  IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING,  AND,
IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE
RELIED  UPON AS HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED  BY THE  COMPANY.  NEITHER THE
DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER  SHALL,  UNDER
ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES,  CREATE  ANY  IMPLICATION  THAT  THERE HAS BEEN NO
CHANGE  IN  THE  AFFAIRS  OF  THE  COMPANY  SINCE  THE  DATE  OF  THIS
PROSPECTUS.   THIS   PROSPECTUS   DOES  NOT  CONSTITUTE  AN  OFFER  OR
SOLICITATION   BY  ANYONE  IN  ANY  STATE  IN  WHICH   SUCH  OFFER  OR
SOLICITATION  IS NOT  AUTHORIZED  OR IN WHICH THE PERSON  MAKING  SUCH
OFFER OR  SOLICITATION  IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.



                                PART II
                INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

     The  following  table sets forth the  estimated  expenses  of the
Registrant in connection with the distribution of the securities being
registered  hereunder.  The  Certificate  holders will not bear any of
these expenses.

SEC Filing Fee.........................................$ 9,030.12
Legal Fees and Expenses................................$20,000.00
Accounting Fees and Expenses...........................$20,000.00
Miscellaneous..........................................$ 5,000.00
                                                       ----------
     Total ............................................$54,030.12
                                                       ==========

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware empowers a
corporation  to  indemnify  any  person  who was or is a  party  or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened,  pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he or  she is or was a
director,  officer,  employee or agent of the corporation or is or was
serving at the  request of the  corporation  as a  director,  officer,
employee or agent of another  corporation or enterprise.  Depending on
the character of the proceeding,  a corporation may indemnify  against
expenses  (including  attorneys' fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with
such action,  suit or  proceeding if the person  indemnified  acted in
good faith and in a manner he or she  reasonably  believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect
to any criminal  action or proceeding,  had no cause to believe his or
her conduct was unlawful.  In the case of an action by or in the right
of the corporation,  no indemnification  may be made in respect to any
claim,  issue or  matter  as to which  such  person  shall  have  been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent
that the Court of  Chancery  or the court in which such action or suit
was brought shall determine that despite the adjudication of liability
such person is fairly and  reasonably  entitled to indemnity  for such
expenses which the court shall deem proper.

     Section  145  further  provides  that to the extent a director or
officer of a  corporation  has been  successful  in the defense of any
action,  suit or proceeding referred to above or in the defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against
expenses (including  attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred
by him or her in  connection  therewith.  However,  if the director or
officer  is not  successful  in the  defense  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding as referred to above or in the defense of any claim,  issue
or matter therein,  he shall only be indemnified by the corporation as
authorized   in  the   specific   case  upon  a   determination   that
indemnification  is  proper  because  he or  she  met  the  applicable
standard  set  forth  above  as   determined  by  a  majority  of  the
disinterested Board of Directors or by the stockholders.

     The Registrant's  bylaws provide  indemnification to its officers
and directors  against  liability  they may incur in their capacity as
such,  which  indemnification  is similar to that  provided by Section
145,  unless a  determination  is  reasonably  and promptly  made by a
majority of the  disinterested  Board of Directors that the indemnitee
acted in bad faith and in a manner that the indemnitee did not believe
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the  Registrant,  or,
with respect to any criminal proceeding,  that the indemnitee believed
or had  reasonable  cause  to  believe  that  his or her  conduct  was
unlawful.

     The  Registrant  carries   directors'  and  officers'   liability
insurance,  covering  losses up to  $5,000,000  (subject to a $500,000
deductible).

     The   Registrant,   as  a   matter   of   policy,   enters   into
indemnification   agreements   with   its   directors   and   officers
indemnifying  them against  liability they may incur in their capacity
as such. The  indemnification  agreements require no specific standard
of conduct for  indemnification  and make no distinction between civil
and criminal  proceedings,  except in proceedings where the dishonesty
of an indemnitee is alleged.  Such indemnification is not available if
an indemnitee is adjudicated to have acted in a deliberately dishonest
manner with actual  dishonest  purpose and intent where such acts were
material to the adjudicated  proceeding.  Additionally,  the indemnity
agreements provide indemnification for any claim against an indemnitee
where  the  claim is  based  upon the  indemnitee  obtaining  personal
advantage or profit to which he or she was not legally  entitled,  the
claim  is for an  accounting  of  profits  made in  connection  with a
violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, or
similar  state  law  provision,  or the  claim  was  brought  about or
contributed to by the dishonesty of the indemnitee.

