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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q/A
Mark One
     
þ   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007
or
     
o   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Transition Period From                      to                      .
Commission File Number: 0-20720
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
     
Delaware   77-0160744
(State or Other Jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization)   Identification No.)
     
10275 Science Center Drive   92121-1117
San Diego, CA   (Zip Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)    
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (858) 550-7500
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.
Large Accelerated Filer o      Accelerated Filer þ       Non-Accelerated Filer o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
     As of April 30, 2007, the registrant had 101,096,542 shares of common stock outstanding.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
      This amendment amends the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (the “Company”) for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 (the “Original Form 10-Q”), which was initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 10, 2007. The Original Form 10-Q furnished Exhibits 31.2 and 32.2, executed by our exiting interim chief accounting officer, who was employed by the Company until May 15, 2007 and served as the principal financial officer during the quarter ended March 31, 2007, rather than the Company’s incoming principal financial officer, who was employed by the Company beginning April 30, 2007. This amendment furnishes the correct Exhibits 31.2 and 32.2, executed by our principal financial officer, as required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This amendment also furnishes as exhibits new certifications of our principal executive officer.
      In addition, we have modified Item 4, “Controls and Procedures,” in this amendment in response to our failure to file correct Exhibits 31.2 and 32.2 and updated the disclosure regarding our disclosure controls and procedures. Except for the matters referenced in this Explanatory Note, this amendment does not modify or update the disclosures set forth in the Original Form 10-Q and no other changes have been made to the Original Form 10-Q.
 
 


 

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
QUARTERLY REPORT
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
       
 
       
       
 
       
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ITEM 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
    *  
 
       
ITEM 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
    *  
 
       
    62  
 
       
ITEM 5. Other Information
    *  
 
       
    63  
 
       
SIGNATURE
    65  
 EXHIBIT 31.1
 EXHIBIT 31.2
 EXHIBIT 32.1
 EXHIBIT 32.2
 
*   No information provided due to inapplicability of item.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 403,911     $ 158,401  
Short-term investments
    6,319       13,447  
Restricted cash
          38,814  
Accounts receivable, net
    1,269       11,521  
Inventories, net
          3,856  
Other current assets
    4,567       9,518  
Current portion of co-promote termination payments receivable
    11,881        
 
           
Total current assets
    427,947       235,557  
Restricted investments
    1,826       1,826  
Property and equipment, net
    4,022       5,551  
Acquired technology and product rights, net
          83,083  
Long-term portion of co-promote termination payments receivable
    81,015        
Restricted indemnity account
    10,000        
Other assets
          36  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 524,810     $ 326,053  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Dividend payable
  $ 252,742     $  
Accounts payable
    13,181       12,259  
Accrued liabilities
    57,380       46,509  
Current portion of deferred revenue, net
          57,981  
Current portion of deferred gain
    1,964       1,964  
Current portion of co-promote termination liability
    13,083       12,179  
Current portion of equipment financing obligations
    2,151       2,168  
Note payable
          37,750  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    340,501       170,810  
Long-term portion of co-promote termination liability
    81,015       81,149  
Long-term portion of equipment financing obligations
    1,641       2,156  
Long-term portion of deferred revenue, net
    2,546       2,546  
Long-term portion of deferred gain
    26,729       27,220  
Other long-term liabilities
    2,631       2,475  
 
           
Total liabilities
    455,063       286,356  
 
           
Commitments and contingencies
               
Common stock subject to conditional redemption; 997,568 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006
    12,345       12,345  
 
           
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
           
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 100,038,120 and 99,553,504 shares issued at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively
    100       100  
Additional paid-in capital
    647,232       891,446  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (140 )     (481 )
Accumulated deficit
    (588,879 )     (862,802 )
 
           
 
    58,313       28,263  
Treasury stock, at cost; 73,842 shares
    (911 )     (911 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    57,402       27,352  
 
           
 
  $ 524,810     $ 326,053  
 
           
See accompanying notes.

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Revenues:
               
Collaborative research and development and other revenues
  $ 235     $ 2,914  
 
           
Operating costs and expenses:
               
Research and development
    15,602       8,417  
General and administrative
    14,167       8,811  
 
           
Total operating costs and expenses
    29,769       17,228  
 
           
Amortization of deferred gain on sale leaseback
    491        
 
           
Loss from operations
    (29,043 )     (14,314 )
 
           
Other income (expense):
               
Interest income
    3,279       573  
Interest expense
    (370 )     (328 )
Other, net
    51       383  
 
           
Total other income, net
    2,960       628  
 
           
Loss before income taxes
    (26,083 )     (13,686 )
Income tax benefit
    9,194        
 
           
Loss from continuing operations
    (16,889 )     (13,686 )
 
           
Discontinued operations:
               
Income (loss) from discontinued operations before income taxes
    5,993       (128,526 )
Gain on sale of AVINZA Product Line before income taxes
    310,131        
Adjustment to gain on sale of Oncology Product Line before income taxes
    (61 )      
Income tax expense on discontinued operations
    (24,853 )     (17 )
 
           
Discontinued operations
    291,210       (128,543 )
 
           
Net income (loss)
  $ 274,321     $ (142,229 )
 
           
 
               
Basic and diluted per share amounts:
               
Loss from continuing operations
  $ (0.17 )   $ (0.18 )
Discontinued operations
    2.89       (1.66 )
 
           
 
               
Net income (loss)
  $ 2.72     $ (1.84 )
 
           
Weighted average number of common shares
    100,686,308       77,496,969  
 
           
See accompanying notes.

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Operating activities:
               
Net income (loss)
  $ 274,321     $ (142,229 )
Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Gain on sale of AVINZA Product Line before income taxes
    (310,131 )      
Adjustment to gain on sale of Oncology Product Line before income taxes
    61        
Amortization of deferred gain on sale leaseback
    (491 )      
Amortization of acquired technology and license rights
    909       3,570  
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment
    496       913  
Loss on asset write-offs
    1,013        
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs
          244  
Gain on sale of investment
          (343 )
Stock-based compensation
    5,554       814  
Non-cash co-promote termination expense
    (207 )     136,241  
Non-cash interest expense
          57  
Other
    356       (8 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net
    10,268       908  
Inventories, net
    930       1,484  
Other current assets
    3,459       (144 )
Restricted indemnity account
    (10,000 )      
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (12,988 )     (14,912 )
Other liabilities
    (242 )     (3 )
Deferred revenue, net
    (8,657 )     (6,576 )
 
           
Net cash used in operating activities
    (45,349 )     (19,984 )
 
           
Investing activities:
               
Proceeds from sale of AVINZA Product Line
    280,400        
Purchases of short-term investments
          (4,726 )
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments
    7,128       7,884  
Decrease in restricted cash
    38,814        
Purchases of property and equipment
    (86 )     (190 )
Other, net
    28       27  
 
           
Net cash provided by investing activities
    326,284       2,995  
 
           
Financing activities:
               
Principal payments on equipment financing obligations
    (532 )     (680 )
Proceeds from equipment financing arrangements
          398  
Repayment of debt
    (37,750 )     (86 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock
    2,857       468  
Decrease in other long-term liabilities
          (59 )
 
           
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (35,425 )     41  
 
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    245,510       (16,948 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    158,401       66,756  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 403,911     $ 49,808  
 
           
 
               
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
               
Interest paid
  $ 1,146     $ 517  
 
           
 
               
Taxes paid
  $ 1,042     $  
 
           
 
               
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
 
               
Conversion of principal amount of convertible notes
  $     $ 26,100  
Conversion of unamortized debt issue costs
          (351 )
Conversion of unpaid accrued interest
          264  
Employee receivable from stock option exercises
    127       469  
Declaration of dividend
    252,742        
See accompanying notes.

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
     The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (the “Company” or “Ligand”) were prepared in accordance with instructions for Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all information necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. However, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements, have been included. The results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year or any other future period. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.
     As further discussed in Note 2, the Company sold its oncology product line (“Oncology”) on October 25, 2006 and its AVINZA product line (“AVINZA”) on February 26, 2007. The operating results for Oncology and AVINZA have been presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as “Discontinued Operations”.
     The Company’s other potential products are in various stages of development. Potential products that are promising at early stages of development may not reach the market for a number of reasons. A significant portion of the Company’s revenues to date have been derived from research and development agreements with major pharmaceutical collaborators. Prior to generating revenues from these products, the Company or its collaborators must complete the development of the products in the human health care market. No assurance can be given that: (1) product development efforts will be successful, (2) required regulatory approvals for any indication will be obtained, (3) any products, if introduced, will be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at reasonable costs or, (4) patient and physician acceptance of these products will be achieved. There can be no assurance that Ligand will ever achieve or sustain annual profitability.
     The Company faces risks common to companies whose products are in various stages of development. These risks include, among others, the Company’s potential need for additional financing to complete its research and development programs and commercialize its technologies. The Company has incurred significant losses since its inception. At March 31, 2007, the Company’s accumulated deficit was $588.9 million. The Company expects to continue to incur substantial research and development expenses.
     The Company believes that patents and other proprietary rights are important to its business. Its policy is to file patent applications to protect technology, inventions and improvements to its inventions that are considered important to the development of its business. The patent positions of pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, including the Company, are uncertain and involve complex legal and technical questions for which important legal principles are largely unresolved.
Principles of Consolidation
     The condensed consolidated financial statements include the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Ligand Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Ligand Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Incorporated, Seragen, Inc. (“Seragen”) and Nexus Equity VI LLC (“Nexus”). Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
     The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, including disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities, at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the

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reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s critical accounting policies are those that are both most important to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments on the part of management in their application, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Because of the uncertainty of factors surrounding the estimates or judgments used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, actual results may materially vary from these estimates.
Income (Loss) Per Share
     Net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Basic and diluted income (loss) per share amounts are equivalent for the periods presented as the inclusion of potential common shares in the number of shares used for the diluted computation would be anti-dilutive to loss per share from continuing operations. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128, Earnings Per Share, no potential common shares are included in the computation of any diluted per share amounts, including income (loss) per share from discontinued operations and net income (loss) per share, as the Company reported a loss from continuing operations for all periods presented. Potential common shares, the shares that would be issued upon the conversion of convertible notes, the exercise of outstanding warrants and stock options, and the vesting of restricted shares, were 4.4 million and 28.9 million at March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In October 2006, all outstanding warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock expired. In November 2006, all convertible notes had been converted into shares of the Company’s common stock.
Guarantees and Indemnifications
     The Company accounts for and discloses guarantees in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 45 (“FIN 45”), Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, an interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57 and 107 and rescission of FIN 34. The following is a summary of the Company’s agreements that the Company has determined are within the scope of FIN 45:
     Under its bylaws, the Company has agreed to indemnify its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences arising as a result of the officer’s or director’s serving in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer’s or director’s lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. The Company has a directors and officers liability insurance policy that limits its exposure and enables it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result of its insurance policy coverage, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal and has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. These insurance policies, however, do not cover the ongoing legal costs or the fines, if any, that may become due in connection with the ongoing SEC investigation of the Company, following the use of prior directors and officers liability insurance policy limits to settle certain shareholder litigation matters. The SEC investigation is ongoing, and the Company is currently unable to assess the duration, extent, and cost of such investigation. Further, the Company is unable to assess the amount of such costs that may in turn be required to be reimbursed to any individual director or officer under the Company’s indemnification agreements as the scope of the investigation cannot be apportioned amongst the Company and the indemnified officers and directors. Accordingly, a liability has not been recorded for the fair value of the ongoing and ultimate obligations, if any, related to the SEC investigation.
     On March 1, 2007, the Company entered into an indemnity fund agreement, which established in a trust account with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to the Company’s independent directors and to the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, a $10.0 million indemnity fund to support the Company’s existing indemnification obligations to continuing and departing directors in connection with the ongoing SEC investigation and related matters. The balance of this fund has been recorded as restricted indemnification account on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2007 (see Note 12).
     The Company may enter into other indemnification provisions under its agreements with other companies in its ordinary course of business, typically with business partners, suppliers, contractors, customers and landlords.

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Under these provisions the Company generally indemnifies and holds harmless the indemnified party for direct losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party as a result of the Company’s activities or, in some cases, as a result of the indemnified party’s activities under the agreement. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification provisions is unlimited. The Company has not incurred material costs to defend lawsuits or settle claims related to these indemnification agreements. As a result, the Company believes the estimated fair value of these agreements is minimal. Accordingly, the Company has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.
Revenue Recognition – AVINZA Royalties
     In accordance with the AVINZA Purchase Agreement (see Note 2), royalties are required to be reported and paid to the Company within 45 days of quarter end during the 20 month period following the closing of the sale transaction. Thereafter, royalties will be paid on a calendar year basis. Royalties on sales of AVINZA due from King will be recognized in the quarter reported by King. Since there is a one quarter lag from when King recognizes AVINZA net sales to when King reports those sales and the corresponding royalties to the Company, the Company will begin recognizing AVINZA royalty revenue in the second quarter of 2007.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
     Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for stock-based compensation in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations. The pro forma effects of employee stock options were disclosed as required by SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS 123”).
     Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123(R)”), using the modified prospective transition method. No stock-based employee compensation cost was recognized prior to January 1, 2006, as all options granted prior to 2006 had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of the grant. In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107 (“SAB 107”) relating to SFAS 123(R). The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of SFAS 123(R). Under the transition method, compensation cost recognized in 2007 and 2006 includes: (a) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) compensation cost for all share-based payments granted on or after January 1, 2006, based on grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R).
     Additionally, the Company accounts for the fair value of options granted to non-employee consultants under Emerging Issues Task Force 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction With Selling, Goods or Services.
Other Stock-Related Information
     The 2002 Stock Incentive Plan contains four separate equity programs – Discretionary Option Grant Program, Automatic Option Grant Program, Stock Issuance Program and Director Fee Option Grant Program (“the 2002 Plan”). On January 31, 2006, shareholders of the Company approved an amendment to the 2002 Plan to increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock authorized for issuance by 750,000 shares, from 8.3 million shares to 9.1 million shares. As of March 31, 2007, options for 4,210,001 shares of common stock were outstanding under the 2002 plan and 1,880,128 shares remained available for future option grant or direct issuance.
     The Company grants options to employees, non-employee consultants, and non-employee directors. Additionally, the Company granted restricted stock to the new Chief Executive Officer in the first quarter of 2007 (see Note 10) and to non-employee directors in the first quarter of 2006. Non-employee directors are accounted for as employees under SFAS 123(R). Options and restricted stock granted to certain directors vest in equal monthly installments over one year. Options granted to employees vests 1/8 on the six month anniversary and 1/48 each month thereafter for forty-two months. Options granted to non-employee consultants generally vest between 24 and 36 months. All option awards generally expire ten years from the date of the grant.

