Exhibit 23.1

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

     We  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in  this  Post-Effective
Amendment   No.  4  to   Registration   Statement   No.   333-102483  of  Ligand
Pharmaceuticals  Incorporated  on Form S-3 of our report dated February 25, 2003
(which  report  expresses an  unqualified  opinion and  includes an  explanatory
paragraph  referring  to a change in  accounting  principle),  appearing  in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ligand  Pharmaceuticals  Incorporated for the year
ended  December 31, 2002 and to the reference to us under the heading  "Experts"
in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

                                                     /S/DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

San Diego, California
June 17, 2003