<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARRY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GENOME THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1995, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE NOTES THERETO. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1995 <PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1994 <PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1995 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 5,886 <SECURITIES> 2,341 <RECEIVABLES> 620 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,897 <PP&E> 4,172 <DEPRECIATION> 2,452 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,529 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 3,398 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 1,348 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 5,891 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 7,239 <SALES> 7,385 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 11,207 <CGS> 6,414 <TOTAL-COSTS> 10,622 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,208 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 585 <EPS-PRIMARY> .05 <EPS-DILUTED> .04