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     Stock-based compensation cost for awards to employees and non-employee directors is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period until the last tranche vests. Compensation cost for consultant awards is recognized over each separate tranche’s vesting period. The Company recognized compensation expense of approximately $5.6 million and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, associated with option awards and restricted stock. Of the total compensation expense associated with option awards, approximately $0.01 million and $0.2 million related to options granted to non-employee consultants for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Of the total compensation expense associated with the option awards for the three months ended March 31, 2007, $1.8 million related to the $2.50 equitable adjustment of the exercise price for all options outstanding as of April 3, 2007 that was measured for financial reporting purposes on March 28, 2007. Under the requirements of SFAS 123(R), the Company will recognize a total of approximately $2.0 million of stock compensation expense in connection with the equitable adjustment of which $1.8 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2007 effective March 28, 2007, the date the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the adjustment (see Note 13). There was no deferred tax benefit recognized in connection with this cost.
     The fair-value for options that were awarded to employees and directors was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following weighted average assumptions:
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31
    2007   2006
Risk-free interest rate
    4.7 %     4.7 %
Dividend yield
           
Expected volatility
    70 %     70 %
Expected term
  5 years   6 years
     The expected term of the employee and non-employee director options is the estimated weighted-average period until exercise or cancellation of vested options (forfeited unvested options are not considered). SAB 107 guidance permits companies to use a “safe harbor” expected term assumption for grants up to December 31, 2007 based on the mid-point of the period between vesting date and contractual term, averaged on a tranche-by-tranche basis. The Company used the safe harbor in selecting the expected term assumption in 2007 and 2006. The expected term for consultant awards is the remaining period to contractual expiration.
     Volatility is a measure of the expected amount of variability in the stock price over the expected life of an option expressed as a standard deviation. SFAS 123(R) requires an estimate of future volatility. In selecting this assumption, the Company used the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price over a period approximating the expected term.

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Stock Option Activity
                                 
                    Weighted-        
                    Average        
            Weighted-     Remaining     Aggregate  
            Average Exercise     Contractual Term     Intrinsic Value  
    Shares     Price (1)     in Years     (in thousands)  
Balance at December 31, 2006
    5,766,386     $ 12.17                  
Granted
    82,686       9.26                  
Exercised
    (329,046 )     9.02                  
Forfeited
    (364,636 )     9.89                  
Cancelled
    (949,106 )     14.08                  
 
                             
Balance at March 31, 2007
    4,206,284     $ 12.12       6.01     $ 3,366  
 
                       
 
                               
Exercisable at March 31, 2007
    3,734,083     $ 12.33       5.65     $ 2,992  
 
                       
 
                               
Options expected to vest as of March 31, 2007
    4,168,318     $ 12.14       5.97     $ 3,346  
 
                       
 
(1)   Exercise prices have not been adjusted to reflect the effect of the subsequent $2.50 reduction in exercise price for each outstanding option in April 2007 (see Note 13).
     The weighted-average grant-date fair value of all stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $7.55 per share. The total intrinsic value of all options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $1.0 million. As of March 31, 2007, there was approximately $2.9 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.31 years.
     Cash received from options exercised for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was approximately $2.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively. An additional $0.1 million was received subsequent to March 31, 2007 for options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2007. There is no current tax benefit related to options exercised because of net operating losses (“NOLs”) for which a full valuation allowance has been established.
Restricted Stock Activity
     Restricted stock as of March 31, 2007 includes a grant of 150,000 restricted shares to the Company’s new CEO (see Note 10). Restricted stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2007 is as follow:
                 
            Weighted-  
            Average Stock  
    Shares     Price  
Balance at December 31, 2006
    1,297     $ 11.56  
Granted
    150,000       12.68  
Vested
    (1,297 )     11.56  
Forfeited
           
 
           
Nonvested at March 31, 2007
    150,000     $ 12.68  
 
           
     The weighted-average grant-date fair value of restricted stock granted during the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $12.68 per share. As of March 31, 2007, there was $1.8 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock. That cost is expected to be recognized over two years.

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Employee Stock Purchase Plan
     The Company also has an employee stock purchase plan (the “2002 ESPP”). The 2002 ESPP was originally adopted July 1, 2001 and amended through June 30, 2003 to allow employees to purchase a limited amount of common stock at the end of each three month period at a price equal to the lesser of 85% of fair market value on a) the first trading day of the period, or b) the last trading day of the Lookback period (the “Lookback Provision”). The 15% discount and the Lookback Provision make the 2002 ESPP compensatory under SFAS 123(R). There were 5,570 shares of common stock issued under the 2002 ESPP during the three months ended March 31, 2007, resulting in an expense of $0.01 million. There were no shares of common stock issued under the 2002 ESPP during the three months ended March 31, 2006. Since the adoption of the 2002 ESPP in 2001, a total of 510,248 shares of common stock has been reserved for issuance by Ligand under the 2002 ESPP (includes shares transferred from the predecessor plan). As of March 31, 2007, 393,071 shares of common stock had been issued under the 2002 ESPP to employees and 117,177 shares are available for future issuance.
     Short-term and Restricted Investments
     The following table summarizes the various investment categories at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (in thousands):
                                 
            Gross     Gross        
            unrealized     unrealized     Estimated  
    Cost     gains     losses     Fair Value  
March 31, 2007
                               
U.S. government securities
  $ 1,762     $ ¾     $ (10 )   $ 1,752  
Corporate obligations
    4,562       5       ¾       4,567  
 
                       
 
    6,324       5       (10 )     6,319  
Certificates of deposit — restricted
    1,826       ¾       ¾       1,826  
 
                       
Total debt securities
  $ 8,150     $ 5     $ (10 )   $ 8,145  
 
                       
 
                               
December 31, 2006
                               
U.S. government securities
  $ 2,750     $ ¾     $ (4 )   $ 2,746  
Corporate obligations
    10,681       23       (3 )     10,701  
 
                       
 
    13,431       23       (7 )     13,447  
Certificates of deposit — restricted
    1,826       ¾       ¾       1,826  
 
                       
Total debt securities
  $ 15,257     $ 23     $ (7 )   $ 15,273  
 
                       

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Inventories
     Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
         
    December 31,  
    2006  
Work-in-process
  $ 1,041  
Finished goods
    2,968  
Less: inventory reserves
    (153 )
 
     
 
  $ 3,856  
 
     
     Inventories, net as of December 31, 2006 is comprised of AVINZA Product Line inventory which was sold in connection with the sale of the AVINZA Product Line on February 26, 2007 (see Note 2).
Other Current Assets
     Other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
Deferred royalty cost
  $     $ 1,785  
Deferred cost of products sold
          2,153  
Other receivables
    2,509       4,066  
Prepaid expenses
    1,980       1,442  
Other
    78       72  
 
           
 
  $ 4,567     $ 9,518  
 
           
     Deferred royalty cost and deferred cost of products sold as of December 31, 2006 pertain to the AVINZA Product Line which was sold on February 26, 2007 (see Note 2).
Property and Equipment
     Property and equipment is stated at cost and consists of the following (in thousands):
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
Equipment and leasehold improvements
  $ 40,725     $ 45,835  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (36,703 )     (40,284 )
 
           
 
  $ 4,022     $ 5,551  
 
           
     Depreciation of equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets which range from three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or their related lease term, whichever is shorter.
     The Company’s corporate headquarter building, which was sold on November 9, 2006 (see Note 6), had been depreciated over its estimated useful life of thirty years.
Acquired Technology and Product Rights
     In accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangibles, the Company amortizes intangible assets with finite lives in a manner that reflects the pattern in which the economic benefits of the assets are consumed or otherwise used up. If that pattern cannot be reliably determined, the assets are amortized using the straight-line method.

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     Acquired technology and product rights, net consist of the following (in thousands):
         
    December 31,  
    2006  
AVINZA
  $ 114,437  
Less accumulated amortization
    (31,354 )
 
     
 
  $ 83,083  
 
     
     Amortization of acquired technology and product rights, net was $0.9 million and $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These amounts are included in results of discontinued operations for the applicable periods. Acquired technology and product rights related to the Oncology Product Line were sold effective October 25, 2006 as part of the sale of the Company’s Oncology Product Line (see Note 2). Additionally, the AVINZA assets were sold effective February 26, 2007 as part of the sale of the Company’s AVINZA Product Line (see Note 2).
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
     The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Fair value for the Company’s long-lived assets is determined using the expected cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. During the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company recorded an impairment charge of approximately $1.0 million ($0.5 million to research and development expenses and $0.5 million to general and administrative expenses) to reflect the abandonment or disposal of certain equipment items that are no longer used in the Company’s ongoing operations following the sale of the Company’s AVINZA product line (see Note 2) and the restructuring/reduction in workforce (see Note 11). As of March 31, 2007, the Company believes that the future cash flows to be received from its long-lived assets will exceed the assets’ carrying value.
Deferred Revenue
     Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, the Company does not recognize revenue upon shipment of product to the wholesaler. For these shipments, the Company invoices the wholesaler, records deferred revenue at gross invoice sales price, and classifies the inventory held by the wholesaler (and subsequently held by retail pharmacies as in the case of AVINZA) as deferred cost of goods sold within “other current assets.” Deferred revenue is presented net of deferred cash and other discounts. Other deferred revenue reflects the sale of certain royalty rights.
     The composition of deferred revenue, net is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
Deferred product revenue (net), current
  $     $ 57,981  
Other deferred revenue (net), long term
    2,546       2,546  
 
           
 
  $ 2,546     $ 60,527  
 
           
     Deferred product revenue as of December 31, 2006 pertains to the AVINZA Product Line which was sold on February 26, 2007
(see Note 2).

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Accrued Liabilities
     Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
Allowances for loss on returns, rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts
  $ 30,580     $ 14,688  
Income taxes
    16,292       822  
Co-promotion
    1,773       14,265  
Compensation
    1,910       9,330  
Distribution services
    1,899       2,641  
Royalties
    944       1,261  
Interest
          776  
Other
    3,982       2,726  
 
           
 
  $ 57,380     $ 46,509  
 
           
     The following summarizes the activity in the accrued liability accounts related to allowances for loss on returns, rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts for the three months ended March 31, 2007 (in thousands):
                                                 
    Losses on             Managed                    
    Returns             Care                    
    Due to             Rebates and                    
    Changes     Medicaid     Other     Charge-              
    In Price     Rebates     Rebates     backs     Returns     Total  
Balance at December 31, 2006
  $ 1,341     $ 1,406     $ 3,561     $ 1,280     $ 7,100     $ 14,688  
Provision
    244       952       2,768       209       (393 )(3)     3,780  
AVINZA Transaction Provision (1)
    ¾       513       1,382       58       17,061       19,014  
Oncology Transaction Provision (2)
    ¾       145       ¾       87       486       718  
Payments
    ¾       (1,050 )     (2,615 )     (416 )     ¾       (4,081 )
Charges
    (252 )     ¾       ¾       ¾       (3,287 )     (3,539 )
 
                                   
Balance at March 31, 2007
  $ 1,333     $ 1,966     $ 5,096     $ 1,218     $ 20,967     $ 30,580  
 
                                   
 
(1)   The AVINZA transaction provision amounts represent additional accruals recorded in connection with the sale of the AVINZA Product Line to King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on February 26, 2007. The Company will maintain the obligation for returns of product that were shipped to wholesalers prior to the close of the King transaction on February 26, 2007 and chargebacks and rebates associated with product in the distribution channel as of the closing date. See Note 2 for additional information.
 
(2)   The Oncology transaction provision amounts represent changes in the estimates of the accruals for chargebacks and rebates recorded in connection with the sale of the Oncology Product Line to Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Inc. on October 25, 2006. See Note 2 for additional information.
 
(3)   The credit for returns in the first quarter of 2007 consists of a change in the estimate of ONTAK end-customer returns. The accrual for ONTAK end-customer returns is a result of the operations of the Oncology Product Line prior to its sale on October 25, 2006.

