SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                Proxy Statement Pursuant To Section 14(a) Of
                    The Securities Exchange Act Of 1934

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [_]
Check the appropriate box:
[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
[_]  CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
     RULE 14A-6(E)(2))
[_]  Definitive Proxy Statement
[_]  Definitive Additional Materials
[X]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-12

                         ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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              (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                    N/A
          --------------------------------------------------------
  (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required.
[_]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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     (5) Total fee paid:
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[_] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[_] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     (1) Amount Previously Paid:
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     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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     (3) Filing Party:
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     (4) Date Filed:
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[Logo of ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]

ICN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

        International Headquarters           Telephone: (714) 545-0100
        ICN Plaza                            FAX:  (714) 641-7274
        3300 Hyland Avenue                   Telex: 67-0413
        Costa Mesa, California  92626


                               Please Deliver
                                Immediately


                           CONFERENCE CALL ALERT

           Milan Panic, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, ICN
         Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:ICN) cordially invites you to
                participate in our First Quarter Conference
                Call for the period ending March 31, 2001.


                           THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2001

              10:00 A.M. EASTERN TIME (7:00 A.M. PACIFIC TIME)

Mr. Panic and other members of management  will be on-line to discuss ICN's
First Quarter 2001 Earnings, followed by Q&A.

Please dial (719)  457-2624 at least ten  minutes  prior to the  conference
call in  order  to  afford  the  operator  enough  time to tie you into the
system. Please give the following confirmation code for the call: 601745.

If you  are  unable  to  participate  "live"  on  the  conference  call,  a
rebroadcast  recording  will be available  two hours  following  the call's
conclusion  through  Tuesday,  May 8. Please dial (719)  457-0820  for this
rebroadcast. You will need the above confirmation code for the rebroadcast.

We look forward to your participation.


ICN stockholders are strongly advised to read the proxy statement  relating
to ICN's 2001 annual meeting of stockholders when it becomes available,  as
it will contain important information.  Stockholders will be able to obtain
this proxy  statement,  any  amendments  to the proxy  statement  and other
documents filed by ICN with the Securities and Exchange Commission for free
at  the  Internet  website   maintained  by  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission at www.sec.gov.  In addition,  ICN will mail the proxy statement
to each  stockholder of record on the record date to be established for the
stockholders  meeting.  ICN will also make  additional  copies of the proxy
statement and any amendments to the proxy  statement  available for free to
ICN's  stockholders.  Please direct your request for the proxy statement to
Investor Relations,  ICN  Pharmaceuticals,  Inc., 3300 Hyland Avenue, Costa
Mesa, California 92626, telephone (714) 545-0100, extension 3104.






ICN, its executive  officers and directors may be deemed to be participants
in  the   solicitation   of  proxies  for  ICN's  2001  annual  meeting  of
stockholders.  Information regarding these participants is contained in the
Schedules 14A filed by ICN with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission by
April 19, 2001.

Any securities of ICN  International  offered will not be and have not been
registered under the U.S.  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and may not
be  offered  or  sold  in the  United  States,  absent  registration  or an
applicable exemption from registration requirements.

When  available,  copies  of the  preliminary  prospectus  relating  to the
offering  of  shares  of Class A  Common  Stock of  Ribapharm  Inc.  may be
obtained  from the offices of UBS Warburg LLC,  299 Park Avenue,  New York,
New York 10171 (212) 821-4011.

A registration  statement relating to the shares of Class A common stock of
Ribapharm  Inc.  has  been  filed  with the U.S.  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission but has not yet become  effective.  These  securities may not be
sold nor may offers to buy be accepted  prior to the time the  registration
statement  becomes  effective.  This press release 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 state in which such offer, solicitation
or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification  under the
securities laws of any such state.

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