XML 32 R20.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.25.3
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Business
Business
We are a biopharmaceutical company enabling scientific advancement through supporting the clinical development of high-value medicines. We do this by providing financing, licensing our technologies or both.
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Ligand and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. We have included all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which we considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial results. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements included in our 2024 Annual Report. Interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.
Segment Information
Segment Information
The Company has one operating and one reportable segment: development and licensing of biopharmaceutical assets. The Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) is Todd Davis, our Chief Executive Officer. The CODM uses net income (loss) as a single segment profit or loss measure to evaluate our single segment performance, and in deciding whether to reinvest into the existing assets, or to new potential opportunities. Our CODM relies on internal management reporting processes that provide information on segment operating income (loss) for making financial decisions and allocating resources. The CODM does not evaluate, manage or measure performance of segments using asset information.
Reclassification
Reclassification
Certain reclassification has been made to the previously issued audited consolidated financial statement to conform with the current period presentation. Specifically, within the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2024, a portion of other current assets has been reclassified to short-term portion of financial royalty assets, net.
In addition, within the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, a portion of the other non-operating expense, net has been reclassified to gain (loss) from change in fair value of equity-method investments and other investments.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Short-term Investments
Short-term Investments
Gain (loss) from short-term investments in our condensed consolidated statements of operations includes both realized and unrealized gain (loss) from our short-term investments in public equity and warrant securities.
Allowances are recorded for available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses. This limits the amount of credit losses that can be recognized for available-for-sale debt securities to the amount by which carrying value exceeds fair value and requires the reversal of previously recognized credit losses if fair value increases. The provisions of the credit losses standard did not have a material impact on our available-for-sale debt securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Our investment policy is capital preservation and we only invest in U.S.-dollar denominated investments.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses
Our accounts receivable arise primarily from sales on credit to customers. We establish an allowance for credit losses to present the net amount of accounts receivable expected to be collected. The allowance is determined by using the loss-rate method, which requires an estimation of loss rates based upon historical loss experience adjusted for factors that are relevant to determining the expected collectability of accounts receivable. Some of these factors include macroeconomic conditions that correlate with historical loss experience, delinquency trends, aging behavior of receivables and credit and liquidity quality indicators for industry groups, customer classes or individual customers.
Inventory
Inventory
Inventory, which consists of finished goods (Captisol), is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. We determine cost using the specific identification method. We analyze our inventory levels periodically and write down inventory to net realizable value if it has become obsolete, has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value or is in excess of expected requirements.
Financial Royalty Assets, net
Financial Royalty Assets, net
Financial royalty assets represent a portfolio of future milestone and royalty payment rights acquired that are passive in nature (i.e., we do not own the intellectual property or have the right to commercialize the underlying products).
Although a financial royalty asset does not have the contractual terms typical of a loan (such as contractual principal and interest), we account for financial royalty assets under ASC 310, Receivables. Our financial royalty assets are classified similar to loans receivable and are measured at amortized cost using the prospective effective interest method described in ASC 835-30, Imputation of Interest.
The effective interest rate is calculated by forecasting the expected cash flows to be received over the life of the asset relative to the initial invested amount. The effective interest rate is recalculated in each reporting period as the difference between expected cash flows and actual cash flows are realized and as there are changes to expected future cash flows.
The gross carrying value of a financial royalty asset is made up of the opening balance, or net purchase price for a new financial royalty asset, which is increased by accrued interest income (except for assets under the non-accrual method) and decreased by cash receipts in the period to arrive at the ending balance.
We evaluate financial royalty assets for recoverability on an individual basis by comparing the effective interest rate at each reporting date to that of the prior period. If the effective interest rate is lower for the current period than the prior period, and if the gross cash flows have declined (expected and collected), we record provision expense for the change in expected cash flows. The provision is measured as the difference between the financial royalty asset’s amortized cost basis and the net present value of the expected future cash flows, calculated using the prior period’s effective interest rate.
In addition to the above allowance, we recognize an allowance for current expected credit losses under ASC 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses on our financial royalty assets. The credit rating, which is primarily based on publicly available data and updated quarterly, is the primary credit quality indicator used to determine the credit loss provision.
The carrying value of financial royalty assets is presented net of the cumulative allowance for changes in expected future cash flows and expected credit losses. The initial amount and subsequent revisions in allowances for changes in expected future cash flows and expected credit losses are recorded as part of general and administrative expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
When we are reasonably certain that a part of a financial royalty asset’s net carrying value (or all of it) is not recoverable, we recognize a permanent impairment which is recorded in financial royalty assets impairment on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. To the extent there was an allowance previously recorded for this asset, the amount of such impairment is written off against the allowance at the time that such a determination is made. Any future recoveries from such impairment are recognized when cash is collected in a respective period earnings.
