<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000886163-19-000175.txt : 20190923
<SEC-HEADER>0000886163-19-000175.hdr.sgml : 20190923
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190923101442
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000886163-19-000175
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190919
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190923
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190923

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Korenberg Matthew E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001649903

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33093
		FILM NUMBER:		191106507

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11119 NORTH TORREY PINES ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			LA JOLLA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92037

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-09-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001649903</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Korenberg Matthew E</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP,Finance &amp; Strategy and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>0.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>248.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-09-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>1175000</value>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>989937.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-05-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityValue>
                    <value>4729.0</value>
                </underlyingSecurityValue>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1175000</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The notes are convertible at any time prior to the close of business on November 14, 2022 (1) during any fiscal quarter (and only during such fiscal quarter) commencing after September 30, 2018, if, for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, the last reported sale price of the Issuer?s common stock on such trading day is greater than 130% of the conversion price on such trading day; (2) during the five business day period immediately following any 10 consecutive trading day period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of our common stock on such trading day and the conversion rate on each such trading day; or (3) upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate events as specified in the indenture governing the notes.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Charles S. Berkman For: Matthew E. Korenberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-09-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