     Section 102(b) (7) of the Delaware  General  Corporation  Law, as
amended,  permits a  corporation  to  include  in its  certificate  of
incorporation  a  provision   eliminating  or  limiting  the  personal
liability of a director to the  corporation  or its  stockholders  for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,  provided
that such  provision  shall not  eliminate or limit the liability of a
director (i) for any breach of the  director's  duty of loyalty to the
corporation  or its  stockholders,  (ii) for acts or omissions  not in
good  faith or  which  involve  intentional  misconduct  or a  knowing
violation  of law,  (iii) under  Section 174 of the  Delaware  General
Corporation Law (relating to unlawful payment of dividend and unlawful
stock purchase and redemption), or (iv) for any transaction from which
the director derived an improper personal benefit.  The Registrant has
provided in its  certificate of  incorporation,  as amended,  that its
directors shall be exculpated from liability as provided under Section
102(b) (7).

     The foregoing  summaries are necessarily  subject to the complete
text  of  the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law,  the  Registrant's
Certificate of Incorporation and the agreements  referred to above and
are qualified in their entirety by reference thereto.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

4.1  Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant,
     previously  filed as Exhibit 3.1 to  Registration  Statement  No.
     33-83952 on Form S-1, which is incorporated  herein by reference,
     as amended by the Certificate of Merger, dated November 10, 1994,
     of ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.,  SPI  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., and
     Viratek, Inc. with and into ICN Merger Corp., previously filed as
     Exhibit 4.1 to Registration  Statement No. 333-08179 on Form S-3,
     which is incorporated herein by reference.

4.2  By laws of the  Registrant,  previously  filed as Exhibit  3.2 to
     Registration  Statement  No.  33-83952  on  Form  S-1,  which  is
     incorporated herein by reference.

4.3  Form of Rights  Agreement,  dated as of November 2, 1994  between
     the  Registrant  and American  Stock  Transfer & Trust Company as
     Trustee,   previously   filed  as  Exhibit  4.3  to  Registration
     Statement  on  Form  8-A,  dated  November  10,  1994,  which  is
     incorporated herein by reference.

4.4  Bio Capital  Holding Trust  Instrument  between ICN  Biomedicals,
     Inc.,  Ansbacher  (C.I.) Limited and ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.,
     dated as of January  26,  1987;  Subscription  Agreement  between
     Ansbacher (C.I.) Limited, ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., and Banque
     Gutzwiller,   Kurz,   Bungener  S.A.  and  the  other   financial
     institutions named therein dated as of January 26, 1987; Exchange
     Agency   Agreement   between  ICN   Biomedicals,   Inc.,   Banque
     Gutzwiller,   Kurz,   Bungener  S.A.,  and  the  other  financial
     institutions named therein dated as of January 26, 1987; Guaranty
     between ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and ICN Biomedicals, Inc. dated
     as of February 17, 1987  previously  filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the
     Company's  Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended  February  28,  1987,
     which is incorporated herein by reference.(FN*)

4.5  Supplemental  Agreement to the Bond Issue Agreement dated October
     31, 1994  between ICN  Biomedicals,  Inc.,  ICN  Pharmaceuticals,
     Inc.,  ICN  Subsidiary  Corp.,  ICN Merger  Corp.  and  Ansbacher
     (Guernsey)  Limited  previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.32 to the
     Company's  Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994,
     dated March 31, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference.

4.6  Indenture  between ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. and American Stock
     Transfer and Trust Company, as trustee,  relating to $115,000,000
     8 1/2% Convertible  Subordinated  Notes due 1999 (incorporated by
     reference  to the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
     Year ended December 31, 1996).(FN*)

4.7  Indenture,  dated as of  August  14,  1997,  by and among ICN and
     United  States  Trust  Company  of  New  York   (incorporated  by
     reference to the Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
     Three Months ended June 30, 1997).(FN*)

4.8  Warrant  Agreement  between Viratek,  Inc. and H.J. Meyers & Co.,
     Inc.,  previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registration  Statement
     No.  33-54678  on Form  S-2,  which  is  incorporated  herein  by
     reference.

5.   Opinion  of David C.  Watt,  Executive  Vice  President,  General
     Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Registrant,  regarding the
     legality of the securities being registered.

15.1 Awareness Letter of Independent  Accountant  regarding  Unaudited
     Interim Financial Information.

15.2 Review Report of Independent  Public  Accountants  for the period
     ended  March  31,  1997,  previously  filed  as  Exhibit  15.1 to
     Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  March 31,
     1997, and incorporated herein by reference.

