<ARTICLE> 5
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                       1,167,458               5,538,099
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
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<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,352                       0
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<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           12,855                 109,874
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<COMMON>                                     1,029,803               1,095,803
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<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,226,134               5,661,920
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