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Condensed Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
     Condensed changes in stockholders’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2007 are as follows (in thousands, except share data):
                                                                 
          Additional     Accumulated other                             Total  
    Common Stock     paid-in     comprehensive     Accumulated     Treasury Stock     stockholders’  
    Shares     Amount     capital     loss     deficit     Shares     Amount     equity  
Balance at December 31, 2006
    99,553,504     $ 100     $ 891,446     $ (481 )   $ (862,802 )     (73,842 )   $ (911 )   $ 27,352  
Effect of adopting FIN 48 (see Note 14)
    ¾       ¾       ¾       ¾       (398 )     ¾       ¾       (398 )
 
                                               
Balance at January 1, 2007
    99,553,504       100       891,446       (481 )     (863,200 )     (73,842 )     (911 )     26,954  
Issuance of common stock under employee stock compensation plans
    484,616       ¾       2,974       ¾       ¾       ¾       ¾       2,974  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    ¾       ¾       ¾       341       ¾       ¾       ¾       341  
Stock-based compensation
    ¾       ¾       5,554       ¾       ¾       ¾       ¾       5,554  
Net income
    ¾       ¾       ¾       ¾       274,321       ¾       ¾       274,321  
Declaration of dividend
    ¾       ¾       (252,742 )     ¾       ¾       ¾               (252,742 )
 
                                               
Balance at March 31, 2007
    100,038,120     $ 100     $ 647,232     $ (140 )   $ (588,879 )     (73,842 )   $ (911 )   $ 57,402  
 
                                               
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
     Comprehensive income (loss) represents net income (loss) adjusted for the change during the periods presented in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities less reclassification adjustments for realized gains or losses included in net income (loss), as well as foreign currency translation adjustments. The accumulated unrealized gains or losses and cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments are reported as accumulated other comprehensive loss as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Comprehensive income (loss) is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Net income (loss) as reported
  $ 274,321     $ (142,229 )
Unrealized net gains on available-for-sale securities
    ¾       534  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    341       (3 )
 
           
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 274,662     $ (141,698 )
 
           
     The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows (in thousands):
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2007     2006  
Net unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities
  $ (5 )   $ (5 )
Net unrealized loss on foreign currency translation
    (135 )     (476 )
 
           
 
  $ (140 )   $ (481 )
 
           

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Collaborative Research and Development and Other Revenues
     Collaborative research and development and other revenues are recognized as services are performed consistent with the performance requirements of the contract. Non-refundable contract fees for which no further performance obligation exists and where the Company has no continuing involvement are recognized upon the earlier of when payment is received or collection is assured. Revenue from non-refundable contract fees where the Company has continuing involvement through research and development collaborations or other contractual obligations is recognized ratably over the development period or the period for which the Company continues to have a performance obligation. Revenue from performance milestones is recognized upon the achievement of the milestones as specified in the respective agreement. Payments received in advance of performance or delivery are recorded as deferred revenue and subsequently recognized over the period of performance or upon delivery.
     The composition of collaborative research and development and other revenues is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Collaborative research and development
  $ ¾     $ 894  
Development milestones and other
    235       2,020  
 
           
 
  $ 235     $ 2,914  
 
           
Income Taxes
     The Company recognizes liabilities or assets for the deferred tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS 109”). These temporary differences will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years when the reported amounts of the assets or liabilities are recovered or settled. SFAS 109 requires that a valuation allowance be established when management determines that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company evaluates the realizability of its net deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis and valuation allowances are provided, as necessary. During this evaluation, the Company reviews its forecasts of income in conjunction with other positive and negative evidence surrounding the realizability of its deferred tax assets to determine if a valuation allowance is required. Adjustments to the valuation allowance will increase or decrease the Company’s income tax provision or benefit. The Company also applies the guidance of SFAS 109 to determine the amount of income tax expense or benefit to be allocated among continuing operations, discontinued operations, and items charged or credited directly to stockholders’ equity.
     Due to the adoption of SFAS 123(R) beginning January 1, 2006, the Company recognizes windfall tax benefits associated with the exercise of stock options directly to stockholders’ equity only when realized. Accordingly, deferred tax assets are not recognized for net operating loss carryforwards resulting from windfall tax benefits occurring from January 1, 2006 onward. A windfall tax benefit occurs when the actual tax benefit realized by the Company upon an employee’s disposition of a share-based award exceeds the deferred tax asset, if any, associated with the award that the Company had recorded. When assessing whether a tax benefit relating to share-based compensation has been realized, the Company follows the with-and-without method, excluding the indirect effects, under which current year share-based compensation deductions are assumed to be utilized after net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes.
     As discussed in Note 14, effective January 1, 2007 the Company adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN48”).

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2. Discontinued Operations
Oncology Product Line
     On September 7, 2006, the Company, Eisai Inc., a Delaware corporation and Eisai Co., Ltd., a Japanese company (together with Eisai Inc., “Eisai”), entered into a purchase agreement (the “Oncology Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Eisai agreed to acquire all of the Company’s worldwide rights in and to the Company’s oncology products, including, among other things, all related inventory, equipment, records and intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities (the “Oncology Product Line”) as set forth in the Oncology Purchase Agreement. The Oncology Product Line included the Company’s four marketed oncology drugs: ONTAK, Targretin capsules, Targretin gel and Panretin gel. Pursuant to the Oncology Purchase Agreement, at closing on October 25, 2006, Ligand received approximately $185.0 million in net cash proceeds, net of $20.0 million that was funded into an escrow account to support any indemnification claims made by Eisai following the closing of the sale as further discussed below. Eisai also assumed certain liabilities. The Company also incurred approximately $1.7 million in transaction fees and costs associated with the sale that are not reflected in net cash proceeds. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $135.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. The Company recorded a $0.1 million pre-tax reduction to the gain on the sale in the first quarter of 2007 due to subsequent changes in certain estimates of assets and liabilities recorded as of the sale date.
     Additionally, $38.6 million of the proceeds received from Eisai were deposited into an escrow account to repay a loan received from King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“King”), the proceeds of which were used to pay the Company’s co-promote termination obligation to Organon in October 2006. The escrow amounts were released and the loan repaid to King in January 2007.
     In connection with the Oncology Purchase Agreement with Eisai, the Company entered into a transition services agreement whereby the Company agreed to perform certain transition services for Eisai, in order to effect, as rapidly as practicable, the transition of purchased assets from Ligand to Eisai. In exchange for these services, Eisai pays the Company a monthly service fee. The term of the transition services provided is generally three months; however, certain services are being provided for a period of up to eight months. Fees earned under the transition services agreement during the first quarter of 2007, which were recorded as an offset to operating expenses, were approximately $1.8 million.
     The Company agreed to indemnify Eisai, after the closing, for damages suffered by Eisai arising for any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or obligations the Company made in the Oncology Purchase Agreement. The Company’s obligation to indemnify Eisai survives the closing in some cases up to 18 or 36 months following the closing, and in other cases, until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. In a few instances, the Company’s obligation to indemnify Eisai survives in perpetuity. The Company’s agreement with Eisai required that $20.0 million of the total upfront cash payment be deposited into an escrow account to secure the Company’s indemnification obligations to Eisai after the closing. Of the escrowed amounts not required for claims to Eisai, $10.0 million was released to the Company on April 25, 2007, with the remaining balance available to be released on October 25, 2007. The Company’s indemnification obligations could cause the Company to be liable to Eisai, under certain circumstances, in excess of the amounts set forth in the escrow account. The Company’s liability for any indemnification claim brought by Eisai is generally limited to $30.0 million. However, the Company’s obligation to provide indemnification on certain matters is not subject to these indemnification limits. For example, the Company agreed to retain, and provide indemnification without limitation to Eisai for, all liabilities related to certain claims regarding promotional materials for the ONTAK and Targretin drug products. The Company cannot estimate the liabilities that may arise as a result of these matters.
     Prior to the Oncology sale, the Company recorded accruals for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to Oncology products when product sales were recognized as revenue under the sell-through method. Upon the Oncology sale, the Company accrued for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to Oncology products in the distribution channel which had not sold-through at the time of the Oncology sale and for which the Company retained the liability subsequent to the Oncology sale. The Company’s accruals for Oncology rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts total $1.6 million as of March 31, 2007 and are included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

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     Additionally, and pursuant to the terms of the Oncology Purchase Agreement, the Company retained the liability for returns of product from wholesalers that had been sold by the Company prior to the close of the transaction. Accordingly, as part of the accounting for the gain on the sale of the Oncology Product Line, the Company recorded a reserve for Oncology product returns. Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, the Company previously did not record a reserve for returns from wholesalers. The Company’s reserve for Oncology returns, including estimated losses on returns due to changes in price, is $5.6 million as of March 31, 2007 and is included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
AVINZA Product Line
     On September 6, 2006, Ligand and King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“King”), entered into a purchase agreement (the “AVINZA Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which King agreed to acquire all of the Company’s rights in and to AVINZA in the United States, its territories and Canada, including, among other things, all AVINZA inventory, records and related intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities as set forth in the AVINZA Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction”). In addition, King, subject to the terms and conditions of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, agreed to offer employment following the closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”) to certain of the Company’s existing AVINZA sales representatives or otherwise reimburse the Company for agreed upon severance arrangements offered to any such non-hired representatives.
     Pursuant to the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, at Closing on February 26, 2007 (the “Closing Date”), the Company received $280.4 million in net cash proceeds, which is net of $15.0 million that was funded into an escrow account to support potential indemnification claims made by King following the Closing. The purchase price reflected a reduction of $12.7 million due to the preliminary estimate of retail inventory levels of AVINZA at the Closing Date exceeding targeted levels. After final studies and review by King, the final retail inventory-level adjustment was determined to be $11.2 million. The Company received the additional $1.5 million in proceeds in April 2007. The purchase price also reflects a reduction of $6.0 million for anticipated higher cost of goods for King related to the Cardinal Health PTS, LLC (“Cardinal”) manufacturing and packaging agreement. At the closing, Ligand agreed to not assign the Cardinal agreement to King, wind down the contract, and remain responsible for any resulting liabilities. The costs of winding down the Cardinal agreement were not material.
     The net cash received also includes reimbursement of $47.8 million for co-promote termination payments which had previously been paid to Organon, $0.9 million of interest Ligand paid King on a loan that was repaid in January 2007, and $0.5 million of severance expense for AVINZA sales representatives not offered positions with King. A summary of the net cash proceeds, exclusive of $7.2 million in transaction costs and adjusted to reflect the final results of the retail inventory study, is as follows (in thousands):
         
Purchase price
  $ 265,000  
Reimbursement of Organon payments
    47,750  
Repayment of interest on King loan
    883  
Reimbursement of sales representative severance costs
    453  
 
     
 
    314,086  
 
       
Less retail pharmacy inventory adjustment
    (11,225 )
Less cost of goods manufacturing adjustment
    (6,000 )
 
     
 
    296,861  
Less funds placed into escrow
    (15,000 )
 
     
 
       
Net cash proceeds
  $ 281,861  
 
     

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     King also assumed Ligand’s co-promote termination obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA (approximately $93.2 million as of February 26, 2007). As Organon has not consented to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation from Ligand to King, Ligand remains liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of this obligation (Note 5). The Company also incurred approximately $7.2 million in transaction fees and other costs associated with the sale that are not reflected in the net cash proceeds, of which $3.6 million was recognized in 2006. The $7.2 million also includes approximately $3.6 million recognized in the first quarter of 2007 for investment banking services and related expenses which have not yet been paid. The Company is disputing that these fees are owed to the investment banking firm. The investment banking firm filed suit against the Company in New York on April 17, 2007 seeking recovery of these fees, plus interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $310.1 million in the first quarter of 2007.
     In addition to the assumption of existing royalty obligations, King will pay Ligand a 15% royalty on AVINZA net sales during the first 20 months after Closing. Subsequent royalty payments will be based upon calendar year net sales. If calendar year net sales are less than $200.0 million, the royalty payment will be 5% of all net sales. If calendar year net sales are greater than $200.0 million, the royalty payment will be 10% of all net sales less than $250.0 million, plus 15% of net sales greater than $250.0 million.
     In connection with the sale, the Company has agreed to indemnify King for a period of 16 months after the closing for a number of specified matters including the breach of the Company’s representations, warranties and covenants contained in the asset purchase agreement, and in some cases for a period of 30 months following the closing of the asset sale. Under the Company’s agreement with King, $15.0 million of the total upfront cash payment was deposited into an escrow account to secure the Company’s indemnification obligations to King following the closing. If not used for valid indemnification claims, one half of the escrow amounts will be available for release to the Company on August 26, 2007 with the remainder available for release on February 26, 2008.
     The Company’s indemnification obligations under the asset purchase agreements could cause Ligand to be liable to King under certain circumstances, in excess of the amount set forth in the escrow account. The AVINZA asset purchase agreement also allows King, under certain circumstances, to set off indemnification claims against the royalty payments payable to the Company. Under the asset purchase agreement, the Company’s liability for any indemnification claim brought by King is generally limited to $40.0 million. However, the Company’s obligation to provide indemnification on certain matters is not subject to this indemnification limit. For example, the Company agreed to retain, and provide indemnification without limitation to King for all liabilities arising under certain agreements with Cardinal Health PTS, LLC related to the manufacture of AVINZA. The Company cannot predict the liabilities that may arise as a result of these matters. Any liability claims related to these matters or any indemnification claims made by King could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition.
     In connection with the Transaction, King loaned the Company $37.8 million (the “Loan”) which was used to pay the Company’s co-promote termination obligation to Organon due October 15, 2006. This loan was drawn, and the $37.8 million co-promote liability settled in October 2006. Amounts due under the loan were subject to certain market terms, including a 9.5% interest rate. In addition, and as a condition of the loan, $38.6 million of the funds received from Eisai was deposited into a restricted account to be used to repay the loan to King, plus interest. The Company repaid the loan plus interest in January 2007. As noted above, King refunded the interest to the Company on the Closing Date.
     Also on September 6, 2006, the Company entered into a contract sales force agreement (the “Sales Call Agreement”) with King, pursuant to which King agreed to conduct a sales detailing program to promote the sale of AVINZA for an agreed upon fee, subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Call Agreement. Pursuant to the Sales Call Agreement, King agreed to perform certain minimum monthly product details (i.e. sales calls), which commenced effective October 1, 2006 and continued until the Closing Date. Co-promotion expense recognized under the Sales Call Agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $2.8 million. The amount due to King under the Sales Call Agreement as of March 31, 2007 is approximately $1.7 million. The Sales Call Agreement terminated effective on the Closing Date.

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     Assets and liabilities of the Company’s AVINZA product line on February 26, 2007 were as follows (in thousands):
         
ASSETS
       
Current assets:
       
Inventories, net (1)
  $ 2,926  
Other current assets (2)
    2,780  
 
     
Total current portion of assets disposed
    5,706  
 
     
Equipment, net of accumulated depreciation (1)
    89  
Acquired technology and product rights, net (1)
    82,174  
 
     
Total long-term portion of assets disposed
    82,263  
 
     
Total assets disposed
  $ 87,969  
 
     
 
       
LIABILITIES
       
Current liabilities:
       
Deferred revenue, net (2)
  $ 49,324  
 
     
Total liabilities disposed
  $ 49,324  
 
     
 
(1)   Represents assets acquired by King in accordance with the terms of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement.
 
