<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS OF ANERGEN, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ANNUAL REPORT FILED ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 3,103 310 <SECURITIES> 11,050 9,343 <RECEIVABLES> 1,315 783 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 <INVENTORY> 0 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 15,653 10,539 <PP&E> 6,306 5,572 <DEPRECIATION> (4,713) (3,686) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 17,282 12,461 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,616 1,635 <BONDS> 472 636 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 57,514 47,400 <OTHER-SE> (43,320) (37,210) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 17,282 12,461 <SALES> 0 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,990 922 <CGS> 0 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 3,771 2,398 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 43 55 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,824) (1,531) <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,824) (1,531) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,824) (1,531) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.10) (0.10) <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0