The current portion of financial royalty assets represents an estimation for current quarter royalty receipts which are collected during the subsequent quarter, net of the allowance for expected credit losses.
Research and Development Funding Expense
Research and Development Funding Expense
We enter into transactions where we agree to fund a portion of the research and development (“R&D”) performed by our partners for products undergoing late-stage clinical trials in exchange for future royalties or milestones if the products are successfully developed and commercialized. In accordance with ASC 730, Research and Development, we account for the funded amounts as R&D expense when we have the ability to obtain the results of the R&D, the transfer of financial risk is genuine and substantive and, at the time of entering into the transaction, it is not yet probable that the product will receive regulatory approval. If these conditions are not met, we may record the funded amounts as a financial royalty asset. We may fund R&D upfront or over time as the underlying products undergo clinical trials.
Royalties earned on successfully commercialized products generated from R&D arrangements are recognized as revenue from intangible royalty assets in the same period in which the sale of the commercialized product occurs. Fixed or milestone payments receivable based on the achievement of contractual criteria for products arising out of our R&D arrangements are recognized as contract revenue and other income in the period that the milestone threshold is met.
Derivative Assets
Derivative Assets
As of September 30, 2025, all our derivative assets are warrants which are not used for risk management purposes. See Note 3, Investment Transactions.
As a result of our early adoption of ASU 2025-07, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) and Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), certain assets previously accounted as derivatives have qualified for a new derivative scope exception introduced by ASU 2025-07, and are now accounted for as financial royalty assets with January 1, 2025, being the effective date of ASU 2025-07 adoption. Such assets include (1) our rights in future milestone and royalty payments from Agenus Partnered Programs (see Note 3, Investment Transactions), (2) rights to receive from Primrose Bio 50% of milestone payments on two contracts previously entered into by Primordial Genetics (“Primrose mRNA”), and (3) Castle Creek Milestone (as defined in Note 3, Investment Transactions).
All derivatives are measured at fair value on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Equity Method Investments
Equity Method Investments
The Company accounts for investments in entities over which it has significant influence (generally defined as ownership interest of 20% or more) using the equity method of accounting. Under this method the investment is initially recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted for the Company’s share of the investee’s earnings or losses and any dividends received, unless the fair value option under ASC 825-10 is elected. Such selection is made on an instrument-by-instrument basis and is irrevocable.
The Company did not elect a fair value option for Primrose equity method investment. As such, Primrose equity method investment is adjusted for the Company’s share of the investee’s earnings or losses and any dividends received. Any income or loss from our share of Primrose earnings or losses is presented in other non-operating expense, net in our consolidated statement of operations.
Ligand owned 31.5% and 31.4%, respectively, of the equity of Primrose Bio as of September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Our proportionate share of net loss of Primrose Bio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $1.2 million and $5.8 million, respectively, which was presented in other non-operating expense, net in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The Company does not record its share of the investee’s losses beyond the zero basis. The Company resumes recognition of its share of earnings only after the cumulative unrecognized losses have been recovered. As of December 31, 2024, equity method investment in Primrose Bio had been written down to zero, and we are not required to fund further losses from Primrose Bio. We have no outstanding advances, guarantees, or commitment to fund Primrose Bio’s losses; therefore, our proportionate share of net loss of Primrose Bio for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 was not recorded.
Equity method investments the Company did not elect a fair value option for are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Any impairment of equity method investments is presented in gain (loss) from change in fair value of equity-method investments and other investments in our consolidated statements of operations. Our equity method investments are reviewed for indicators of impairment at each reporting period and are written down to fair value if there is evidence of a loss in value that is other-than-temporary. In June 2024, Primrose Bio entered into an equity investment from an equity firm. In July 2024, Primrose Bio raised additional funds from another equity firm. As a result, we recognized an impairment loss on our equity method investments in the amount of $5.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which was presented in gain (loss) from change in fair value of equity-method investments and other investments in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. There was no impairment to our equity method investments during the three months ended September 30, 2024 or during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025.
The Company has elected the fair value option for Pelthos equity method investment. Under the fair value option, the investment is measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each reporting period. The election was made to simplify the accounting and reporting process, as Pelthos is a publicly traded entity with readily available market price. A change in fair value of Pelthos equity method investment is presented in gain (loss) from change in fair value of equity-method investments and other investments in our consolidated statements of operations.
