Exhibit 32.1


      CERTIFICATION BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U. S. C.
                            SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED
            PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
            ---------------------------------------------------------

Pursuant to 18 U. S. C. Section 1350, I, Arnold S. Lippa, hereby certify that,
to the best of my knowledge, the Annual Report on Form 10-K of DOV
Pharmaceutical, Inc. for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (the "Report")
fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and that the information contained in the
Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and
results of operations of DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc.


/s/ Arnold S. Lippa
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Arnold S. Lippa
Co-Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
March 15, 2004

This certification accompanies this Report on Form 10-K pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not, except to the extent required
by such Act, be deemed filed by the Company for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Such
certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except to the
extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.