<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATION. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 14,103,207 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 15,787,354 <PP&E> 429,294 <DEPRECIATION> 916,110 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 16,656,742 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 687,984 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 8,448,905 <COMMON> 10,055 <OTHER-SE> 7,509,798 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 16,656,742 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 629,962 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 12,881,998 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,483 <INCOME-PRETAX> (12,265,520) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (12,265,520) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (12,265,520) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.28) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.28)