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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S CONSENT



LIDAK Pharmaceuticals:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No.
33-49082 on Form S-1, Registration Statement No. 33-71276 on Form S-8,
Registration Statement No. 33-94370 on Form S-8, Registration Statement No.
33-76094 on Form S-3, Registration Statement No. 33-64983 on Form S-3 and
Registration Statement No. 333-24549 on Form S-3 of LIDAK Pharmaceuticals (a
development stage enterprise) of our report dated November 25, 1997, except for
the last paragraph of Note 6, as to which the date is December 29, 1997, which
report contains an explanatory paragraph referring to the status of the Company
as a development stage enterprise, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 
10-K/A of LIDAK Pharmaceuticals for the year ended September 30, 1997.


DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

San Diego, California
January 8, 1998