<ARTICLE>      5 
<LEGEND>       THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION 
               EXTRACTED FROM  THE QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT  TO SECTION
               13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE  ACT  OF 1934 FOR
               THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000 
       
                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                     JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                       SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                                9,954
<SECURITIES>                                          8,002
<RECEIVABLES>                                           135
<ALLOWANCES>                                              0
<INVENTORY>                                               0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     18,412
<PP&E>                                                7,796
<DEPRECIATION>                                        3,185
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       23,854
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                 1,521
<BONDS>                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                               0
<COMMON>                                             74,213
<OTHER-SE>                                          (52,073)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         23,854
<SALES>                                                   0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                      2,196
<CGS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                             0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     11,265
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      (5,237)
<INCOME-TAX>                                              0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  (5,237)
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                         (5,237)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        ($0.57)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        ($0.57)