<PAGE>

    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2001
                                                      Registration No. 333 -
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                                IVAX CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Florida                                              16-1003559
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                    4400 BISCAYNE BLVD., MIAMI, FLORIDA 33137
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

                IVAX CORPORATION 1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 STEVEN D. RUBIN
                             SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,
                          GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                                IVAX CORPORATION
                             4400 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD
                              MIAMI, FLORIDA 33137
                                 (305) 575-6000
                      (Name, address, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================== ============== ============================ ============================ =======================
TITLE OF SECURITIES              AMOUNT TO     PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING       PROPOSED MAXIMUM              AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED               BE REGISTERED      PRICE PER UNIT (1)       AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE (1)    REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------ -------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------
<S>                             <C>           <C>                          <C>                          <C>
COMMON STOCK, $.10 PAR VALUE    2,500,000(2)            $22.11                    $55,275,000                $13,818.75
------------------------------ -------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE           2,343,750                __                          __                         __
RIGHTS(3)
------------------------------ -------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------
</TABLE>

(1)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
      pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, based upon the
      average of the high and low prices per share of Common Stock of IVAX
      Corporation on October 22, 2001 on the American Stock Exchange.

(2)   This Registration Statement also relates to such indeterminate number of
      additional shares of Common Stock of the Registrant as may be issuable as
      a result of stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, mergers,
      reorganizations, combinations or exchanges of shares or other similar
      events.

(3)   The common stock purchase rights are attached to, and trade and transfer
      with, the common stock. The common stock purchase rights are only
      exercisable upon the occurrence of certain prescribed events, none of
      which has occurred.

<PAGE>
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed solely for the
purposes of registering additional shares of common stock issuable under our
1997 Employee Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). We previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") two Registration
Statements on Form S-8 on December 22, 1997 (File No. 333-42997) and on February
18, 2000 (File No. 333-30690) in order to register shares of common stock
issuable under the Plan. The contents of such earlier Registration Statements
are incorporated herein by reference.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8.           Exhibits.
------            --------


Exhibit
Number                      Description
-------                     -----------

5.1               Opinion of Counsel
23.1              Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (1)
23.2              Consent of Arthur Andersen - Langton Clarke (1)
24.1              Power of Attorney of certain officers of IVAX (2)


--------------
(1)      Filed herewith.
(2)      Included on signature pages of this Registration Statement.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Miami, State of Florida on July 31, 2001.

                            IVAX CORPORATION

                            By: /s/ Phillip Frost, M.D.
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Phillip Frost, M.D.
                               Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints each of Thomas E. Beier and Thomas E. McClary, or
either of them, each acting alone, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person
and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, in
connection with the registrant's registration statement on Form S-8 under the
Securities Act of 1933, including to sign the registration statement in the name
and on behalf of the registrant or on behalf of the undersigned as a director or
officer of the registrant, and any and all amendments or supplements to the
registration statement, including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments or supplements to the registration statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities exchange or
securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes
or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                   -----------

                                     -3-

<PAGE>



         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Signature                          Title                                                  Date
---------                          -----                                                  ----
<S>                                <C>                                               <C>

/s/ Phillip Frost, M.D.            Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief         October 26, 2001
-----------------------            Executive Officer
Phillip Frost, M.D.                (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Neil Flanzraich                Director, Vice Chairman and President             October 26, 2001
-------------------
Neil Flanzraich


/s/ Jane Hsiao, Ph.D.              Director, Vice Chairman- Technical Affairs and    October 26, 2001
---------------------              Chief Technical Officer
Jane Hsiao, Ph.D.


/s/ Isaac Kaye                     Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer       October 26, 2001
--------------
Isaac Kaye


/s/ Thomas E. Beier                Senior Vice President - Finance and               October 26, 2001
-------------------                Chief Financial Officer
Thomas E. Beier                    (Principal Financial Officer)


/s/ Thomas E. McClary              Vice President- Accounting                        October 26, 2001
---------------------              (Principal Accounting Officer)
Thomas E. McClary


/s/ Mark Andrews                   Director                                          October 26, 2001
-----------------
Mark Andrews


/s/ Ernst Biekert, Ph.D.           Director                                          October 26, 2001
------------------------
/s/ Ernst Biekert, Ph.D


/s/ Charles M. Fernandez           Director                                          October 26, 2001
------------------------
Charles M. Fernandez


/s/ Jack Fishman, Ph.D.            Director                                          October 26, 2001
-----------------------
Jack Fishman, Ph.D.
</Table>
                                      -4-
<PAGE>


                               EXHIBIT INDEX

  Exhibit
  Number           Description
  -------          -----------

  5.1              Opinion of Counsel
  23.1             Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
  23.2             Consent of Arthur Andersen - Langton Clarke
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "g72259s-8.txt", "description": "IVAX CORPORATION", "secsgml_size_bytes": 10308}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "IVAX CORP /DE", "cik": "0000772197", "assigned-sic": "2834", "irs-number": "161003559", "state-of-incorporation": "FL", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-72280", "film-number": "1767722"}, "business-address": {"street1": "4400 BISCAYNE BLVD", "city": "MIAMI", "state": "FL", "zip": "33137", "phone": "3055756000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "4400 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD", "city": "MIAMI", "state": "FL", "zip": "33137"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "INLAND VACUUM INDUSTRIES INC", "date-changed": "19870611"}, {"former-conformed-name": "IVACO INDUSTRIES INC", "date-changed": "19871213"}, {"former-conformed-name": "IVAX CORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}]}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2001
                                                      Registration No. 333 -
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                                IVAX CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Florida                                              16-1003559
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

