<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001010915 <NAME> MICROCIDE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 4,877 <SECURITIES> 24,272 <RECEIVABLES> 1,287 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 31,259 <PP&E> 19,578 <DEPRECIATION> (10,285) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 41,251 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 3,345 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 66,903 <OTHER-SE> (31,561) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 41,521 <SALES> 299 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,692 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,753 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 71 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,723) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,723) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,723) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.25) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.25)