EXHIBIT 23.1
 
               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
    We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Post-Effective Amendment
No. 1 to Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-07295) pertaining to the 1993 Stock
Option Plan and the Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 on Form S-3 to Form SB-2
(Form SB-2 No. 333-476-LA) for the registration of 4,724,302 shares of common
stock of our report dated February 13, 1998, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements of SuperGen, Inc. included in the Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.
 
                                          /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Palo Alto, California
March 13, 1998