<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 7,672 <SECURITIES> 49,140 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 59,061 <PP&E> 14,792 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 75,204 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 34,424 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 195,955 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 75,205 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 15,641 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 131,814 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,685 <INCOME-PRETAX> (114,837) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (114,837) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (114,837) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> (5.33)