<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 140,080,550 <SECURITIES> 89,111,093 <RECEIVABLES> 18,929,399 <ALLOWANCES> 6,297,986 <INVENTORY> 2,273,196 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 258,361,579 <PP&E> 8,742,537 <DEPRECIATION> 2,064,284 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 282,668,025 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 35,445,272 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 41,473 <OTHER-SE> 196,806,280 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 282,668,025 <SALES> 123,932,807 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 123,932,807 <CGS> 12,304,053 <TOTAL-COSTS> 12,304,053 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 56,900,775 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 64,622,038 <INCOME-TAX> 23,263,933 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 41,358,105 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 41,358,105 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.95