15.3 Review Report of Independent  Public  Accountants  for the period
     ended  June  30,  1997,  previously  filed  as  Exhibit  15.1  to
     Quarterly  Report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter  ended  June 30,
     1997, and incorporated herein by reference.

15.4 Review  Report of  Independent  Accountants  for the period ended
     September 30, 1997, previously filed as Exhibit 15.1 to Quarterly
     Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1997, and
     incorporated herein by reference.

23.1 Consent  of   Coopers  &  Lybrand   L.L.P.   Independent   Public
     Accountants.

23.2 Consent  of David C.  Watt  (contained  in his  opinion  filed as
     Exhibit 5).

24.  Power  of  Attorney  (included   elsewhere  in  the  Registration
     Statement).

- --------------------

[FN]
*    None of the other  indebtedness of the Registrant  exceeds 10% of
     its total consolidated assets. The Registrant will furnish copies
     of the  instruments  relating  to such  other  indebtedness  upon
     request.
</FN>


ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS

     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file,  during  any  period  in which  offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include  any  prospectus  required  by section  10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising after
the effective date of the  Registration  Statement (or the most recent
post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or  in  the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
in the Registration Statement; and

(iii) To include any material  information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
provided,  however,  that  paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the
information  required to be included in a post-effective  amendment by
those  paragraphs  is  contained  in  periodic  reports  filed  by the
Registrant  pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of  1934  that  are  incorporated  by  reference  in the
Registration Statement.

(2) That,  for the  purpose of  determining  any  liability  under the
Securities Act of 1933,  each such  post-effective  amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration  statement  relating to the securities
offered  therein,  and the  offering of such  securities  at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain  unsold at the
termination of offering.

(4)  That,  for  purposes  of  determining  any  liability  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's  annual report
pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to section  15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of  1934)  that  is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
Registration  Statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a  new  registration
relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide
offering thereof.

(5)  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities  Act of 1933 may be  permitted to  directors,  officers and
controlling  persons  of the  Registrant  pursuant  to that  foregoing
provisions,  or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
is against  public policy as expressed in that Act and is,  therefore,
unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification  against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director,  officer or controlling  person of the
Registrant  in  the  successful   defense  of  any  action,   suit  or
proceeding)  is  asserted  by such  director,  officer or  controlling
person  in  connection  with  the  securities  being  registered,  the
Registrant  will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
been  settled  by  controlling   precedent,   submit  to  a  court  of
appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933
and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                              SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended,  the Registrant  certifies that it has reasonable  grounds to
believe that it meets all of the  requirements  for filing on Form S-3
and has duly caused this  Registration  Statement  to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of
Costa Mesa and State of California on December 18, 1997.

                                   ICN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

                                   /s/ Milan Panic
                                   ------------------------------
                                   By:  Milan Panic
                                        Chairman, President and Chief
                                          Executive Officer



                           POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each  person  whose  signature
appears below  constitutes  and appoints Milan Panic and David C. Watt
his true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full power of
substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place and
stead,  in any and all  capacities,  to  sign  any and all  amendments
(including post-effective  amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents
in connection therewith,  with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting  unto said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and each of them,
full  power and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and
thing  requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and
purposes  as he  might or could do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them,
or his substitute or substitutes,  may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

     PURSUANT TO THE  REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE
CAPACITY INDICATED.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE                                          TITLE                                  DATE
<S>                                  <C>                                            <C>



/s/ Milan Panic
- ----------------------------------
Milan Panic                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer           December 18, 1997
                                     (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ John E. Giordani
- ----------------------------------
John E. Giordani                     Executive Vice President,                      December 18, 1997
                                     Chief Financial Officer
                                     (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


  /s/ Norman Baker, Jr.
- ----------------------------------
Norman Barker, Jr.                   Director                                       December 18, 1997

  /s/ Senator Birch E. Bayh, Jr.
- ----------------------------------
Senator Birch E. Bayh, Jr.           Director                                       December 18, 1997


  /s/ Alan F. Charles
- ----------------------------------
Alan F. Charles                      Director                                       December 18, 1997

  /s/ Roger Guillemin
- ----------------------------------
Roger Guillemin, M.D., Ph.D.         Director                                       December 18, 1997


  /s/ Adam Jerney
- ----------------------------------
Adam Jerney                          Director, President, Chief Operating Officer   December 18, 1997


  /s/ Dale M. Hanson
- ----------------------------------
Dale M. Hanson                       Director                                         December 18, 1997


