SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                    ________

                                    FORM 6-K

                        REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
                      PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16 OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         For the month of October, 2002.

                                  Serono S.A.
                      -----------------------------------
                              (Registrant's Name)

                            15 bis, Chemin des Mines
                                 Case Postale 54
                                CH-1211 Geneva 20
                                  Switzerland
                      -----------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                                    1-15096
                      -----------------------------------
                              (Commission File No.)

     (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

     Form 20-F  X  Form 40-F
              ----           ----

     (Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.)

     Yes      No  X
         ----    ----

     (If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-______)



IVAX                                                    [GRAPHIC OMITTED] SERONO

IVAX Corporation
4400 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33137
Telephone: 305-575-6000


FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE
-----------------------


                    SERONO AND IVAX TO DEVELOP ORAL THERAPY
                             FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

GENEVA,  SWITZERLAND  AND  MIAMI,  USA  -  OCTOBER  30,  2002
Serono S.A. (virt-x: SEO and NYSE: SRA) and IVAX Corporation (AMEX: IVX and LSE:
IVX.L) today announced  a worldwide agreement to develop and commercialize IVAX'
product,  cladribine,  as  potentially  the  first orally effective treatment of
multiple  sclerosis.

Ernesto  Bertarelli,  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Serono,  commented:  "This
agreement  is  part  of our long-term strategy for developing novel therapies in
neurology.  With  cladribine  we  plan  to  offer patients an oral therapy which
complements  Rebif,  our  leading  treatment  for  multiple  sclerosis."

"We  are  very  pleased  to  enter  into  this  agreement with Serono, a leading
innovator  in  the  development  of drugs to treat multiple sclerosis," remarked
Phillip  Frost,  M.D,  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IVAX Corporation.
"This agreement brings together our combined expertise in the development of CNS
therapeutics,  IVAX'  capabilities  for  manufacturing  proprietary  oral
pharmaceutical  products  and  Serono's  global  experience in the marketing and
sales  of  Rebif,  an  important  treatment  for  multiple  sclerosis."

Based  upon  clinical  and  Magnetic  Resonance Imaging (MRI) data from phase II
trials  suggesting  that  intravenous  cladribine may be effective in certain MS
patients,  Serono  and  IVAX  plan  to establish the optimal oral formulation of
cladribine  and  then  initiate  further  clinical  trials.

Under  terms  of  the  agreement,  IVAX  will  receive  a  series of undisclosed
milestone payments and will also receive royalties on sales of the product, once
marketed.  The  current  worldwide  market  for multiple sclerosis treatments is
more  than  $2.5  billion.




                                      -more



ABOUT  CLADRIBINE

Cladribine is a purine-analogue that disrupts the proliferation of certain white
blood  cells,  including  monocytes  and  lymphocytes, which are involved in the
pathological  process  of  multiple  sclerosis.

ABOUT  SERONO

Serono  is  a  global  biotechnology  leader.  The  Company  has six recombinant
products  on  the  market,  Gonal-F(R),  Luveris(R),  Ovidrel(R)/Ovitrelle(R),
Rebif(R),  Serostim(R)  and Saizen(R) [somatropin].  (Luveris(R) is not approved
in  the  USA).  In  addition  to  being the world leader in reproductive health,
Serono  has  strong  market  positions in neurology, metabolism and growth.  The
Company's  research  programs  are  focused  on  growing these businesses and on
establishing  new  therapeutic  areas.  Currently,  there  are  seventeen  new
molecules  in  development.

In  2001,  Serono  achieved  worldwide revenues of U.S. $1.38 billion, and a net
income  of U.S. $317 million, making it the third largest biotech company in the
world based on revenues.  The Company operates in 45 countries, and its products
are  sold  in  over  100  countries.  Bearer  shares of Serono S.A., the holding
company,  are  traded on the virt-x (SEO) and its American Depository Shares are
traded  on  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange  (SRA).

