<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Item 1 of Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 1996 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such 10-K.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                              U.S. Dollars
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                             DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                    1
<CASH>                                         7,628
<SECURITIES>                                  30,622
<RECEIVABLES>                                  2,126
<ALLOWANCES>                                       0
<INVENTORY>                                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              43,175
<PP&E>                                        32,546
<DEPRECIATION>                                 9,610
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                66,876
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         21,128
<BONDS>                                            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                          21
<OTHER-SE>                                    45,226
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  66,876
<SALES>                                            0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              41,785
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              50,821
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               220
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              (6,671)
<INCOME-TAX>                                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          (6,761)
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                 (6,761)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                 (0.33)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                 (0.33)