Exhibit 23.1

                         Independent Auditors' Consent


The Board of Directors
Celgene Corporation:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (no.
333-70083, no. 33-21462, no. 33-38296, and no. 33-62510) on Form S-8 and no.
333-52963 on Form S-3 of Celgene Corporation of our report dated February 11,
1999, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Celgene Corporation and
subsidiary as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, which report
appears in the December 31, 1998 Annual report on Form 10-K of Celgene
Corporation.


                                                     /s/ KPMG LLP



Short Hills, New Jersey
March 31, 1999