(2)   Represents assets or liabilities eliminated from the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in connection with the AVINZA sale transaction.
     Prior to the AVINZA sale, the Company recorded accruals for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to AVINZA products when product sales were recognized as revenue under the sell-through method. Upon the AVINZA sale, the Company accrued for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to AVINZA products in the distribution channel which had not sold-through at the time of the AVINZA sale and for which the Company retained the liability subsequent to the sale. The Company’s accruals for AVINZA rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts total $6.7 million as of March 31, 2007 and are included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
     Additionally, and pursuant to the terms of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, the Company retained the liability for returns of product from wholesalers that had been sold by the Company prior to the close of the transaction. Accordingly, as part of the accounting for the gain on the sale of AVINZA, the Company recorded a reserve for AVINZA product returns. Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, the Company previously did not record a reserve for returns from wholesalers. The Company’s reserve for AVINZA returns, including estimated losses on returns due to changes in price, is $16.7 million as of March 31, 2007 and is included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.

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Results from Discontinued Operations
     The following table summarizes results from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
         
    AVINZA  
    Product  
    Line  
Product sales
  $ 18,256  
 
     
Operating costs and expenses:
       
Cost of products sold
    3,608  
Research and development
    120  
Selling, general and administrative
    3,709  
Co-promotion
    2,814  
Co-promote termination charges
    2,012  
 
     
Total operating costs and expenses
    12,263  
 
     
Income from operations
    5,993  
Interest expense
     
 
     
Income before income taxes
  $ 5,993  
 
     

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     The following table summarizes results from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
                         
    Oncology     AVINZA        
    Product     Product        
    Line     Line     Total  
Product sales
  $ 15,489     $ 32,495     $ 47,984  
Collaborative research and development and other revenues
    58             58  
 
                 
Total revenues
    15,547       32,495       48,042  
 
                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                       
Cost of products sold
    4,146       5,594       9,740  
Research and development
    3,893             3,893  
Selling, general and administrative
    4,518       8,780       13,298  
Co-promotion
          10,957       10,957  
Co-promote termination charges
          136,241       136,241  
 
                 
Total operating costs and expenses
    12,557       161,572       174,129  
 
                 
Income (loss) from operations
    2,990       (129,077 )     (126,087 )
Interest expense
    (25 )     (2,414 ) (1)     (2,439 )
 
                 
Income (loss) before income taxes
  $ 2,965     $ (131,491 )   $ (128,526 )
 
                 
 
(1)   As part of the terms of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, the Company was required to redeem its outstanding convertible subordinated notes. All of the notes converted into shares of common stock in 2006 prior to redemption. In accordance with EITF 87-24, Allocation of Interest to Discontinued Operations, the interest on the notes was allocated to discontinued operations because the debt was required to be repaid in connection with the disposal transaction.
     A comparison of sales by product for discontinued operations is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2007     2006  
AVINZA
  $ 18,256     $ 32,495  
ONTAK
          9,182  
Targretin capsules
          5,002  
Targretin gel and Panretin gel
          1,305  
 
           
Total product sales
  $ 18,256     $ 47,984  
 
           
3. Accounts Receivable Factoring Arrangement
     During 2003, the Company entered into a one-year accounts receivable factoring arrangement under which eligible accounts receivable are sold without recourse to a finance company. The agreement was renewed for a one-year period in the second quarter of 2004 and for two years in the second quarter of 2005 through December 2007. Commissions on factored receivables are paid to the finance company based on the gross receivables sold, subject to a minimum annual commission. Additionally, the Company pays interest on the net outstanding balance of the uncollected factored accounts receivable at an interest rate equal to the JPMorgan Chase Bank prime rate. The Company continues to service the factored receivables. The servicing expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 and the servicing liability at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were not material. There were no material gains or losses on the sale of such receivables. The Company accounts for the sale of receivables under this arrangement in accordance with SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities (“SFAS 140”). No amount was due from the finance company at March 31, 2007. The gross amount due from the finance company at December 31, 2006 was $1.0 million.

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4. Collaboration Agreements and Royalty Matters
AVINZA Royalty
     In connection with the sale of the Company’s AVINZA product line to King, King will pay Ligand a 15% royalty on AVINZA net sales during the first 20 months after the Closing Date, February 26, 2007. Subsequent royalty payments will be based upon calendar year net sales. If calendar year net sales are less than $200.0 million, the royalty payment will be 5% of all net sales. If calendar year net sales are greater than $200.0 million, the royalty payment will be 10% of all net sales less than $250.0 million, plus 15% of net sales greater than $250.0 million.
Product Candidates
     The Company has in the past and in the future may receive milestone payments and royalties on product candidates resulting from its research and development collaboration arrangements with third party pharmaceutical companies if and to the extent any such product candidate achieves certain milestones and is ultimately approved by the FDA and successfully marketed. The ability of the Company to receive and maintain milestone payments and royalties will depend on the Company’s ability and the ability of the Company’s partners to avoid infringing the proprietary rights of others, both in the United States and in foreign countries. In addition, disputes with licensors under the Company’s license agreements have arisen and may arise in the future which could result in (i) additional financial liability which could be material, (ii) a material loss of important technology and potential products, and (iii) future or past related revenue, if any. Further, the manufacture, use or sale of the Company’s potential products or the Company’s partners’ products or potential products may infringe the patent rights of others. This could impact AVINZA, eltrombopag, bazedoxifene, lasofoxifene, LGD-4665 and any other products or potential products of the Company or the Company’s partners. The Company’s product candidates include drugs being developed by GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth and Pfizer, as discussed below.
GlaxoSmithKline Collaboration – Eltrombopag
     Eltrombopag is an oral, small molecule drug that mimics the activity of thrombopoietin, a protein factor that promotes growth and production of blood platelets. Eltrombopag is a product candidate that resulted from the Company’s collaboration with SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). GlaxoSmithKline has announced that eltrombopag is currently in Phase III trials for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) and that it plans to initiate a Phase III trial in 2007 for hepatitis C.
     If annual net sales of eltrombopag are less than $100.0 million, the Company will earn a royalty of 5% on such net sales. If eltrombopag’s annual net sales are between $100.0 million and $200.0 million, the Company will earn a royalty of 7% on the portion of net sales between $100.0 million and $200.0 million, and if annual net sales are between $200.0 million and $400 million, the Company will earn a royalty of 8% on the portion of net sales between $200.0 million and $400.0 million. If annual sales exceed $400.0 million, the Company will earn a royalty of 10% on the portion of net sales exceeding $400.0 million.
Wyeth Collaboration – bazedoxifene and bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN
     Bazedoxifene (Viviant) is a product candidate that resulted from the Company’s collaboration with Wyeth. Bazedoxifene is a synthetic drug that was specifically designed to increase bone density and reduce cholesterol levels while at the same time protecting breast and uterine tissue. In June 2006, Wyeth announced that a new drug application (“NDA”) for bazedoxifene had been submitted to the FDA for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In April 2007, Wyeth announced that the FDA had issued an approvable letter for bazedoxifene for this indication subject to the FDA’s receipt and consideration of certain final safety and efficacy data and the FDA’s completion of an evaluation of the manufacturing and testing facilities for bazedoxifene. Wyeth has also disclosed plans to submit additional Phase III data to the FDA by mid-summer and expects FDA action on the osteoporosis prevention NDA towards the end of 2007. Wyeth also announced plans for the submission of the osteoporosis treatment NDA to the FDA and a European submission later this year. Wyeth has previously announced that it is also developing bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN (Aprela) as a progesterone-free treatment for menopausal symptoms and that an NDA submission for Aprela is expected by the end of 2007

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     The Company previously sold to Royalty Pharma AG (“Royalty Pharma”) the rights to a total of 3.0% of net sales of bazedoxifene for a period of ten years following the first commercial sale of each product. After giving effect to the royalty sale, the Company will receive 0.5% of the first $400.0 million in net annual sales. If net annual sales are between $400.0 million and $1.0 billion, the Company will receive a royalty of 1.5% on the portion of net sales between $400.00 million and $1.0 billion, and if annual sales exceed $1.0 billion, the Company will receive a royalty of 2.5% on the portion of net sales exceeding $1.0 billion. Additionally, the royalty owed to Royalty Pharma may be reduced by one third if net product sales exceed certain thresholds across all indications.
     In August 2006, the Company paid Salk $0.8 million to exercise an option to buy out milestone payments, other payment sharing obligations and royalty payments due on future sales of bazedoxifene. The submission of the bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN NDA will trigger an additional option for the Company to buy out its royalty obligation on future sales of bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN to Salk. In April 2007, Salk made a claim that there are additional patents issued to Salk that increase the amount of royalty buy-out payments. Based on the context of the claim, the Company believes that Salk is not raising this claim with respect to the bazedoxifene royalty buy-out payment.
Pfizer Collaboration – Lasofoxifene
     Lasofoxifene is a product candidate that resulted from the Company’s collaboration with Pfizer. In August 2004, Pfizer submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the FDA for lasofoxifene for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In September 2005, Pfizer announced the receipt of a non-approvable letter from the FDA for the prevention of osteoporosis. In December 2004, Pfizer filed a supplemental NDA for the use of lasofoxifene for the treatment of vaginal atrophy. In February 2006, Pfizer announced the receipt of a non-approvable letter from the FDA for vaginal atrophy. Pfizer has also announced that lasofoxifene is being developed for the treatment of osteoporosis. In April 2007, Pfizer announced plans for re-filing the lasofoxifene NDA with the FDA towards the end of 2007.
     Under the terms of the agreement between Ligand and Pfizer, the Company is entitled to receive royalty payments equal to 6% of net sales of lasofoxifene worldwide for any indication. The Company previously sold to Royalty Pharma the rights to a total of 3% of net sales of lasofoxifene for a period of ten years following the first commercial sale. Accordingly, the Company will receive approximately 3% of worldwide net annual sales of lasofoxifene.
     In March 2004, the Company paid Salk approximately $1.1 million to buy out royalty payments due on total sales of lasofoxifene for the prevention of osteoporosis. In connection with Pfizer’s filing of the supplemental NDA in December 2004 for the use of lasofoxifene for the treatment of vaginal atrophy, the Company exercised its option to pay Salk $1.1 million to buy out royalty payments due on sales in this additional indication.
TAP Collaboration – LGD-2941
     LGD-2941, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), was selected as a clinical candidate during Ligand’s collaboration with TAP Pharmaceuticals. SARMs, such as LGD-2941, may contribute to the prevention and treatment of diseases including hypogonadism (low testosterone), sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, and frailty. Phase I development LGD-4665 commenced in 2005 for osteoporosis and frailty. The agreement further provides for milestones moving through the development stage and royalties ranging from 6.0% to 12.0% on annual net sales of drugs resulting from the collaboration.
5. AVINZA Co-Promotion
     In February 2003, Ligand and Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (“Organon”) announced that they had entered into an agreement for the co-promotion of AVINZA. Subsequently in January 2006, Ligand signed an agreement with Organon that terminated the AVINZA co-promotion agreement between the two companies and returned AVINZA co-promotion rights to Ligand. The termination was effective as of January 1, 2006; however, the parties agreed to continue to cooperate during a transition period that ended September 30, 2006 (the “Transition Period”) to promote the product. The Transition Period co-operation included a minimum number of product sales calls per quarter (100,000 for Organon and 30,000 for Ligand with an aggregate of 375,000 and 90,000, respectively, for the Transition Period) as well as the transition of ongoing promotions, managed care contracts, clinical trials and key opinion leader relationships to Ligand. During the Transition Period, Ligand paid Organon an amount equal to 23% of AVINZA net sales. Ligand also paid and was responsible for the design and execution of all clinical, advertising and promotion expenses and activities.
     Additionally, in consideration of the early termination and return of rights under the terms of the agreement, Ligand agreed to and paid Organon $37.8 million in October 2006. Ligand further agreed to and paid Organon

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$10.0 million in January 2007, in consideration of the minimum sales calls during the Transition Period. In addition, following the Transition Period, Ligand agreed to make quarterly royalty payments to Organon equal to 6.5% of AVINZA net sales through December 31, 2012 and thereafter 6.0% through patent expiration, currently anticipated to be November of 2017.
     The unconditional payment of $37.8 million to Organon and the estimated fair value of the amounts to be paid to Organon after the termination ($95.2 million as of January 1, 2006), based on the estimated net sales of the product (currently anticipated to be paid quarterly through November 2017), were recognized as liabilities and expensed as costs of the termination as of the effective date of the agreement, January 2006. Additionally, the conditional payment of $10.0 million, which represents an approximation of the fair value of the service element of the agreement during the Transition Period (when the provision to pay 23% of AVINZA net sales is also considered), was recognized ratably as additional co-promotion expense over the Transition Period.
     As more fully described in Note 2, on February 26, 2007, Ligand and King closed an agreement pursuant to which King acquired all of the Company’s rights in and to AVINZA, assumed certain liabilities, and reimbursed Ligand the $47.8 million previously paid to Organon (comprised of the $37.8 million paid in October 2006 and the $10.0 million that the Company paid in January 2007). King also assumed the Company’s co-promote termination obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA. For the fourth quarter of 2006 and through the closing of the AVINZA sale transaction, amounts owed by Ligand to Organon on net reported sales of AVINZA did not result in current period expense, but instead were charged against the co-promote termination liability. The liability was adjusted at each reporting period to fair value and was recognized, utilizing the interest method, as additional co-promote termination charges for that period at a rate of 15%, the discount rate used to initially value this component of the termination liability.
     In connection with King’s assumption of this obligation, Organon did not consent to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation to King. Accordingly, Ligand remains liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of the obligation. Therefore, Ligand recorded an asset as of February 26, 2007 to recognize King’s assumption of the obligation, while continuing to carry the co-promote termination liability in the Company’s consolidated financial statements to recognize Ligand’s legal obligation as primary obligor to Organon as required under SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This asset represents a non-interest bearing receivable for future payments to be made by King and is recorded at its fair value. As of March 31, 2007, the current portion of the co-promote termination liability includes approximately $1.2 million owed to Organon on net product sales recognized through February 26, 2007. Thereafter, the receivable and liability will remain equal and adjusted each quarter for changes in the fair value of the obligation including for any changes in the estimate of future net AVINZA product sales. This receivable will be assessed on a quarterly basis for impairment (e.g. in the event King defaults on the assumed obligation to pay Organon). As of March 31, 2007, the fair value of the co-promote termination liability (and the corresponding receivable) was determined using a discount rate of 15%.
     On a quarterly basis, management reviews the carrying value of the co-promote termination liability. Due to assumptions and judgments inherent in determining the estimates of future net AVINZA sales through November 2017, the actual amount of net AVINZA sales used to determine the current fair value of the Company’s co-promote termination asset and liability may be materially different from current estimates.

