<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of SuperGen, Inc. for
the registration of 697,533 shares of its common stock and to the incorporation
by reference therein of our report dated February 18, 2000, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of SuperGen, Inc. included in its Annual
Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1999, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Palo Alto, California
December 14, 2000