<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 7,164 <SECURITIES> 19,299 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 27,338 <PP&E> 6,869 <DEPRECIATION> (3,837) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 30,396 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 8,653 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 119 <OTHER-SE> 20,859 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 30,396 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 7,070 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 16,870 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,996 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 114 <INCOME-PRETAX> (11,796) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (11,796) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (11,796) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.12) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.12)