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     A summary of the co-promote termination liability as of March 31, 2007 is as follows (in thousands):
         
Net present value of payments based on estimated future net AVINZA product sales as of December 31, 2006
  $ 93,328  
Payment made in February 2007 to Organon for net AVINZA sales from October 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006
    (2,218 )
March 31, 2007 fair value adjustment of estimated future payments based on estimated net AVINZA product sales
    2,988  
 
     
Total co-promote termination liability as of March 31, 2007
    94,098  
Less: payment to be made in May 2007 to Organon for net AVINZA sales from January 1, 2007 through February 26, 2007
    (1,202 )
Less: remaining current portion of co-promote termination liability as of March 31, 2007
    (11,881 )
 
     
Long-term portion of co-promote termination liability as of March 31, 2007
  $ 81,015  
 
     
6. Sale Leaseback
     On October 25, 2006, the Company, along with its wholly-owned subsidiary Nexus, entered into an agreement with Slough for the sale of the Company’s real property located in San Diego, California for a purchase price of approximately $47.6 million. This property, with a net book value of approximately $14.5 million, included one building totaling approximately 82,500 square feet, the land on which the building is situated, and two adjacent vacant lots. As part of the sale transaction, the Company agreed to leaseback the building for a period of 15 years. In connection with the sale transaction, on November 6, 2006, the Company also paid off the existing mortgage on the building of approximately $11.6 million. The early payment triggered a prepayment penalty of approximately $0.4 million which was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2006. The sale transaction subsequently closed on November 9, 2006.
     Under the terms of the lease, the Company pays a basic annual rent of $3.0 million (subject to an annual fixed percentage increase, as set forth in the agreement), plus a 1% annual management fee, property taxes and other normal and necessary expenses associated with the lease such as utilities, repairs and maintenance, etc. The Company has the right to extend the lease for two five-year terms and the first right of refusal to lease, at market rates, any facilities built on the sold lots.
     In accordance with SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases, the Company recognized an immediate pre-tax gain on the sale transaction of approximately $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 and deferred a gain of approximately $29.5 million on the sale of the building. The deferred gain is recognized on a straight-line basis over the 15 year term of the lease at a rate of approximately $2.0 million per year. The amortization of the deferred gain was $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
7. Litigation
Securities Litigation
     The Company was involved in several securities class action and shareholder derivative actions which followed announcements by the Company in 2004 and the subsequent restatement of its financial results in 2005. In June 2006, the Company entered into agreements to resolve all claims by the parties in each of these matters, including those asserted against the Company and the individual defendants in these cases. Under the agreements, the Company agreed to pay a total of $12.2 million in cash for a release and in full settlement of all claims. $12.0 million of the settlement amount and a portion of the Company’s total legal expenses were funded by the Company’s Directors and Officers Liability insurance carrier while the remainder of the legal fees incurred ($1.4 million for 2006) was paid by the Company. Of the $12.2 million settlement liability, $4.0 million was paid in October 2006 to Ligand’s insurance carrier and then disbursed to the claimants’ attorneys, while $8.0 million was

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paid in July 2006 by the insurance carrier directly to an independent escrow agent responsible for disbursing the funds to the class action suit claimants. As part of the settlement of the state derivative action, the Company agreed to adopt certain corporate governance enhancements including the formalization of certain Board practices and responsibilities, a Board self-evaluation process, Board and Board Committee term limits (with gradual phase-in) and one-time enhanced independence requirements for a single director to succeed the current shareholder representatives on the Board. Neither the Company nor any of its current or former directors and officers has made any admission of liability or wrongdoing. On October 12, 2006, the Superior Court of California approved the settlement of the state and federal derivative actions and entered final judgment of dismissal. The United States District Court approved the settlement of the Federal class action in October 2006.
SEC Investigation
     The SEC issued a formal order of private investigation dated September 7, 2005, which was furnished to Ligand’s legal counsel on September 29, 2005, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ligand’s restatement of its consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, and for the first three quarters of 2004. The SEC has issued subpoenas for the production of documents and for testimony pursuant to that investigation to Ligand and others. The SEC’s investigation is ongoing and Ligand is cooperating with the investigation.
Other Matters
     The Company’s subsidiary, Seragen, Inc. and Ligand, were named parties to Sergio M. Oliver, et al. v. Boston University, et al., a shareholder class action filed on December 17, 1998 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, C.A. No. 16570NC, by Sergio M. Oliver and others against Boston University and others, including Seragen, its subsidiary Seragen Technology, Inc. and former officers and directors of Seragen. The complaint, as amended, alleged that Ligand aided and abetted purported breaches of fiduciary duty by the Seragen related defendants in connection with the acquisition of Seragen by Ligand and made certain misrepresentations in related proxy materials and seeks compensatory and punitive damages of an unspecified amount. On July 25, 2000, the Delaware Chancery Court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motions to dismiss. Seragen, Ligand, Seragen Technology, Inc. and the Company’s acquisition subsidiary, Knight Acquisition Corporation, were dismissed from the action. Claims of breach of fiduciary duty remain against the remaining defendants, including the former officers and directors of Seragen. The court certified a class consisting of shareholders as of the date of the acquisition and on the date of the proxy sent to ratify an earlier business unit sale by Seragen. On January 20, 2005, the Delaware Chancery Court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Prior to trial, several of the Seragen director-defendants reached a settlement with the plaintiffs. The trial in this action then went forward as to the remaining defendants and concluded on February 18, 2005. On April 14, 2006, the court issued a memorandum opinion finding for the plaintiffs and against Boston University and individual directors affiliated with Boston University on certain claims. The opinion awards damages on these claims in the amount of approximately $4.8 million plus interest. Judgment, however, has not been entered and the matter is subject to appeal. While Ligand and its subsidiary Seragen have been dismissed from the action, such dismissal is also subject to appeal and Ligand and Seragen may have possible indemnification obligations with respect to certain defendants. As of March 31, 2007, the Company has not accrued an indemnification obligation based on its assessment that the Company’s responsibility for any such obligation is not probable or estimable.
     The Company received a letter in March 2007 from counsel to The Salk Institute for Biological Studies (“Salk”) alleging the Company owes Salk royalties on prior product sales of Targretin as well as a percentage of the amounts received from Eisai Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) and Eisai inc. (New Jersey) in the asset sale transaction completed with Eisai in October 2006. Salk alleges that they are owed at least 25% of the consideration paid by Eisai for that portion of our oncology product line and associated assets attributable to Targretin. In an April 11, 2007 request for mediation, Salk repeated these claims and asserted additional claims that allegedly increase the amount of royalty buy-out payments. The Company intends to vigorously oppose any claim that Salk may bring for payment related to these matters.
     The Company recorded approximately $7.2 million in transaction fees and other costs associated with the sale of AVINZA to King (see Note 2). This amount includes approximately $3.6 million for investment banking services

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and related expenses which have not yet been paid. The Company is disputing that these fees are owed to the investment banking firm. The investment banking firm has filed suit against the Company in New York on April 17, 2007 seeking recovery of these fees, plus interest, attorneys’ fees and costs.
     In addition, the Company is subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to matters arising out of the normal course of business. Due to the uncertainty of the ultimate outcome of these matters, the impact on future financial results is not subject to reasonable estimates.
8. New Accounting Pronouncements
     In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments (“SFAS 155”) which amends SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“SFAS 133”) and SFAS 140. Specifically, SFAS 155 amends SFAS 133 to permit fair value remeasurement for any hybrid financial instrument with an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation, provided the whole instrument is accounted for on a fair value basis. Additionally, SFAS 155 amends SFAS 140 to allow a qualifying special purpose entity to hold a derivative financial instrument that pertains to a beneficial interest other than another derivative financial instrument. SFAS 155 applies to all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity’s first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006, with early application allowed. The adoption of SFAS 155 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.
     In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156, Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets (“SFAS 156”) to simplify accounting for separately recognized servicing assets and servicing liabilities. SFAS 156 amends SFAS 140 and applies to all separately recognized servicing assets and liabilities acquired or issued after the beginning of an entity’s fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006, with early application allowed. The adoption of SFAS 156 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.
     In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes- an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS 109. It prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. As further discussed in Note 14, the adoption of FIN 48 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.
     In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements where fair value has previously been concluded to be the relevant measurement attribute. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company will adopt SFAS 157 in the first interim period of fiscal 2008 and is evaluating the impact, if any, that the adoption of this statement will have on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.
     In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. Most of the provisions of SFAS 159 apply only to entities that elect the fair value option; however, the amendment to FASB Statement No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, applies to all entities with available-for-sale and trading securities. SFAS 159 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company will adopt SFAS 159 in the first interim period of fiscal 2008 and is evaluating the impact, if any, that the adoption of this statement will have on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

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9. Employment and Severance and Retention Bonus Agreements
     In March 2006, the Company entered into letter agreements with approximately 67 key employees, including a number of its executive officers. In September 2006, the Company entered into letter agreements with ten additional employees and modified existing agreements with two employees. These letter agreements provided for certain retention or stay bonus payments to be paid in cash under specified circumstances as an additional incentive to remain employed in good standing with the Company through December 31, 2006. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the Company’s entry into these agreements. In accordance with the SFAS 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, the cost of the plan was ratably accrued over the term of the agreements. The Company recognized approximately $2.6 million of expense under the plan in 2006 including $0.3 for the three months ended March 31, 2006.
     Additionally, in October 2006, the Company implemented a 2006 Employee Severance Plan for those employees who were not covered by another severance arrangement. The plan provides that if such an employee is involuntarily terminated without cause, and not offered a similar or better job by one of the purchasers of the product lines (i.e. King or Eisai) such employee will be eligible for severance benefits. The benefits consist of two months’ salary, plus one week of salary for every full year of service with the Company plus payment of COBRA health care coverage premiums for that same period.
10. Appointment of New CEO
     On August 1, 2006, the Company announced that current director Henry F. Blissenbach had been named Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer. The Company agreed to pay Dr. Blissenbach $40,000 per month, commencing August 1, 2006 for his services as Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Dr. Blissenbach was eligible to receive incentive compensation of up to 50% of his base salary, but not more than $100,000, based upon his performance of certain objectives incorporated within the employment agreement which the Company and Dr. Blissenbach entered into. As those performance objectives were achieved, the Company paid the $100,000 in incentive compensation to Dr. Blissenbach in February 2007. Also, Dr. Blissenbach received a stock option grant to purchase 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $9.20 per share. These stock options vested upon the appointment of a new chief executive officer in January 2007 as further discussed below. Finally, the Company reimbursed Dr. Blissenbach for all reasonable expenses incurred in discharging his duties as interim Chief Executive Officer, including, but not limited to commuting costs to San Diego and living and related costs during the time he spent in San Diego.
     On January 15, 2007, the Company announced that John L. Higgins had joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Higgins succeeded Dr. Blissenbach, who continued to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors until March 1, 2007. The Company has agreed to pay Mr. Higgins an annual salary of $400,000, with his employment commencing as of January 10, 2007. In addition, Mr. Higgins has a performance bonus opportunity with a target of 50% of his salary, up to a maximum of 75%, and received a restricted stock grant of 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock vesting over two years. The Company also provided Mr. Higgins with a lump-sum relocation benefit of $100,000. Mr. Higgins’ employment agreement provides for severance payments and benefits in the event that employment is terminated under various scenarios, such as a change in control of the Company.
11. Reductions in Workforce
     In December 2006, and following the sale of the Company’s Oncology Product Line to Eisai, the Company entered into a plan to eliminate 40 employee positions, across all functional areas, which were no longer deemed necessary considering the Company’s decision to sell its commercial assets. Additionally, the Company terminated 23 AVINZA sales representatives and regional business managers who were not offered positions with King or declined King’s offer of employment. The affected employees were informed of the plan in December 2006 with an effective termination date of January 2, 2007. In connection with the termination plan, the Company recognized operating expenses of approximately $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, comprised of one-time severance benefits of $2.3 million, stock compensation of $0.3 million, and other costs of $0.3 million. The stock compensation charge resulted from the accelerated vesting and extension of the exercise period of stock options in accordance with severance arrangements of certain senior management members. The Company paid $0.5 million in December 2006 and the remaining balance in January 2007.

