EXHIBIT 23.1

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

    We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus
of Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc. for the registration of 3,752,456 shares of
its common stock, and to the incorporation by reference of our report dated
January 24, 2000, with respect to the financial statements of Inhale Therapeutic
Systems, Inc. included in its Amended Annual Report (form 10-K/A) for the year
ended December 31, 1999, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and
of our report dated January 5, 2001, with respect to the financial statements of
Bradford Particle Design plc included in Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc.'s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 11, 2001 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

                                          /s/ Ernst & Young

Palo Alto, California
February 1, 2001