Other Investments
Other Investments
Other investments represent our investments in equity securities of third parties that do not result in us having a control or significant influence over such investments.
Share-Based Compensation
Share-Based Compensation
Share-based compensation expense for awards to employees and non-employee directors is a non-cash expense and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic net income (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed based on the sum of the weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed based on the sum of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Potentially dilutive common shares consist of shares issuable under the 2030 Notes, warrants in connection with the 2030 Notes, stock options and restricted stock. The 2030 Notes are considered to be Instrument C where, upon conversion, the Company must satisfy the accreted value of the debt instrument in cash and may choose to satisfy the conversion spread in cash, shares, or a combination of cash and shares. The dilutive effect of Instrument C is limited to the conversion premium, which is reflected in the calculation of diluted earnings per share as if it were a freestanding written call option on the issuer’s shares. The warrants will have a dilutive effect to the extent the market price per share of common stock exceeds the applicable exercise price of the warrants.
Potentially dilutive common shares from stock options and restricted stock are determined using the average share price for each period under the treasury stock method. In addition, the following amounts are assumed to be used to repurchase shares: proceeds from exercise of stock options and the average amount of unrecognized compensation expense for the awards.
Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign Currency Translation
The Euro is the functional currency of Apeiron and the corresponding financial statements have been translated into U.S. Dollars in accordance with ASC 830-30, Translation of Financial Statements. Assets and liabilities are translated at end-of-period rates while revenues and expenses are translated at average rates in effect during the period in which the activity took place. Equity is translated at historical rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Accounting Standards Updates, Recently Adopted and Not Yet Adopted
Accounting Standards Updates, Recently Adopted
In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-07, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) and Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2025-07”). The update provides a derivative scope refinement and scope clarification for share-based noncash consideration from a customer in a revenue contract. Adoption of the amendment allows for either the prospective or modified retrospective application and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, with early adoption permitted.
We early adopted this standard using the modified retrospective method for the derivative scope refinement with the effective date of January 1, 2025, and the adoption has some impact on our financial condition and results of operations. The key change of this update applicable for Ligand is related to additional derivative scope exception for contracts with underlyings based on obtaining regulatory approval or achieving a product development milestone. The assessment of our derivatives existing before the adoption date concluded that the Agenus Partnered Programs and the Primrose mRNA derivative assets met the scope exception of this amendment. Such assets were derecognized from derivative assets and recognized within the financial royalty assets, net, starting from January 1, 2025. A carrying value of such financial royalty assets was determined as unamortized cost basis less impairment recognized for certain Agenus Partnered Programs as of January 1, 2025. The Castle Creek milestone derivative acquired in February 2025 also met the scope exception of ASU 2025-07 and is now included in the balance of financial royalty assets, net, in the amount of its purchase price on the acquisition date. Refer to Note 3, Investment Transactions and Note 5, Financial Royalty Assets, net for more information on these derivatives.
Financial royalty assets are assessed periodically for current expected credit losses (“CECL”). The CECL assessment on the derivatives reclassified to financial royalty assets acquired before the adoption date were recorded to retained earnings. The CECL adjustments made to financial royalty assets after the adoption date were recorded to general and administration in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025. Any fair value adjustments recorded on such derivative assets during the six months ended June 30, 2025, were reversed during the three months ended September 30, 2025.
The scope clarification for share-based noncash consideration from a customer in a revenue contract is not applicable to us as we have not received any noncash consideration from our customers related to revenue contracts. Thus, we adopted this update effective on September 30, 2025 on a prospective method.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The update requires a public business entity to disclose, on an annual basis, a tabular rate reconciliation using both percentages and currency amounts, broken out into specified categories with certain reconciling items further broken out by nature and jurisdiction to the extent those items exceed a specified threshold. In addition, all entities are required to disclose income taxes paid, net of refunds received disaggregated by federal, state/local, and foreign and by jurisdiction if the amount is at least 5% of total income tax payments, net of refunds received. Adoption of the ASU allows for either the prospective or retrospective application of the amendment and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. We will adopt this ASU prospectively for the period ending December 31, 2025, and it will impact only our disclosures, with no impacts to our financial condition or results of operations.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Subtopic 220-40): Expense Disaggregation Disclosures. This update requires entities to disaggregate operating expenses into specific categories, such as salaries and wages, depreciation, and amortization, to provide enhanced transparency into the nature and function of expenses. ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2024-03 may be applied retrospectively or prospectively. We are currently evaluating the new guidance to determine the impact it may have on our condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
We do not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, if adopted, would have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or disclosures.