<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000886163-17-000028.txt : 20170228
<SEC-HEADER>0000886163-17-000028.hdr.sgml : 20170228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170228182651
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000886163-17-000028
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170228

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:		3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 110
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		858-550-7500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 110
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIGGINS JOHN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208906

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33093
		FILM NUMBER:		17650085

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11119 NORTH TORREY PINES ROAD, SUITE 200
		CITY:			LA JOLLA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92037
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208906</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HIGGINS JOHN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BOULEVARD, STE 110</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2285</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>104.28</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120379</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>4783</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-24</value>
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                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
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                    <value>10224</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
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                    <value>132969</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>100.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>43646</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-02-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>43646</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43646</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of previously reported restricted stock units that were granted on 02/10/2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of previously reported restricted stock units that were granted on 02/11/2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents the number of shares of common stock issued upon the vesting of performance stock units (PSUs).  Each PSU represented a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer?s common stock.  The PSUs were originally granted on 02/10/2015 and were eligible to vest based on the Issuer?s achievement of certain performance objectives during the two-year performance period ending December 31, 2016.  On February 24, 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Issuer certified the Issuer?s achievement relative to the applicable performance objectives and approved the vesting of the PSUs with respect to these shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in payment of the tax liability arising in connection with the settlement of the PSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Grant to reporting person of options, exercisable over a 4-year period measured from the date of grant, 12-1/2% after six months, then 1/48th of the Optioned Shares per month thereafter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Charles S. Berkman For: John L. Higgins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
