<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001010915 <NAME> MICROCIDE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> Sep-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 1,970 <SECURITIES> 28,548 <RECEIVABLES> 1,743 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 32,905 <PP&E> 18,884 <DEPRECIATION> 8,957 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 43,167 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,896 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 64,484 <OTHER-SE> 1,759 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 43,167 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,843 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,703 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,404) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,404) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,404) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.22) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.22)