                    4400 BISCAYNE BLVD., MIAMI, FLORIDA 33137
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

                IVAX CORPORATION 1997 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                 STEVEN D. RUBIN
                             SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,
                          GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                                IVAX CORPORATION
                             4400 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD
                              MIAMI, FLORIDA 33137
                                 (305) 575-6000
                      (Name, address, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
============================== ============== ============================ ============================ =======================
TITLE OF SECURITIES              AMOUNT TO     PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING       PROPOSED MAXIMUM              AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED               BE REGISTERED      PRICE PER UNIT (1)       AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE (1)    REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------ -------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------
COMMON STOCK, $.10 PAR VALUE    2,500,000(2)            $22.11                    $55,275,000                $13,818.75
------------------------------ -------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE           2,343,750                __                          __                         __
RIGHTS(3)
------------------------------ -------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------- -----------------------
(1)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
      pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, based upon the
      average of the high and low prices per share of Common Stock of IVAX
      Corporation on October 22, 2001 on the American Stock Exchange.

(2)   This Registration Statement also relates to such indeterminate number of
      additional shares of Common Stock of the Registrant as may be issuable as
      a result of stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, mergers,
      reorganizations, combinations or exchanges of shares or other similar
      events.

(3)   The common stock purchase rights are attached to, and trade and transfer
      with, the common stock. The common stock purchase rights are only
      exercisable upon the occurrence of certain prescribed events, none of
      which has occurred.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

         This Registration Statement on Form S-8 is filed solely for the
purposes of registering additional shares of common stock issuable under our
1997 Employee Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). We previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") two Registration
Statements on Form S-8 on December 22, 1997 (File No. 333-42997) and on February
18, 2000 (File No. 333-30690) in order to register shares of common stock
issuable under the Plan. The contents of such earlier Registration Statements
are incorporated herein by reference.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 8.           Exhibits.
------            --------

Exhibit
Number                      Description
-------                     -----------

5.1               Opinion of Counsel
23.1              Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (1)
23.2              Consent of Arthur Andersen - Langton Clarke (1)
24.1              Power of Attorney of certain officers of IVAX (2)

--------------
(1)      Filed herewith.
(2)      Included on signature pages of this Registration Statement.

                                      -2-
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Miami, State of Florida on July 31, 2001.

                            IVAX CORPORATION

                            By: /s/ Phillip Frost, M.D.
                               -------------------------------------------------
                               Phillip Frost, M.D.
                               Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints each of Thomas E. Beier and Thomas E. McClary, or
either of them, each acting alone, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person
and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, in
connection with the registrant's registration statement on Form S-8 under the
Securities Act of 1933, including to sign the registration statement in the name
and on behalf of the registrant or on behalf of the undersigned as a director or
officer of the registrant, and any and all amendments or supplements to the
registration statement, including any and all stickers and post-effective
amendments or supplements to the registration statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable securities exchange or
securities self-regulatory body, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes
or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

                                   -----------

                                     -3-
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                          Title                                                  Date
---------                          -----                                                  ----
/s/ Phillip Frost, M.D.            Director, Chairman of the Board and Chief         October 26, 2001
-----------------------            Executive Officer
Phillip Frost, M.D.                (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Neil Flanzraich                Director, Vice Chairman and President             October 26, 2001
-------------------
Neil Flanzraich

/s/ Jane Hsiao, Ph.D.              Director, Vice Chairman- Technical Affairs and    October 26, 2001
---------------------              Chief Technical Officer
Jane Hsiao, Ph.D.

/s/ Isaac Kaye                     Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer       October 26, 2001
--------------
Isaac Kaye

/s/ Thomas E. Beier                Senior Vice President - Finance and               October 26, 2001
-------------------                Chief Financial Officer
Thomas E. Beier                    (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Thomas E. McClary              Vice President- Accounting                        October 26, 2001
---------------------              (Principal Accounting Officer)
Thomas E. McClary

/s/ Mark Andrews                   Director                                          October 26, 2001
-----------------
Mark Andrews

/s/ Ernst Biekert, Ph.D.           Director                                          October 26, 2001
------------------------
/s/ Ernst Biekert, Ph.D

/s/ Charles M. Fernandez           Director                                          October 26, 2001
------------------------
Charles M. Fernandez

/s/ Jack Fishman, Ph.D.            Director                                          October 26, 2001
-----------------------
Jack Fishman, Ph.D.
-4-
EXHIBIT INDEX

  Exhibit
  Number           Description
  -------          -----------

  5.1              Opinion of Counsel
  23.1             Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
  23.2             Consent of Arthur Andersen - Langton Clarke