ABOUT  IVAX

IVAX  Corporation,  with operations in nearly 30 countries and its products sold
in  70  countries, had sales in 2001 of $1.2 billion.  IVAX discovers, develops,
manufactures, and markets branded and brand equivalent (generic) pharmaceuticals
and  veterinary  products  in  the  U.S. and internationally.  The company has a
number  of  proprietary  drugs  in  various  phases  of clinical trials to treat
respiratory, oncologic, urologic and central nervous system diseases.  Among the
new  molecules  being  developed, immunotoxins to treat cancer, soft steroids to
treat  a  variety  of  inflammatory  diseases, and a brain targeted estrogen for
postmenopausal  hormone  replacement  therapy  represent  particularly  novel
advances.

Copies of this and other news releases may be obtained free of charge from IVAX'
web  site  at www.ivax.com.  Shareholders and prospective investors can register
              ------------
to  automatically  receive  the  company's  press  releases  via  email  at
www.ivax.com/ComNewsv2.htm.
--------------------------


                                     -more-



     For  Serono:

     Some  of  the  statements  in  this press release are forward looking. Such
     statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties
     and  other  factors  that  may  cause  actual  results,  performance  or
     achievements  of Serono S.A. and affiliates to be materially different from
     those  expected  or  anticipated  in  the  forward-looking  statements.
     Forward-looking  statements  are based on Serono's current expectations and
     assumptions,  which may be affected by a number of factors, including those
     discussed in this press release and more fully described in Serono's Annual
     Report  on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
     on  May  21  2002.  These  factors include any failure or delay in Serono's
     ability  to  develop  new  products,  any  failure  to  receive anticipated
     regulatory approvals, any problems in commercializing current products as a
     result of competition or other factors, our ability to obtain reimbursement
     coverage  for our products, and government regulations limiting our ability
     to  sell  our  products.  Serono  has  no  responsibility  to  update  the
     forward-looking  statements  contained  in  this  press  release to reflect
     events  or  circumstances  occurring  after the date of this press release.

     For  IVAX:

     This  press  release  contains certain forward-looking statements regarding
     product  development  efforts  and  product  performance  and  other
     non-historical  facts  which are being are made pursuant to the safe harbor
     provisions  of  the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
     statements  involve  risks  and  uncertainties  that cannot be predicted or
     quantified  and, consequentially, actual results may differ materially from
     those  expressed  or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks
     and  uncertainties  include,  among  others,  that  development efforts for
     Cladribine  may fail, may not achieve the expected results or effectiveness
     and/or  may  not generate data that would support the approval or marketing
     of this product for the indications being studied or for other indications;
     that  clinical  milestones  may not be achieved on a timely basis or at all
     and  accordingly  IVAX  may not receive any of the anticipated milestone or
     royalty  payments  under the license agreement; and that others may develop
     product formulations that are superior to IVAX' formulation. In addition to
     the risk factors set forth above, IVAX' forward looking statements may also
     be  adversely  affected  by  general  market  factors,  competitive product
     development,  product  availability,  federal  and  state  regulations  and
     legislation,  the  regulatory  process  for  new  products and indications,
     manufacturing  issues  that  may  arise,  trade  buying  patterns,  patent
     positions  and  litigation,  among  other  things.  For further details and
     discussion  of  these  and  other risks and uncertainties, see IVAX' Annual
     Report  on  Form  10-K  and  other filings with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission.


FOR  MORE  INFORMATION,  PLEASE  CONTACT:

SERONO IN GENEVA,                                      SERONO, INC. ROCKLAND, MA
SWITZERLAND
                                                       USA
MEDIA  RELATIONS:         INVESTOR RELATIONS:          MEDIA RELATIONS:
Tel:  +41-22-739 36 00    Tel:  +41-22-739 36 01       Tel:  +1 781 681 2122
Fax:  +41-22-739 30 85    Fax:  +41-22-739 30 22       Fax:  +1 781 681 2935
www.serono.com            Reuters: SEOZ.VX/SRA.N       www.seronousa.com
--------------            Bloomberg SEO VX/SRA US      -----------------


IVAX CORPORATION
Howard A. Goldman
Director/Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Phone: 305.575.6043
www.ivax.com
------------

                                      -end-



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



                                          SERONO S.A.
                                          a Swiss corporation
                                          (Registrant)


October 30, 2002                          By:    /s/ Jacques Theurillat
                                                 ------------------------------
                                          Name:  Jacques Theurillat
                                          Title: Deputy Chief Executive Officer