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                                                                    EXHIBIT 5
[GRAY CARY WARE & FREIDENRICH LETTERHEAD]


September 14, 2000


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As legal counsel for SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a California corporation
(the "Company"), we are rendering this opinion in connection with the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of up to 1,500,000
shares of the Common Stock of the Company which may be issued pursuant to the
SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1995 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Option Plan")
and the 1995 Nonemployee Director Stock Option Plan (the "Director Plan").

We have examined all instruments, documents and records which we deemed relevant
and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed. In such
examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to
the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We are admitted to
practice only in the State of California and we express no opinion concerning
any law other than the law of the State of California and the federal law of the
United States.

Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that the 1,500,000 shares of
Common Stock which may be issued pursuant to the Option Plan and Director Plan
are duly authorized shares of the Company's Common Stock, and, when issued
against receipt of the consideration therefor in accordance with the provisions
of the Option Plan and Director Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement referred to above and the use of our name wherever it
appears in said Registration Statement.


Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP

GRAY CARY WARE & FREIDENRICH LLP