<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GENELABS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 2,238 <SECURITIES> 26,068 <RECEIVABLES> 2,599 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 3,154 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 34,540 <PP&E> 11,537 <DEPRECIATION> 10,241 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 40,470 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 6,714 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 9,682 <COMMON> 137,084 <OTHER-SE> (113,366) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 40,470 <SALES> 2,575 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,392 <CGS> 1,620 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,620 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,092 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (338) <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,982) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,982) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,982) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.08) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.08)