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     On January 31, 2007, the Company announced a restructuring plan calling for the elimination of approximately 204 positions across all functional areas. This reduction was made in connection with the Company’s efforts to refocus the Company, following the sale of its commercial assets, as a smaller, highly focused research and development and royalty-driven biotech company. Associated with the restructuring and refocused business model, several of its executive officers stepped down including its Chief Financial Officer, Chief Scientific Officer and General Counsel. In connection with the termination of its officers and the payment of severance, the Company entered into one-year consulting agreements with each officer at hourly rates commensurate with the officer’s salary compensation in effect as of the date of termination. Amounts owed to these officers for services provided in the first quarter of 2007 were not material. The Company also announced that its primary operations are expected to be consolidated into one building with the goal to sublet unutilized space. In connection with the restructuring, the Company recorded severance and other related charges in the first quarter of 2007 totaling $10.2 million, comprised of one-time severance benefits of $7.1 million, stock compensation of $2.3 million, and other costs of $0.8 million. Of the one-time severance benefits of $7.1 million, $2.1 million is included in general and administrative expenses, $4.4 million is included in research and development expenses, and $0.6 million is included in discontinued operations. Of the stock compensation charges of $2.3 million, $1.0 million is included in general and administrative expenses and $1.3 million is included in research and development expenses. The stock compensation charge results from the accelerated vesting and extension of the exercise period of stock options in accordance with severance arrangements of certain senior management members. In addition, the Company expects to recognize an additional $0.8 million, comprised of one-time severance benefits of $0.6 million and other costs of $0.2 million, primarily during the second quarter of 2007.
12. Change in Board of Directors/Funding of Legacy Director Indemnity Fund
     On March 1, 2007, the Company announced the resignation of directors John Groom, Irving S. Johnson, Ph.D., Daniel Loeb, Carl C. Peck, M.D. and Brigette Roberts, M.D. and the appointment of four new directors, John L. Higgins, our President and Chief Executive Officer, Todd C. Davis, Elizabeth M. Greetham and David M. Knott. The Company subsequently announced the resignation of director Alexander Cross effective March 17, 2007.
     On March 1, 2007, the Company entered into an indemnity fund agreement, which established in a trust account with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, (“Dorsey”) counsel to the Company’s independent directors and to the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, a $10.0 million indemnity fund to support the Company’s existing indemnification obligations to continuing and departing directors in connection with the ongoing SEC investigation and related matters. Ligand has agreed to supplement the indemnity fund upon Dorsey’s request should the fund become insufficient to cover liabilities and defense costs required to be paid under the Company’s indemnification agreements. Upon the earlier of (i) the resolution of the SEC investigation and related matters, (ii) the expiration of 24 months after receipt of any written or oral communication initiated by the SEC regarding the investigation, (iii) written communications from the SEC that the investigation has been discontinued, or (iv) otherwise by the mutual agreement of the parties to terminate the indemnity fund agreement, Dorsey will remit the remaining balance of the fund to Ligand. The balance of this fund has been recorded as restricted indemnification account in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2007.
13. Return of Cash to Shareholders/Equitable Adjustment of Employee Stock Options
     On March 22, 2007, the Company declared a cash dividend on the common stock of the Company of $2.50 per share. As the Company has an accumulated deficit, the dividend was recorded as a charge against additional paid-in capital in the first quarter of 2007. The aggregate amount of $252.7 million was paid on April 19, 2007 to shareholders of record as of April 5, 2007. In addition to the cash dividend, the Board of Directors authorized up to $100.0 million in share repurchases over the subsequent 12 months.
     In February 2007, the Company’s shareholders approved a modification to the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”) to allow equitable adjustments to be made to options outstanding under the 2002 Plan. Effective April 2007, following the ex-dividend date, the Company reduced the exercise price $2.50 (or to the par value of the stock for those options with an exercise price below $2.50 per share), as an equitable adjustment, for all options then outstanding under the 2002 Plan. Under the requirements of SFAS 123(R), the Company will recognize approximately $2.0 million of stock compensation expense in connection with the equitable adjustment, of which

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$1.8 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2007 effective March 28, 2007, the date the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the equitable adjustment. The remaining $0.2 million will be recognized over the remaining vesting period of the options which were unvested as of the modification date.
14. Income Taxes
     The Company had losses from continuing operations and income from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, the income tax benefit generated by the loss from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $9.2 million. This income tax benefit captures the deemed use of losses from continuing operations used to offset the income and gain from the Company’s AVINZA product line that was sold on February 26, 2007.
     Net income tax expense combining both continuing and discontinued operations was $15.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. This expense reflects the net tax due on taxable income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 that was not fully offset by net operating loss and research and development credit carryforwards due to federal and state alternative minimum tax requirements. Net income tax expense combining both continuing and discontinued operations was $0.02 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006.
     After giving effect to the AVINZA sale transaction, the Company expects that Ligand NOLs will be approximately $102.0 million, against which a full valuation allowance has been provided as of March 31, 2007. This amount excludes NOLs of the Company’s Seragen and Glycomed subsidiaries. The information necessary to determine if an ownership change related to Seragen and Glycomed occurred prior to their acquisition by Ligand is not currently available. Accordingly, the Company’s ability to utilize such net tax operating loss carryforwards is uncertain and therefore such NOLs are not reflected in the Company’s deferred tax assets.
     The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized a $0.4 million increase in the liability for unrecognized income tax benefits, which was accounted for as an adjustment to the beginning balance of accumulated deficit on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. In connection with the sale of the Company’s AVINZA product line in February 2007, the circumstances giving rise to this unrecognized income tax benefit were resolved. Accordingly, this liability was adjusted down through a credit to the Company’s tax provision from discontinued operations in the first quarter of 2007. At the adoption date of January 1, 2007, the Company had $0.4 million of unrecognized tax benefits, all of which affected the Company’s effective tax rate when recognized during the quarter ended March 31, 2007. At March 31, 2007, the Company has no unrecognized tax benefits.
     The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of March 31, 2007, accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions is not material.
     The tax years 2003-2006 remain open to examination by the major taxing jurisdictions to which the Company is subject.

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ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Caution: This discussion and analysis may contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.” This outlook represents our current judgment on the future direction of our business. These statements include those related to our restructuring process, AVINZA royalty revenues, product returns, product development, and our 2005 restatement. Actual events or results may differ materially from Ligand’s expectations. For example, there can be no assurance that our revenues or expenses will meet any expectations or follow any trend(s), that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective or produce reliable financial information on a timely basis, or that our restructuring process will be successful or yield preferred results. We cannot assure you that the Company will be able to successfully or timely complete its restructuring, that we will receive expected AVINZA royalties to support our ongoing business, or that our internal or partnered pipeline products will progress in their development, gain marketing approval or success in the market. In addition, the Company’s ongoing SEC investigation or future litigation may have an adverse effect on the Company. Such risks and uncertainties, and others, could cause actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of this quarterly report. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended.
     Our trademarks, trade names and service marks referenced herein include Ligand. Each other trademark, trade name or service mark appearing in this quarterly report belongs to its owner.
     References to Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (“Ligand”, the “Company”, “we” or “our”) include our wholly owned subsidiaries — Ligand Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Incorporated; Ligand Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.; Seragen, Inc. (“Seragen”); and Nexus Equity VI LLC (“Nexus”).
Overview
     We are an early-stage biotech company that focuses on discovering and developing new drugs that address critical unmet medical needs in the areas of thrombocytopenia, cancer, hepatitis C, hormone related diseases, osteoporosis and inflammatory diseases. We strive to develop drugs that are more effective and/or safer than existing therapies, that are more convenient to administer and that are cost effective. We plan to build a profitable company by generating income from research, milestone and royalty and co-promotion revenues resulting from our collaborations with pharmaceutical partners.
     On September 7, 2006, we announced the sale of ONTAK, Targretin capsules, Targretin gel, and Panretin to Eisai, Inc. (“Eisai”) and the sale of AVINZA to King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“King”). The Eisai sales transaction subsequently closed on October 25, 2006. The AVINZA sale transaction subsequently closed on February 26, 2007. Accordingly, the results for the Oncology and AVINZA product lines have been presented in our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 as “Discontinued Operations”.
     We are a party to a number of collaboration arrangements that are in the development phase including with Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, TAP, and Wyeth. We receive funding during the research phase of the arrangements, and milestone and royalty payments as products are developed and marketed by our corporate partners. See “Potential Future Revenue Sources” below. In addition, in connection with some of these collaborations, we received non-refundable up-front payments.
     We have been unprofitable since our inception on an annual basis and expect to incur net losses in the future. To be profitable, we must successfully develop, clinically test, market and sell our products. Even if we achieve profitability, we cannot predict the level of that profitability or whether we will be able to sustain profitability. We expect that our operating results will fluctuate from period to period as a result of differences in the timing and amounts of revenues, including royalties expected to be earned in the future from King on sales of AVINZA, expenses incurred, collaborative arrangements and other sources. Some of these fluctuations may be significant.

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Potential Future Revenue Sources
     We may receive royalties on product candidates resulting from our research and development collaboration arrangements with third party pharmaceutical companies if and to the extent any such product candidate is ultimately approved by the FDA and successfully marketed. As further discussed below, these product candidates include drugs being developed by GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth and Pfizer.
GlaxoSmithKline Collaboration – Eltrombopag
     Eltrombopag is an oral, small molecule drug that mimics the activity of thrombopoietin, a protein factor that promotes growth and production of blood platelets. Eltrombopag is a product candidate that resulted from our collaboration with SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline). GlaxoSmithKline has announced that eltrombopag is currently in Phase III trials for Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (ITP) and that it plans to initiate a Phase III trial in 2007 for hepatitis C.
     If annual net sales of eltrombopag are less than $100.0 million, we will earn a royalty of 5% on such net sales. If eltrombopag’s annual net sales are between $100.0 million and $200.0 million, we will earn a royalty of 7% on the portion of net sales between $100.0 million and $200.0 million, and if annual net sales are between $200.0 million and $400 million, we will earn a royalty of 8% on the portion of net sales between $200.0 million and $400.0 million. If annual sales exceed $400.0 million, we will earn a royalty of 10% on the portion of net sales exceeding $400.0 million.
Wyeth Collaboration – bazedoxifene and bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN
     Bazedoxifene (Viviant) is a product candidate that resulted from our collaboration with Wyeth. Bazedoxifene is a synthetic drug that was specifically designed to increase bone density and reduce cholesterol levels while at the same time protecting breast and uterine tissue. In June 2006, Wyeth announced that a new drug application (“NDA”) for bazedoxifene had been submitted to the FDA for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In April 2007, Wyeth announced that the FDA had issued an approvable letter for bazedoxifene for this indication subject to the FDA’s receipt and consideration of certain final safety and efficacy data and the FDA’s completion of an evaluation of the manufacturing and testing facilities for bazedoxifene. Wyeth has also disclosed plans to submit additional Phase III data to the FDA by mid-summer and expects FDA action on the osteoporosis prevention NDA towards the end of 2007. Wyeth also announced plans for the submission of the osteoporosis treatment NDA to the FDA and a European submission later this year. Wyeth has previously announced that it is also developing bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN (Aprela) as a progesterone-free treatment for menopausal symptoms and that an NDA submission for Aprela is expected by the end of 2007
     We previously sold to Royalty Pharma AG (“Royalty Pharma”) the rights to a total of 3.0% of net sales of bazedoxifene for a period of ten years following the first commercial sale of each product. After giving effect to the royalty sale, we will receive 0.5% of the first $400.0 million in net annual sales. If net annual sales are between $400.0 million and $1.0 billion, we will receive a royalty of 1.5% on the portion of net sales between $400.00 million and $1.0 billion, and if annual sales exceed $1.0 billion, we will receive a royalty of 2.5% on the portion of net sales exceeding $1.0 billion. Additionally, the royalty owed to Royalty Pharma may be reduced by one third if net product sales exceed certain thresholds across all indications.
     In August 2006, we paid Salk $0.8 million to exercise an option to buy out milestone payments, other payment sharing obligations and royalty payments due on future sales of bazedoxifene. The submission of the bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN NDA will trigger an additional option for us to buy out our royalty obligation on future sales of bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN to Salk. In April 2007, Salk made a claim that there are additional patents issued to Salk that increase the amount of royalty buy-out payments. Based on the context of the claim, we believe that Salk is not raising this claim with respect to the bazedoxifene royalty buy-out payment.

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Pfizer Collaboration – Lasofoxifene
     Lasofoxifene is a product candidate that resulted from our collaboration with Pfizer. In August 2004, Pfizer submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the FDA for lasofoxifene for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In September 2005, Pfizer announced the receipt of a non-approvable letter from the FDA for the prevention of osteoporosis. In December 2004, Pfizer filed a supplemental NDA for the use of lasofoxifene for the treatment of vaginal atrophy. In February 2006, Pfizer announced the receipt of a non-approvable letter from the FDA for vaginal atrophy. Pfizer has also announced that lasofoxifene is being developed for the treatment of osteoporosis. In April 2007, Pfizer announced plans for re-filing the lasofoxifene NDA with the FDA towards the end of 2007.
     Under the terms of the agreement between Ligand and Pfizer, we are entitled to receive royalty payments equal to 6% of net sales of lasofoxifene worldwide for any indication. We previously sold to Royalty Pharma the rights to a total of 3% of net sales of lasofoxifene for a period of ten years following the first commercial sale. Accordingly, we will receive approximately 3% of worldwide net annual sales of lasofoxifene.
     In March 2004, we paid Salk approximately $1.1 million to buy out royalty payments due on total sales of lasofoxifene for the prevention of osteoporosis. In connection with Pfizer’s filing of the supplemental NDA in December 2004 for the use of lasofoxifene for the treatment of vaginal atrophy, we exercised our option to pay Salk $1.1 million to buy out royalty payments due on sales in this additional indication.
TAP Collaboration – LGD-2941
     LGD-2941, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), was selected as a clinical candidate during Ligand’s collaboration with TAP Pharmaceuticals. SARMs, such as LGD-2941, may contribute to the prevention and treatment of diseases including hypogonadism (low testosterone), sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, and frailty. Phase I development LGD-4665 commenced in 2005 for osteoporosis and frailty. The agreement further provides for milestones moving through the development stage and royalties ranging from 6.0% to 12.0% on annual net sales of drugs resulting from the collaboration.
Recent Developments
Sale of AVINZA Product Line
     On September 6, 2006, Ligand and King entered into a purchase agreement (the “AVINZA Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which King agreed to acquire all of our rights in and to AVINZA in the United States, its territories and Canada, including, among other things, all AVINZA inventory, records and related intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities as set forth in the AVINZA Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction”). In addition, subject to the terms and conditions of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, King agreed to offer employment following the closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”) to certain of our existing AVINZA sales representatives or otherwise reimburse us for certain agreed upon severance arrangements offered to any such non-hired representatives. The Transaction closed on February 26, 2007.
     Pursuant to the terms of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, we received $281.9 million in net cash proceeds, which represents the purchase price of $247.8 million, which is net of certain inventory adjustments of approximately $17.2 million as set forth in the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, as amended, plus approximately $49.1 million in reimbursement of payments previously made to Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (“Organon”) (See “Organon Co-promote Termination” below) and others. Additionally, the net proceeds are less $15.0 million that was funded into an escrow account to support potential indemnity claims by King following the Closing. Of the escrowed amounts not required for claims to King, 50% of the then existing amount will be released on August 26, 2007 with the remaining available balance to be released on February 26, 2008. King also assumed our co-promote termination obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA (approximately $93.2 million as of February 26, 2007). As Organon has not consented to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation from Ligand to King, we remain liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of this obligation. We also incurred approximately $7.2 million in transaction fees and other costs associated with the sale that are not reflected in the net cash proceeds. This amount includes approximately $3.6 million for investment banking services and related expenses which have not yet been paid. We are disputing that these fees are owed to the investment banking firm. The investment banking firm filed suit against us in New York on April 17, 2007 seeking recovery of these fees, plus interest, attorney fees and costs.
     In addition to the assumption of existing royalty obligations, King will pay us a 15% royalty on AVINZA net sales during the first 20 months after Closing. Subsequent royalty payments will be based upon calendar year net sales. If calendar year net sales are less than $200.0 million, the royalty payment will be 5% of all net sales. If