  /s/ Weldon B. Jolley, Ph.D.
- ----------------------------------
Weldon B. Jolley, Ph.D.              Director                                         December 18, 1997


  /s/ Jean-Francois Kurz
- ----------------------------------
Jean-Francois Kurz                   Director                                         December 18, 1997


  /s/ Thomas H. Lenagh
- ----------------------------------
Thomas H. Lenagh                     Director                                         December 18, 1997


  /s/ Charles T. Manatt
- ----------------------------------
Charles T. Manatt                    Director                                         December 18, 1997


  /s/ Stephen D. Moses
- ----------------------------------
Stephen D. Moses                     Director                                         December 18, 1997


  /s/ Michael Smith, Ph.D.
- ----------------------------------
Michael Smith, Ph.D.                 Director                                         December 18, 1997


  /s/ Roberts A. Smith, Ph.D.
- ----------------------------------
Roberts A. Smith, Ph.D.              Director                                         December 18, 1997


  /s/ Richard W. Starr
- ----------------------------------
Richard W. Starr                     Director                                         December 18, 1997

</TABLE>



INDEX TO EXHIBITS

4.1  Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant,
     previously  filed as Exhibit 3.1 to  Registration  Statement  No.
     33-83952 on Form S-1, which is incorporated  herein by reference,
     as amended by the Certificate of Merger, dated November 10, 1994,
     of ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.,  SPI  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., and
     Viratek, Inc. with and into ICN Merger Corp.; previously filed as
     Exhibit 4.1 to Registration  Statement No. 333-08179 on Form S-3,
     which is incorporated herein by reference.

4.2  By laws of the  Registrant,  previously  filed as Exhibit  3.2 to
     Registration  Statement  No.  33-83952  on  Form  S-1,  which  is
     incorporated herein by reference.

4.3  Form of Rights  Agreement,  dated as of November 2, 1994  between
     the  Registrant  and American  Stock  Transfer & Trust Company as
     Trustee,   previously   filed  as  Exhibit  4.3  to  Registration
     Statement  on  Form  8-A,  dated  November  10,  1994,  which  is
     incorporated herein by reference.

4.4  Bio Capital  Holding Trust  Instrument  between ICN  Biomedicals,
     Inc.,  Ansbacher  (C.I.) Limited and ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc.,
     dated as of January  26,  1987;  Subscription  Agreement  between
     Ansbacher (C.I.) Limited, ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., and Banque
     Gutzwiller,   Kurz,   Bungener  S.A.  and  the  other   financial
     institutions named therein dated as of January 26, 1987; Exchange
     Agency   Agreement   between  ICN   Biomedicals,   Inc.,   Banque
     Gutzwiller,   Kurz,   Bungener  S.A.,  and  the  other  financial
     institutions named therein dated as of January 26, 1987; Guaranty
     between ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and ICN Biomedicals, Inc. dated
     as of February 17, 1987  previously  filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the
     Company's  Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended  February  28,  1987,
     which is incorporated herein by reference.(FN*)

4.5  Supplemental  Agreement to the Bond Issue Agreement dated October
     31, 1994  between ICN  Biomedicals,  Inc.,  ICN  Pharmaceuticals,
     Inc.,  ICN  Subsidiary  Corp.,  ICN Merger  Corp.  and  Ansbacher
     (Guernsey)  Limited  previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.32 to the
     Company's  Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994,
     dated March 31, 1995, which is incorporated herein by reference.

4.6  Indenture  between ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc. and American Stock
     Transfer and Trust Company, as trustee,  relating to $115,000,000
     8 1/2% Convertible  Subordinated  Notes due 1999 (incorporated by
     reference  to the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
     Year ended December 31, 1996).(FN*)

4.7  Indenture,  dated as of  August  14,  1997,  by and among ICN and
     United  States  Trust  Company  of  New  York   (incorporated  by
     reference to the Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
     Three Months ended June 30, 1997).(FN*)

4.8  Warrant  Agreement  between Viratek,  Inc. and H.J. Meyers & Co.,
     Inc.,  previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registration  Statement
     No.  33-54678  on Form  S-2,  which  is  incorporated  herein  by
     reference.

5.   Opinion  of David C.  Watt,  Executive  Vice  President,  General
     Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Registrant,  regarding the
     legality of the securities being registered.

15.1 Awareness Letter of Independent  Accountant  regarding  Unaudited
     Interim Financial Information.

15.2 Review Report of Independent  Public  Accountants  for the period
     ended  March  31,  1997,  previously  filed  as  Exhibit  15.1 to
     Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  March 31,
     1997, and incorporated herein by reference.

