Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Forms S-8 (File Nos. 333-57577 and 333-34261) of Kendle International Inc. of our report dated February 15, 2002 relating to the financial statements, which appears in the Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Cincinnati, Ohio April 1, 2002