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Basis of Presentation (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	$ 3,440us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	$ 2,767us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis
Gross unrealized gains	4,954us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains	2,914us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains
Gross unrealized losses	0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss	0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss
Estimated fair value	8,394us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	5,681us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
Short-term investments
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	2,179us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross unrealized gains	4,954us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross unrealized losses	0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Estimated fair value	7,133us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Certificates of deposit - restricted
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	1,261us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = lgnd_CertificatesOfDepositRestrictedMember	1,341us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = lgnd_CertificatesOfDepositRestrictedMember
Gross unrealized gains	0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = lgnd_CertificatesOfDepositRestrictedMember	0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = lgnd_CertificatesOfDepositRestrictedMember
Gross unrealized losses	0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = lgnd_CertificatesOfDepositRestrictedMember	0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = lgnd_CertificatesOfDepositRestrictedMember
Estimated fair value	1,261us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = lgnd_CertificatesOfDepositRestrictedMember	1,341us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = lgnd_CertificatesOfDepositRestrictedMember
Short-term investments
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost		1,426us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
Gross unrealized gains		2,914us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGains / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
Gross unrealized losses		0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLoss / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember
Estimated fair value		$ 4,340us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember

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