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calendar year net sales are greater than $200.0 million, the royalty payment will be 10% of all net sales less than $250.0 million, plus 15% of net sales greater than $250.0 million.
     In connection with the Transaction, King committed to loan us, at our option, $37.8 million (the “Loan”) to be used to pay a co-promote termination obligation to Organon which was due October 15, 2006. This loan was drawn, and the $37.8 million co-promote liability settled in October 2006. Amounts due under the loan were subject to certain market terms, including a 9.5% interest rate. In addition, and as a condition of the $37.8 million loan received from King, $38.6 million of the funds received from Eisai was deposited into a restricted account to be used to repay the loan to King, plus interest. We repaid the loan plus interest on January 8, 2007. Pursuant to the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, King refunded the interest to us on the Closing Date.
     Also on September 6, 2006, we entered into a contract sales force agreement (the “Sales Call Agreement”) with King, pursuant to which King agreed to conduct a sales detailing program to promote the sale of AVINZA for an agreed upon fee, subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Call Agreement. Pursuant to the Sales Call Agreement, King agreed to perform certain minimum monthly product details (i.e. sales calls), which commenced effective October 1, 2006 and continued until the Closing Date. Co-promotion expense recognized under the Sales Call Agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $2.8 million and is included in results of discontinued operations. The amount due to King under the Sales Call Agreement as of March 31, 2007 is approximately $1.7 million. The Sales Call Agreement terminated effective on the Closing Date.
Organon Co-Promote Termination
     In February 2003, we entered into an agreement for the co-promotion of AVINZA with Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (“Organon”). Subsequently, in January 2006, we signed an agreement with Organon that terminated the AVINZA co-promotion agreement between the two companies and returned AVINZA rights to Ligand. The termination was effective as of January 1, 2006; however, the parties agreed to continue to cooperate during a transition period that ended September 30, 2006 (the “Transition Period”) to promote the product. The Transition Period co-operation included a minimum number of product sales calls per quarter (100,000 for Organon and 30,000 for Ligand with an aggregate of 375,000 and 90,000, respectively, for the Transition Period) as well as the transition of ongoing promotions, managed care contracts, clinical trials and key opinion leader relationships to Ligand. During the Transition Period, we paid Organon an amount equal to 23% of AVINZA net sales as reported. We also paid and were responsible for the design and execution of all AVINZA clinical, advertising and promotion expenses and activities.
     Additionally, in consideration of the early termination and return of rights to AVINZA under the terms of the agreement, we unconditionally paid Organon $37.8 million in October 2006. We also agreed to and paid Organon $10.0 million in January 2007, in consideration of the minimum sales calls during the Transition Period. In addition, following the Transition Period, we agreed to make quarterly royalty payments to Organon equal to 6.5% of AVINZA net sales through December 31, 2012 and thereafter 6.0% through patent expiration, currently anticipated to be November of 2017.
     In connection with the AVINZA sale transaction, King assumed our obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA (the fair value of which approximated $93.2 million as of February 26, 2007). As Organon has not consented to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation from us to King, we remain liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of this obligation. Therefore, we recorded an asset on February 26, 2007 to recognize King’s assumption of the obligation, while continuing to carry the co-promote termination liability in our consolidated financial statements to recognize our legal obligation as primary obligor to Organon as required under SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This asset represents a non-interest bearing receivable for future payments to be made by King and is recorded at its fair value. As of March 31, 2007, the current portion of the co-promote termination liability includes approximately $1.2 million owed to Organon on net product sales recognized through February 26, 2007. Thereafter, the asset and liability will remain equal and adjusted each quarter for changes in the fair value of the obligation. The receivable will be assessed on a quarterly basis for impairment (e.g. in the event King defaults on the assumed obligation to pay Organon). On a quarterly basis, management also reviews the carrying value of the co-promote termination liability. Due to assumptions and judgments inherent in determining

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the estimates of future net AVINZA sales through November 2017, the actual amount of net AVINZA sales used to determine the amount of the liability for a particular period may be materially different from current estimates. Any resulting changes to the co-promote termination liability will have a corresponding impact on the co-promote termination asset. As of March 31, 2007, the fair value of the co-promote termination liability was determined using a discount rate of 15%, the discount rate used to initially value this component of the termination liability.
Sale of Oncology Product Line
     On September 7, 2006, we, Eisai Inc., a Delaware corporation and Eisai Co., Ltd., a Japanese company (together with Eisai Inc., “Eisai”), entered into a purchase agreement (the “Oncology Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Eisai agreed to acquire all of our worldwide rights in and to our oncology products, including, among other things, all related inventory, equipment, records and intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities (the “Oncology Product Line”) as set forth in the Oncology Purchase Agreement. The Oncology Product Line included our four marketed oncology drugs: ONTAK, Targretin capsules, Targretin gel and Panretin gel. Pursuant to the Oncology Purchase Agreement, at closing on October 25, 2006, we received approximately $185.0 million in net cash proceeds which is net of $20.0 million that was funded into an escrow account to support any indemnification claims made by Eisai following the closing of the sale, and Eisai assumed certain liabilities. Of the escrowed amounts not required for claims to Eisai, $10.0 million was released on April 25, 2007 with the remaining available balance to be released on October 25, 2007. We incurred approximately $1.7 million of transaction fees and costs associated with the sale that are not reflected in the net cash proceeds.
     Additionally, $38.6 million of the proceeds received from Eisai were deposited into a restricted account to repay a loan received from King, the proceeds of which were used to pay our co-promote termination obligation to Organon in October 2006. Such amounts were released and the loan repaid to King in January 2007.
     In connection with the Oncology Purchase Agreement with Eisai, we entered into a transition services agreement whereby we agreed to perform certain transition services for Eisai, in order to effect, as rapidly as practicable, the transition of purchased assets from Ligand to Eisai. In exchange for these services, Eisai pays us a monthly service fee. The term of the transition services provided is generally three months; however, certain services will be provided for a period of up to eight months. Fees earned under the transition services agreement during the first quarter of 2007, which were recorded as an offset to operating expenses, were approximately $1.8 million.
Return of Cash to Shareholders/Equitable Adjustment of Employee Stock Options
     On March 22, 2007, we declared a cash dividend on our common stock of $2.50 per share. As we have an accumulated deficit, the dividend was recorded as a charge against additional paid-in capital in the first quarter of 2007. The aggregate amount of $252.7 million was paid on April 19, 2007 to shareholders of record as of April 5, 2007. In addition to the cash dividend, the Board of Directors authorized up to $100.0 million in share repurchases over the subsequent 12 months.
     In February 2007, our shareholders approved a modification to the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2002 Plan”) to allow equitable adjustments to be made to options outstanding under the 2002 Plan. Effective April 2007, following the ex-dividend date, we reduced the exercise price $2.50, (or to par value for those options with an exercise price below $2.50 per share) as an equitable adjustment, for all options then outstanding under the 2002 Plan. Under the requirements of SFAS 123(R), we will recognize approximately $2.0 million of stock compensation expense in connection with the equitable adjustment, of which $1.8 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2007 effective March 28, 2007, the date our Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the equitable adjustment. The remaining $0.2 million will be recognized over the remaining vesting period of the options which were unvested as of the modification date.
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies (“Salk”) Allegations
     In March 2007, we received a letter from legal counsel to The Salk Institute for Biological Studies alleging that we owe Salk royalties on prior product sales of Targretin as well as a percentage of the amounts received from Eisai Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) and Eisai Inc. (New Jersey) that are attributable to Targretin with respect to our sale of the

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Oncology Product Line to Eisai that was completed in October 2006. Salk alleges that they are owed at least 25% of the consideration paid by Eisai for that portion of Ligand’s oncology product line and associated assets attributable to Targretin. In an April 11, 2007 request for mediation, Salk has repeated these claims and asserted additional claims that allegedly increase the amount of royalty buy-out payments. We have reviewed these matters and do not believe we have financial obligations to Salk pertaining to Targretin or these claims. Accordingly, we intend to vigorously oppose any Salk claim for payment related to these matters.
Appointment of New CEO
     On August 1, 2006, we announced that current director Henry F. Blissenbach had been named Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer. We agreed to pay Dr. Blissenbach $40,000 per month, commencing August 1, 2006 for his services as Chairman and interim Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Dr. Blissenbach was eligible to receive incentive compensation of up to 50% of his base salary, but not more than $100,000, based upon his performance of certain objectives incorporated within the employment agreement which we and Dr. Blissenbach entered into. As those performance objectives were achieved, we paid the $100,000 in incentive compensation to Dr. Blissenbach in February 2007. Also, Dr. Blissenbach received a stock option grant to purchase 150,000 shares of our common stock. These stock options vested upon the appointment of a new chief executive officer in January 2007 as further discussed below. Finally, we reimbursed Dr. Blissenbach for all reasonable expenses incurred in discharging his duties as interim Chief Executive Officer, including, but not limited to commuting costs to San Diego and living and related costs during the time he spent in San Diego.
     On January 15, 2007, we announced that John L. Higgins had joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Higgins succeeded Dr. Blissenbach, who continued to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors until March 1, 2007. We agreed to pay Mr. Higgins an annual salary of $400,000, with his employment commencing as of January 10, 2007. In addition, Mr. Higgins has a performance bonus opportunity with a target of 50% of his salary, up to a maximum of 75%, and received a restricted stock award grant of 150,000 shares of our common stock which vests over two years. We also provided Mr. Higgins with a lump-sum relocation benefit of $100,000. Mr. Higgins’ employment agreement provides for severance payments and benefits in the event that his employment is terminated under various scenarios, such as a change in control of the Company.
Reductions in Workforce
     In December 2006, and following the sale of our Oncology Product Line to Eisai, we entered into a plan to eliminate 40 employee positions, across all functional areas, which were no longer deemed necessary considering our decision to sell our commercial assets. Additionally, we terminated 23 AVINZA sales representatives and regional business managers who were not offered positions with King or declined King’s offer of employment. The affected employees were informed of the plan in December 2006 with an effective termination date of January 2, 2007. In connection with the termination plan, we recognized operating expenses of approximately $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2006, comprised of one-time severance benefits of $2.3 million, stock compensation of $0.3 million, and other costs of $0.3 million. The stock compensation charge resulted from the accelerated vesting and extension of the exercise period of stock options in accordance with severance arrangements of certain senior management members. We paid $0.5 million in December 2006 and the remaining balance in January 2007.
     On January 31, 2007, we announced a restructuring plan calling for the elimination of approximately 204 positions across all functional areas. This reduction was made in connection with our efforts to refocus the Company, following the sale of our commercial assets, as a smaller, highly focused research and development and royalty-driven biotech company. Associated with the restructuring and refocused business model, several of our then executive officers stepped down including our Chief Financial Officer, Chief Scientific Officer and General Counsel. In connection with the termination of these officers and the payment of severance, we entered into one-year consulting agreements with each officer at hourly rates commensurate with the officer’s salary compensation in effect as of the date of termination. Amounts owed to these officers for services provided in the first quarter of 2007 were not material. We also announced that our primary operations are expected to be consolidated into one building with the goal to sublet unutilized space. In connection with the restructuring, we recorded severance and other related charges in the first quarter of 2007 totaling $10.2 million, comprised of one-time severance benefits of $7.1 million, stock compensation of $2.3 million, and other costs of $0.8 million. Of the one-time severance

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benefits of $7.1 million, $2.1 million is included in general and administrative expenses, $4.4 million is included in research and development expenses, and $0.6 million is included in discontinued operations. Of the stock compensation charges of $2.3 million, $1.0 million is included in general and administrative expenses and $1.3 million is included in research and development expenses. The stock compensation charge resulted from the accelerated vesting and extension of the exercise period of stock options in accordance with severance arrangements of certain senior management members. In addition, we expect to recognize an additional $0.8 million, comprised of one-time severance benefits of $0.6 million and other costs of $0.2 million, primarily during the second quarter of 2007.
Sale and Leaseback of Premises
     On October 25, 2006, we, along with our wholly-owned subsidiary Nexus Equity VI, LLC (“Nexus”) entered into an agreement with Slough Estates USA, Inc. (“Slough”) for the sale of our real property located in San Diego, California for a purchase price of approximately $47.6 million. This property, with a net book value of approximately $14.5 million, includes one building totaling approximately 82,500 square feet, the land on which the building is situated, and two adjacent vacant lots. As part of the sale transaction, we agreed to leaseback the building for a period of 15 years. In connection with the sale transaction, on November 6, 2006, we also paid off the existing mortgage on the building of approximately $11.6 million. The early payment triggered a prepayment penalty of approximately $0.4 million. The sale transaction subsequently closed on November 9, 2006.
     Under the terms of the lease, we pay a basic annual rent of $3.0 million (subject to an annual fixed percentage increase, as set forth in the agreement), plus a 1% annual management fee, property taxes and other normal and necessary expenses associated with the lease such as utilities, repairs and maintenance, etc. We have the right to extend the lease for two five-year terms and the first right of refusal to lease, at market rates, any facilities built on the sold lots.
     In accordance with SFAS 13, Accounting for Leases, we recognized an immediate pre-tax gain on the sale transaction of approximately $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 and deferred a gain of approximately $29.5 million on the sale of the building. The deferred gain is recognized on a straight-line basis over the 15 year term of the lease at a rate of approximately $2.0 million per year.
Employee Retention Agreements and Severance Arrangements
     In March 2006, we entered into letter agreements with approximately 67 of our key employees, including a number of our executive officers. In September 2006, we entered into letter agreements with ten additional employees and modified existing agreements with two employees. These letter agreements provided for certain retention or stay bonus payments to be paid in cash under specified circumstances as an additional incentive to remain employed in good standing with the Company through December 31, 2006. The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved the Company’s entry into these agreements. In accordance with SFAS 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities, the cost of the plan was ratably accrued over the term of the agreements. We recognized approximately $2.6 million of expense under the plan in 2006 including $0.3 for the three months ended March 31, 2006.
     Additionally, in October 2006, we implemented a 2006 Employee Severance Plan for those employees who were not covered by another severance arrangement. The plan provides that if such an employee is involuntarily terminated without cause, and not offered a similar or better job by one of the purchasers of our product lines (i.e. King or Eisai) such employee will be eligible for severance benefits. The benefits consist of two months’ salary, plus one week of salary for every full year of service with the Company plus payment of COBRA health care coverage premiums for that same period.

