EXHIBIT 23.1

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

    We consent to the incorporation by reference in Form S-8 and the
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-07295)
pertaining to the 1993 Stock Option Plan, 1996 Director's Stock Option Plan and
Employees and Consultants Stock Option Agreement/Plan, the Form S-8
(Registration No. 333-58303) pertaining to the 1993 Stock Option Plan, and 1998
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-87369)
pertaining to the 1993 Stock Option Plan, the Post-Effective Amendment No. 6 on
Form S-3 to Form SB-2 (Form SB-2 No. 333-476-LA) for the registration of
4,477,402 shares of common stock and 328,500 warrants to purchase common stock,
and the Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-88051) for the registration of 2,014,036
shares of common stock, of our report dated February 18, 2000, with respect to
the consolidated financial statements of SuperGen, Inc. included in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999.

                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Palo Alto, California
March 14, 2000