EXHIBIT 23.3     
 
                       CONSENT OF MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE,
                          FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
 
September 5, 1997
 
  We hereby consent to the use of our opinion letter to the Board of Directors
of ALZA Corporation ("ALZA") included as Exhibit A to the Prospectus of
Crescendo Pharmaceuticals Corporation ("Crescendo") which forms a part of the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Crescendo originally filed on July 15,
1997, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and to the references
therein to such opinion and to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated under the captions "Summary" and "Reasons for the Distribution
and Effects on ALZA Corporation." In giving such consent, we do not admit that
we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section
7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, nor do we thereby admit
that we are experts with respect to any part of such Registration Statement
within the meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder.
 
                                          MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER &
                                             
                                          SMITH INCORPORATED     
                                             
                                          By: /s/ D. Casey Saffreno     
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Managing Director
                                             Investment Banking Group