XML 43 R33.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Business Combination (Details) $ in Thousands |  | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 08, 2016 USD ($) program platform | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  | 20 years |
Goodwill |  | $ 72,360 | $ 12,238
OMT, Inc. |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |
Number of transgenic animal platforms | platform | 3 |  |
Number of partnered programs added | program | 16 |  |
Consideration transferred | $ 173,400 |  |
Period for certain post-closing adjustments | 15 months |  |
Goodwill | $ 60,121 |  |
Core Technology | OMT, Inc. |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |
Projected cash flow discount rate (percent) | 15.50% |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 20 years |  |

X
- Definition Business Combination, Assumptions Used Estimated Future Cash Flows, Discount Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lgnd_BusinessCombinationAssumptionsUsedEstimatedFutureCashFlowsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix: | lgnd_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Business Combination, Number of Partnered Programs Added + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lgnd_BusinessCombinationNumberofPartneredProgramsAdded
Namespace Prefix: | lgnd_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Business Combination, Period for Certain Post-closing Adjustments + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lgnd_BusinessCombinationPeriodforCertainPostclosingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix: | lgnd_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Transgenic Animal Platforms + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | lgnd_NumberofTransgenicAnimalPlatforms
Namespace Prefix: | lgnd_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 30 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6578-128477 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 30 -Section 30 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911251&loc=d3e6613-128477 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 5 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64834752&loc=SL49117168-202975 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=lgnd_OMTInc.Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |