<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEETS OF NEORX CORPORATION AS OF 06/30/98 AND 12/31/97, AND THE RELATED STATE-
MENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR EACH OF THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 06/30/98 AND 06/30/97 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BE REFERENCE TO SUCH 10-Q REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
06/30/98.     
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000 
        
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                               1,569
<SECURITIES>                                        33,684
<RECEIVABLES>                                            0
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                              0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                    36,528
<PP&E>                                               7,850
<DEPRECIATION>                                       6,806
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                      38,056
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                1,496
<BONDS>                                              1,195
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              4
<COMMON>                                               420
<OTHER-SE>                                          34,941
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                        38,056
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     7,548
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                      65
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      1,721
<INCOME-TAX>                                             0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  1,721    
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         1,721
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .07