EXHIBIT 23.1
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                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
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As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference  in this  Registration  Statement  of our report dated March 22, 1999,
included in American  Biogenetic  Sciences,  Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended
December  31,  1998,  and to  all  references  to  our  firm  included  in  this
Registration Statement.

                                                 /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

  Melville, New York
  December 16, 1999