<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF OPERATION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 24,386,872 <SECURITIES> 500,000 <RECEIVABLES> 371,793 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 25,317,602 <PP&E> 430,285 <DEPRECIATION> 176,562 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 25,594,223 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,675,673 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 5,000,000 <COMMON> 49,622,795 <OTHER-SE> (37,445,278) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 25,594,223 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 17,499,948 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 25,323,526 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 226,685 <INCOME-PRETAX> 591,611 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 591,611 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 591,611 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.05 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.04