<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-23.01
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex23-01.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONSENT OF KPMG LLP
<TEXT>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


The Board of Directors
Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement
(No. 333-39546) on Form S-4 of Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. of our report
dated February 11, 2000 on the consolidated financial statements of Guilford
Pharmaceuticals Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999 and to the
reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" and "Selected Historical
Financial Information of Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc."

                                             /s/ KPMG LLP


Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
August 14, 2000
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>