<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000886163-14-000076.txt : 20140627
<SEC-HEADER>0000886163-14-000076.hdr.sgml : 20140627
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140624060403
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000886163-14-000076
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140623
ITEM INFORMATION:		Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140624
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140624

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886163
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				770160744
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33093
		FILM NUMBER:		14936326

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11119 NORTH TORREY PINES ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			LA JOLLA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92037
		BUSINESS PHONE:		858-550-7500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11119 NORTH TORREY PINES ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			LA JOLLA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92037
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ligand_tgtxlicenseagreemen.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
	<head>
		<!-- Document created using WebFilings 1 -->
		<!-- Copyright 2008-2014 WebFilings LLC. All Rights Reserved -->
		<title>Ligand_TGTXlicenseagreement8K</title>
	</head>
	<body style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">
<a name="sE00CA48BD50C699ED777CBEF695D8ACF"></a><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11.5pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11.5pt;"><br></font></div></div><br><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:16pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:16pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;"><hr></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:center;font-size:16pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;"><hr></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 23, 2014</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:8px;text-align:center;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:11pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td width="41%"></td><td width="25%"></td><td width="34%"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;padding-left:8px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">001-33093</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">77-0160744</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;padding-left:8px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(Commission File Number)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(IRS Employer</font></div><div style="text-align:center;padding-left:2px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Identification No.)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">11119 North Torrey Pines Road, Suite 200, La Jolla, California 92037</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">(858) 550-7500</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:48px;text-indent:-48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;text-decoration:underline;">N/A</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;padding-left:288px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;"><hr></div><div style="line-height:100%;padding-top:16px;text-align:center;padding-left:1px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;"><hr></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:16px;text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</font></div><div style="line-height:180%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;Written communications pursuant to Rule&#160;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </font></div><div style="line-height:180%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&#160;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </font></div><div style="line-height:180%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&#160;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </font></div><div style="line-height:180%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&#160;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;"><hr></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><br><div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><a name="sE00CA48BD50C699ED777CBEF695D8ACF"></a><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11.5pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11.5pt;"><br></font></div></div><br><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;<br> </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 1.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">On June 23, 2014, we entered into a License Agreement (the &#8220;Agreement&#8221;) with TG Therapeutics, Inc. (&#8220;TGTX&#8221;).  Under the Agreement, we granted TGTX an exclusive worldwide license for the development and commercialization of our interleukin-1 receptor associated kinase-4 (&#8220;IRAK-4&#8221;) inhibitor technology. Our IRAK-4 inhibition program currently is in preclinical development for potential use against certain cancers and autoimmune diseases.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Under the terms of the Agreement, we are receiving 125,000 shares of TGTX common stock, valued at approximately $1 million, as an upfront license fee.  </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">We will also be eligible to receive, under the Agreement, potential milestone payments of up to approximately $207 million upon achievement of specific clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone events.  </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">In addition, the Agreement entitles us to receive royalties on TGTX&#8217;s future net sales of licensed products containing IRAK-4 inhibitors.  The basic royalty rate for licensed products covered by our issued patents will be 6% for annual sales of up to $1 billion and 9.5% for annual sales in excess of that threshold; and the basic rate for licensed products not covered by our issued patents will be 4.5%, subject to possible increase or decrease.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">IRAK-4 is a serine/threonine protein kinase that is a key downstream signaling component of the interleukin-1 receptor and multiple toll-like receptors.  Signaling through IRAK-4 is important for both innate immunity and inflammation.  We believe our proprietary compounds can selectively and potently inhibit IRAK-4 activity.  IRAK-4 inhibitors may have therapeutic potential in oncology (including against certain b-cell lymphomas) and a number of autoimmune diseases. We originally acquired the rights to the IRAK-4 inhibition program at a discovery stage via our 2008 acquisition of Pharmacopeia, Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;text-indent:264px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:480px;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td width="133px"></td><td width="346px"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:16px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:16px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Date: June 24, 2014</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="padding-bottom:16px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">By:   </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Charles S. Berkman</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;<br>Name:   Charles S. Berkman <br>Title:   Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:264px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><br><div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><a name="sE00CA48BD50C699ED777CBEF695D8ACF"></a><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:11.5pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11.5pt;"><br></font></div></div><br><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:11.5pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:11.5pt;"><br></font></div><br><div></div>	</body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
