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 Inhale Therapeutic
Systems, Inc. for the registration of 3,752,456 shares of its common stock, and
to the incorporation by reference of our report dated January 24, 2000, with
respect to the financial statements of Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc. included
in its Amended Annual Report (form 10-K/A) for the year ended December 31, 1999,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and of our report dated
January 5, 2001, with respect to the financial statements of Bradford Particle
Design plc included in Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc.'s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on January 11, 2001 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                          /s/ Ernst & Young

Palo Alto, California
January 18, 2001