<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000886163-17-000035.txt : 20170303
<SEC-HEADER>0000886163-17-000035.hdr.sgml : 20170303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170303090442
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000886163-17-000035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170303
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170303

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:		17661609

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>retrophin8k3317.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
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<div><a name="s01521484a442461a9f7af3bc1edc1426"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">______________</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;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:174%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">______________</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;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:174%;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 the</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-top:8px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 3, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:9px;padding-top:16px;text-align:center;font-size:16pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:16pt;font-weight:bold;">LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#32;&#32;&#32;&#32;</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:9px;padding-top:16px;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;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:79.1015625%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:34%;"></td><td style="width:33%;"></td><td style="width:33%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Delaware</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">001-33093</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">77-0160744</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">(State or other jurisdiction of</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">(Commission File Number)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">(I.R.S. Employer</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">incorporation or organization)</font></div></td><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:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Identification No.)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:9px;padding-top:4px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;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:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:49%;"></td><td style="width:2%;"></td><td style="width:49%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">3911 Sorrento Valley Boulevard, Suite 110</font></div></td><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:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">92121</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">San Diego, CA</font></div></td><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:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(Zip Code)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">(Address of principal executive offices)</font></div></td><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: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></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-top:20px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(858)&#160;550-7500</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(Registrant&#8217;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:4px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">N/A</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">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:174%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:33px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:174%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Written communications pursuant to Rule&#160;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:33px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:174%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&#160;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:33px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:174%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&#160;14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:33px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:174%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&#160;13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:174%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8.01. Other Information </font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">On March 1, 2017, Retrophin, Inc. (&#8220;Retrophin&#8221;), one of the partners of Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the &#8220;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Company</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8221; or &#8220;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Ligand</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#8221;), announced, among other things, an update on the regulatory pathway for its late-stage product candidate sparsentan, including plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial in the second half of 2017.  Pursuant to the sublicense agreement, dated December 11, 2012, by and between Ligand and Retrophin, Ligand is eligible to receive $1.6 million upon the initiation of a Phase 3 clinical trial of sparsentan and $5,992,500 upon filing of a new drug application for sparsentan in FSGS, in each case net of payments due from Ligand to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company for such milestone events pursuant to the license agreement, dated May 27, 2006 (as amended).  Under our license agreement with Retrophin we are entitled to receive potential net milestones in addition to those noted above of over $65 million in the future and 9% net royalties on future worldwide sales by Retrophin.</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements</font></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Certain statements in this report on Form 8-K constitute &#8220;forward-looking statements&#8221; within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are predictions based on expectations and projections about future events, and are not statements of historical fact. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as &#8220;plan,&#8221; &#8220;continue,&#8221; &#8220;expect,&#8221; &#8220;anticipate,&#8221; &#8220;intend,&#8221; &#8220;predict,&#8221; &#8220;project,&#8221; &#8220;estimate,&#8221; &#8220;likely,&#8221; &#8220;believe,&#8221; &#8220;might&#8221;, &#8220;seek,&#8221; &#8220;may,&#8221; &#8220;will,&#8221; &#8220;remain,&#8221; &#8220;potential,&#8221; &#8220;can,&#8221; &#8220;should,&#8221; &#8220;could,&#8221; &#8220;future&#8221; and similar expressions, or the negative of those expressions. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding Retrohpin&#8217;s plans to initate a Phase 3 clinical trial for sparsentan and the net milestone payments which may be due to Ligand.  Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including that Retrophin may decide to not pursuant sparsentan for reasons beyond Ligand&#8217;s control. Consideration should be given to the areas of risk described above, and additional information concerning these and other risk factors affecting the Company can be found in the Company&#8217;s public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless required to do so by law. Any forward-looking statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K represent the Company's views only as of the date of this Current Report.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:26px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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:center;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:87.6953125%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:47%;"></td><td style="width:53%;"></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:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="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:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Date: March 3, 2017</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="padding-bottom:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-left:49px;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 Berkman</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-left:49px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Name: Charles Berkman</font></div><div style="padding-bottom:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-left:49px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary </font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:174%;padding-top:12px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
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