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                                                                    Exhibit 23.4

                   [HOULIHAN LOKEY HOWARD & ZUKIN LETTERHEAD]



August 6, 2001


Mr. Randy Stolworthy
President and Chief Executive Officer
NZ Corporation
333 North 44th Street
Suite 420
Phoenix, AZ 85008

Dear Mr. Stolworthy:

In connection with the merger of NZ Corporation (the "Company") with Lipid
Sciences ("Lipid") and Lipid's purchase of certain of the Company's shares that
are currently held by Sun NZ, LLC, the Company has retained Houlihan Lokey
Howard & Zukin Financial Advisors, Inc. ("Houlihan Lokey") to provide certain
services as set forth in a retainer agreement (the "Agreement") dated April 9,
2001.

Pursuant to the third paragraph of Section 2 of the Agreement, Houlihan Lokey
consents to a description of and the inclusion of the text of its written
fairness Opinion (as defined in the Agreement) in any filing required to be
made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in
materials delivered to the Company's stockholders that are a part of such
filings.

Sincerely,



/s/ Marjorie L. Bowen
----------------------
Marjorie L. Bowen
Managing Director
Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Financial Advisors, Inc.