<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-15-060785.txt : 20150819
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-15-060785.hdr.sgml : 20150819
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150819060044
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-15-060785
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150817
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150819
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150819

ISSUER:		

	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

	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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KNOTT DAVID M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000808722

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33093
		FILM NUMBER:		151062814

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		485 UNDERHILL BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 205
		CITY:			SYOSSET
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11791-3419
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-08-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886163</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LGND</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000808722</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KNOTT DAVID M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>485 UNDERHILL BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 205</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SYOSSET</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11791-3419</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>969300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Knott Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>196186</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Shoshone Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30771</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1666</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Managed Account C</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-08-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>95.9843</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66152</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1843</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By immediate family member</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person is the managing member of Knott Partners Management, LLC, which is (a) the sole general partner of Shoshone Partners, L.P., and Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P. and (b) the managing general partner of Knott Partners, L.P. The Reporting Person is also a general partner of Knott Partners, L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person is the sole director and the president of Dorset Management Corporation, which provides investment management services to separate institutional managed accounts (each, a &quot;Managed Account&quot;), and (b) the spouse of the immediate family member (the &quot;Spouse&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">As a result of the Reporting Person's interests in Knott Partners Management, LLC and in Dorset Management Corporation, the Reporting Person has investment discretion and control over the securities in this entry. Except with respect to those securities held by the Spouse, the Reporting Person may be deemed indirectly to beneficially own the securities in this entry as a result of a performance related fee. Except with respect to the Reporting Person's beneficial interest in Knott Partners, L.P., Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P., and Shoshone Partners, L.P., the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities beneficially owned by the Managed Account, except to the extent ultimately realized. Each of Knott Partners, L.P., Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P., Shoshone Partners, L.P., the Managed Account and the Spouse disclaims beneficial ownership of securities reported as owned by any other party.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David M. Knott</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-08-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
