<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-QSB
FOR THE PERIOD  ENEDED  SEPTEMBER  30, 1996 AND IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000884888
<NAME>                        SunPharm Corporation 
<MULTIPLIER>                  1
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1996          
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-01-1996              
<PERIOD-END>                    Sep-30-1996            
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                       1.000
<CASH>                            1,435,544               
<SECURITIES>                              0      
<RECEIVABLES>                             0        
<ALLOWANCES>                              0         
<INVENTORY>                               0         
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  1,484,531             
<PP&E>                                    0     
<DEPRECIATION>                            0     
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,484,531             
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               949,101           
<BONDS>                                   0    
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0     
<PREFERRED>                               0    
<COMMON>                                334       
<OTHER-SE>                          535,096           
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,484,531               
<SALES>                                   0     
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    547,385          
<CGS>                                     0   
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     2,386,337           
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          0   
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          0    
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        0    
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 (1,838,952)             
<INCOME-TAX>                              0    
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0    
<DISCONTINUED>                            0    
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0     
<CHANGES>                                 0     
<NET-INCOME>                    (1,838,952)            
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         (.61)      
<EPS-DILUTED>                         (.61)