<ARTICLE> 5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                       4,298,805
<SECURITIES>                                 9,867,714
<RECEIVABLES>                                  210,733
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  1,787,114
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            16,479,906
<PP&E>                                       9,377,211
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,461,976
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              22,949,201
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,184,967
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    82,769,840
<OTHER-SE>                                (61,149,160)<F1>
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                22,942,201
<SALES>                                        123,962
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,989,904
<CGS>                                           48,583
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             7,220,140
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (5,278,819)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (5,278,819)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (5,278,819)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.40)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.40)
<FN>
<F1> THIS REPRESENTS DEFICIT ACCUMULATED DURING DEVELOPMENT STAGE.
</FN>