EXHIBIT 23.1






The Board of Directors
Alanex Corporation:



We consent to the  inclusion of our report dated March 3, 1997,  with respect to
the balance  sheets of Alanex  Corporation as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and
the related statements of operations,  stockholders'  equity, and cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, which report
appears in the Form 8-K of Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. dated June 4, 1997.





San Diego, California
June 4, 1997