15.3 Review Report of Independent  Public  Accountants  for the period
     ended  June  30,  1997,  previously  filed  as  Exhibit  15.1  to
     Quarterly  Report on Form  10-Q for the  quarter  ended  June 30,
     1997, and incorporated herein by reference.

15.4 Review  Report of  Independent  Accountants  for the period ended
     September 30, 1997, previously filed as Exhibit 15.1 to Quarterly
     Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1997, and
     incorporated herein by reference.

23.1 Consent  of   Coopers  &  Lybrand   L.L.P.   Independent   Public
     Accountants.

23.2 Consent  of David C.  Watt  (contained  in his  opinion  filed as
     Exhibit 5).

24.  Power  of  Attorney  (included   elsewhere  in  the  Registration
     Statement).

- --------------------
[FN]

*    None of the other  indebtedness of the Registrant  exceeds 10% of
     its total consolidated assets. The Registrant will furnish copies
     of the  instruments  relating  to such  other  indebtedness  upon
     request.
</FN>

                                                             Exhibit 5


December 18, 1997


ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
3300 Hyland Avenue
Costa Mesa, California 92626

         RE:      Registration Statement on Form S-3
                  ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
                  Common Stock
                  ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am Executive  Vice  President,  General  Counsel and  Corporate
Secretary of ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the
"Company"),  and have been  involved with the  registration  under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the  "Act"),  of the shares (the
"Shares")  of  common  stock,  $.01 par  value of the  Company,  being
offered pursuant to the above described Registration Statement.

     In  connection  with the offering of the Shares,  I have examined
the Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
the By-laws of the Company,  the Bio Capital Holding Trust  Instrument
and related agreements (the "Trust Instrument"), the Warrant Agreement
between  Viratek,  Inc. and H.J.  Meyers & Co., Inc.  ("Meyers")  (the
"Warrant Agreement"),  and other corporate records of the Company, and
such other documents I have deemed relevant to this opinion.

     Based and  relying  solely upon the  foregoing,  it is my opinion
that:

     (1)  the Shares  issuable  upon the  exchange of the new and
          old  Bio  Capital  Holding  Swiss  Franc   Exchangeable
          Certificates  due February 17, 2002,  in the  aggregate
          principal   amount  of  Swiss  Francs   37,870,000  and
          1,745,000,  respectively  (jointly the "Certificates"),
          when the  Certificates are exchanged in accordance with
          the terms of the Trust Instrument;

     (2)  the  Shares   issuable   upon  the   exercise   of  the
          outstanding five-year  representatives  warrants issued
          to  Meyers  or its  designees  (the  "Warrants"),  when
          issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the
          Warrant Agreement; and

     (3)  the Shares  issuable to the  employees of Polka Rzeszow
          S.A. in connection  with the Company's  acquisition  of
          Rzeszow, when issued,

will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
This  opinion  may be  filed  as an  exhibit  to the  above  described
Registration  Statement.  Consent also is given to the reference to me
under the caption "Legal  Matters" in such  Registration  Statement as
having  passed  upon the  validity of the  issuance of the Shares.  In
giving  this  consent,  I do not hereby  admit that I come  within the
category of persons whose  consent is required  under Section 7 of the
Act or the  rules  and  regulations  of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission promulgated thereunder.

                               Respectfully submitted,

                               /s/ David C. Watt
                               ---------------------------------------
                               David C. Watt
                               Executive Vice President,
                               General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

                                                          Exhibit 15.1

                                                   December 18, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

RE:  ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
     Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-38901)

     We are aware that our reports dated May 8, 1997, July 31, 1997
and November 3, 1997, respectively, on our reviews of interim
financial information of ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the three month
periods ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997 and
included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the
respective quarter, then ended, are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 436 (c) under the Securities
Act of 1933, these reports should not be considered a part of the
registration statement prepared or certified by us within the meaning
of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.


                                     /s/  Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
                                     ---------------------------------
                                          Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.

                                                          Exhibit 23.1


                  CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration
statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-38901) of our report dated March 4,
1997, which includes an emphasis of a matter paragraph related to the
Company's net monetary assets at ICN Yugoslavia, which would be
subject to foreign exchange loss if a devaluation of the Yugoslavian
dinar were to occur, on our audits of the consolidated financial
statements and financial statement schedule of ICN Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
"Independent Public Accountants."



Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
Newport Beach, California
December 18, 1997


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