Exhibit 5.1


                 [LETTERHEAD OF COOLEY GODWARD LLP GOES HERE]




June 30, 2000

Telik, Inc.
750 Gateway Boulevard
South San Francisco, CA  94080

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You have requested our opinion with respect to certain matters in connection
with the filing by Telik, Inc. (the "Company") of a Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") covering the underwritten public offering of up to
five million seven hundred fifty thousand (5,750,000) shares of common stock
(the "Common Stock").

In connection with this opinion, we have (i) examined and relied upon the
Registration Statement and related Prospectus, the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the originals or copies
certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates,
memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate
to enable us to render the opinion expressed below and (ii) assumed that the
shares of the Common Stock will be sold by the Underwriters at a price
established by the Pricing Committee of the Company's Board of Directors.

On the basis of the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, we are of the opinion
that the Common Stock, when sold and issued in accordance with the Registration
Statement and related Prospectus, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the
Prospectus included in the Registration Statement and to the filing of this
opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

Sincerely,

/s/ Deborah A. Marshall

Deborah A. Marshall