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Results of Operations
     Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2007 were $0.2 million compared to $2.9 million for the same 2006 period. Operating loss from continuing operations was $29.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $14.3 million for the same 2006 period. Loss from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $16.9 million ($0.17 per share) compared to $13.7 million ($0.18 per share) for the same 2006 period.
Collaborative Research and Development and Other Revenue
     Collaborative research and development and other revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2007 were $0.2 million compared to $2.9 million for the same 2006 period. Collaborative research and development and other revenues include reimbursement for ongoing research activities, earned development milestones, and recognition of prior years’ up-front fees previously deferred in accordance with SAB No. 101, Revenue Recognition, as amended by SAB 104.
     A comparison of collaborative research and development and other revenues is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Collaborative research and development
  $ ¾     $ 894  
Development milestones and other
    235       2,020  
 
           
 
  $ 235     $ 2,914  
 
           
     Development milestones and other. Development milestones for the 2007 period reflect $0.2 earned from Wyeth. This compares to a $2.0 milestone earned from GlaxoSmithKline in the 2006 period in connection with the commencement of Phase III studies of Promacta. Collaborative research and development revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2006 represent fees earned under our collaboration agreement with TAP, which concluded in June 2006.
     Royalty Revenue AVINZA. As discussed under “Recent Developments – Sale of AVINZA Product Line”, in connection with the sale of AVINZA, King will pay us a royalty on net sales of AVINZA. In accordance with the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, royalties are required to be reported and paid to us within 45 days of quarter-end during the 20 month period following the closing of the sale transaction (February 26, 2007). Thereafter, royalties will be paid on a calendar year basis. Such royalties will be recognized in the quarter reported. Since there is a one quarter lag from when King recognizes AVINZA net sales to when King reports those sales and the corresponding royalties to us, we will begin recognizing AVINZA royalty revenue in the second quarter of 2007.

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Research and Development Expenses
     Research and development expenses were $15.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $8.4 million for the same 2006 period. The major components of research and development expenses are as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
    2007     2006  
Research:
               
Research performed under collaboration agreements
  $ ¾     $ 924  
Internal research programs
    7,350       4,735  
 
           
Total research
    7,350       5,659  
 
               
Total development
    8,252       2,758  
 
           
 
               
Total research and development
  $ 15,602     $ 8,417  
 
           
     Spending for research expenses was $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $5.7 million for the same 2006 period. The increase in internal research program expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same 2006 period reflects increased research performed in the area of thrombopoietin (TPO) agonists.
     Spending for development expenses increased to $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $2.8 million for the same 2006 period reflecting increased spending on LGD4665 TPO, our leading drug candidate in this area which is in Phase I clinical trials.
     Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 also includes one-time severance benefits and stock compensation charges of approximately $5.7 million incurred in connection with our restructuring and one-time stock compensation charges of approximately $0.8 million incurred in connection with the equitable adjustment of stock options as discussed under “Recent Developments” above.
     A summary of our significant internal research and development programs as of March 31, 2007 is as follows:
         
Program   Disease/Indication   Development Phase
LGD4665 (Thrombopoietin oral mimetic)
  Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura; other thrombocytopenias   Phase I
 
       
Selective androgen receptor modulators, (agonists)
  Hypogonadism, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, frailty, cachexia.   Pre-clinical
 
       
Selective glucocorticoid receptor modulators
  Inflammation, cancer   Research
 
       
Selective androgen receptor modulators, (antagonists)
  Prostate cancer   Research
     We do not provide forward-looking estimates of costs and time to complete our ongoing research and development projects, as such estimates would involve a high degree of uncertainty. Uncertainties include our ability to predict the outcome of complex research, our ability to predict the results of clinical studies, regulatory requirements placed upon us by regulatory authorities such as the FDA and EMEA, our ability to predict the decisions of our collaborative partners, our ability to fund research and development programs, competition from other entities of which we may become aware in future periods, predictions of market potential from products that may be derived from our research and development efforts, and our ability to recruit and retain personnel or third- party research organizations with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform certain research. Refer to “Item

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1A. Risk Factors” for additional discussion of the uncertainties surrounding our research and development initiatives.
General and Administrative Expenses
     General and administrative expenses were $14.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $8.8 million for the same 2006 period. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2007 is primarily due to one-time severance benefits and stock compensation charges of approximately $3.2 million incurred in connection with our restructuring and one-time stock compensation charges of approximately $1.0 million incurred in connection with the equitable adjustment of stock options discussed under “Recent Developments” above. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 also include approximately $0.8 million of legal and related costs incurred in connection with the ongoing SEC investigation of our financial statement restatement (See Part II, Item 1 “Legal Proceedings”).
Amortization of Deferred Gain on Sale Leaseback
     On October 25, 2006, we, along with our wholly-owned subsidiary Nexus, entered into an agreement with Slough for the sale of our real property located in San Diego, California for a purchase price of approximately $47.6 million. This property, with a net book value of approximately $14.5 million, includes one building totaling approximately 82,500 square feet, the land on which the building is situated, and two adjacent vacant lots. As part of the sale transaction, we agreed to lease back the building for a period of 15 years. The sale transaction subsequently closed on November 9, 2006.
     In accordance with SFAS 13, Accounting for Leases, we recognized an immediate pre-tax gain on the sale transaction of approximately $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2006 and deferred a gain of approximately $29.5 million on the sale of the building. The deferred gain is recognized as an offset to operating expense on a straight-line basis over the 15 year term of the lease at a rate of approximately $2.0 million per year. The amortization of the deferred gain was $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
Interest Income
     Interest income was $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $0.6 million for the same 2006 period. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2007 is primarily due to higher cash and investment balances as a result of the proceeds from the sales of the Oncology Product Line on October 25, 2006 and the AVINZA Product Line on February 26, 2007 discussed under “Recent Developments” above.
Income Taxes
     The Company had losses from continuing operations and income from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, the income tax benefit generated by the loss from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $9.2 million. This income tax benefit captures the deemed use of losses from continuing operations used to offset the income and gain from the Company’s AVINZA product line that was sold on February 26, 2007.
     Net income tax expense combining both continuing and discontinued operations was $15.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. This expense reflects the net tax due on taxable income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 that was not fully offset by net operating loss and research and development credit carryforwards due to federal and state alternative minimum tax requirements. Net income tax expense combining both continuing and discontinued operations was $0.02 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006.
Discontinued Operations
     Oncology Product Line. On September 7, 2006, we and Eisai entered into the Oncology Purchase Agreement pursuant to which Eisai agreed to acquire all of our worldwide rights in and to our oncology products, including, among other things, all related inventory, equipment, records and intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities (the “Oncology Product Line”) as set forth in the Oncology Purchase Agreement. The Oncology Product Line

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included our four marketed oncology drugs: ONTAK, Targretin capsules, Targretin gel and Panretin gel. Pursuant to the Oncology Purchase Agreement, at closing on October 25, 2006, we received approximately $185.0 million in net cash proceeds, which is net of $20.0 million that was funded into an escrow account to support any indemnification claims made by Eisai following the closing of the sale. Eisai also assumed certain liabilities. Of the escrowed amounts not required for claims to Eisai, $10.0 was released on April 25, 2007, with the remaining available balance to be released on October 25, 2007. We also recorded approximately $1.7 million in transaction fees and costs associated with the sale that are not reflected in net cash proceeds. We recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $135.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. We recorded a $0.1 million pre-tax reduction to the gain on the sale in the first quarter of 2007 due to subsequent changes in certain estimates of assets and liabilities recorded as of the sale date.
     Additionally, $38.6 million of the proceeds received from Eisai were deposited into an escrow account to repay a loan received from King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“King”), the proceeds of which were used to pay our co-promote termination obligation to Organon in October 2006. The escrow amounts were released and the loan repaid to King in January 2007.
     In connection with the Oncology Purchase Agreement with Eisai, we entered into a transition services agreement whereby we agreed to perform certain transition services for Eisai, in order to effect, as rapidly as practicable, the transition of purchased assets from Ligand to Eisai. In exchange for these services, Eisai pays us a monthly service fee. The term of the transition services provided is generally three months; however, certain services are being provided for a period of up to eight months. Fees earned under the transition services agreement during the first quarter of 2007, which were recorded as an offset to operating expenses, were approximately $1.8 million.
     Prior to the Oncology sale, we recorded accruals for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to Oncology products when product sales were recognized as revenue under the sell-through method. Upon the Oncology sale, we accrued for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to Oncology products in the distribution channel which had not sold-through at the time of the Oncology sale and for which we retained the liability subsequent to the Oncology sale. Our accruals for Oncology rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts total $1.6 million as of March 31, 2007 and is included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
     Additionally, and pursuant to the terms of the Oncology Purchase Agreement, we retained the liability for returns of product from wholesalers that had been sold by us prior to the close of the transaction. Accordingly, as part of the accounting for the gain on the sale of the Oncology Product Line, we recorded a reserve for Oncology product returns. Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, we previously did not record a reserve for returns from wholesalers. Our reserve for Oncology returns, including estimated losses on returns due to changes in price, is $5.6 million as of March 31, 2007 and is included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
     AVINZA Product Line. On September 6, 2006, we and King entered into the AVINZA Purchase Agreement pursuant to which King agreed to acquire all of our rights in and to AVINZA in the United States, its territories and Canada, including, among other things, all AVINZA inventory, records and related intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities as set forth in the AVINZA Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction”). In addition, King, subject to the terms and conditions of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, agreed to offer employment following the closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”) to certain of our existing AVINZA sales representatives or otherwise reimburse us for agreed upon severance arrangements offered to any such non-hired representatives.
     Pursuant to the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, at Closing on February 26, 2007 (the “Closing Date”), we received $280.4 million in net cash proceeds, which is net of $15.0 million that was funded into an escrow account to support potential indemnification claims made by King following the Closing. The purchase price reflected a reduction of $12.7 million due to the preliminary estimate of retail inventory levels of AVINZA at the Closing Date exceeding targeted levels. After final studies and review by King, the final retail inventory-level adjustment was determined to be $11.2 million. We subsequently received the additional $1.5 million in sale proceeds in April 2007. The purchase price also reflects a reduction of $6.0 million for anticipated higher cost of goods for King

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related to the Cardinal Health PTS, LLC (“Cardinal”) manufacturing and packaging agreement. At the closing, we agreed to not assign the Cardinal agreement to King, wind down the contract, and remain responsible for any resulting liabilities. The costs of winding down the Cardinal agreement were not material.
     The net cash received also includes reimbursement of $47.8 million for co-promote termination payments which had previously been paid to Organon, $0.9 million of interest Ligand paid King on a loan that was repaid in January 2007, and $0.5 million of severance expense for AVINZA sales representatives not offered positions with King. A summary of the final net cash proceeds, exclusive of $7.2 million in transaction costs and adjusted to reflect the final results of the retain inventory study, is as follows (in thousands):
         
Purchase price
  $ 265,000  
Reimbursement of Organon payments
    47,750  
Repayment of interest on King loan
    883  
Reimbursement of sales representative severance costs
    453  
 
     
 
    314,086  
 
       
Less retail pharmacy inventory adjustment
    (11,225 )
Less cost of goods manufacturing adjustment
    (6,000 )
 
     
 
    296,861  
Less funds placed into escrow
    (15,000 )
 
     
 
       
Net cash proceeds
  $ 281,861  
 
     
     King also assumed our co-promote termination obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA (approximately $93.2 million as of February 26, 2007). As Organon has not consented to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation from us to King, we remain liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of this obligation. We also incurred approximately $7.2 million in transaction fees and other costs associated with the sale that are not reflected in the net cash proceeds, of which $3.6 million was recognized in 2006. The $7.2 million also includes approximately $3.6 million recognized in the first quarter of 2007 for investment banking services and related expenses which have not yet been paid. We are disputing that these fees are owed to the investment banking firm. The investment banking firm has filed suit against us in New York on April 17, 2007 seeking recovery of these fees, plus interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. We recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $310.1 million in the first quarter of 2007.
     In addition to the assumption of existing royalty obligations, King will pay Ligand a 15% royalty on AVINZA net sales during the first 20 months after Closing. Subsequent royalty payments will be based upon calendar year net sales. If calendar year net sales are less than $200.0 million, the royalty payment will be 5% of all net sales. If calendar year net sales are greater than $200.0 million, the royalty payment will be 10% of all net sales less than $250.0 million, plus 15% of net sales greater than $250.0 million.
     Also on September 6, 2006,we entered into a contract sales force agreement (the “Sales Call Agreement”) with King, pursuant to which King agreed to conduct a sales detailing program to promote the sale of AVINZA for an agreed upon fee, subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Call Agreement. Pursuant to the Sales Call Agreement, King agreed to perform certain minimum monthly product details (i.e. sales calls), which commenced effective October 1, 2006 and continued until the Closing Date. The total co-promote expense incurred during the first quarter of 2007 through the Closing Date was approximately $2.8 million. The amount due to King under the Sales Call Agreement as of March 31, 2007 is approximately $1.7 million.
     Prior to the AVINZA sale, we recorded accruals for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to AVINZA products when product sales were recognized as revenue under the sell-through method. Upon the AVINZA sale, we accrued for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to AVINZA products in the distribution channel which had not sold-through at the time of the AVINZA sale and for which we retained the

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liability subsequent to the sale. Our accruals for AVINZA rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts total $6.7 million as of March 31, 2007 and are included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
     Additionally, and pursuant to the terms of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, we retained the liability for returns of product from the distribution channel that had been sold by us prior to the close of the transaction. Accordingly, as part of the accounting for the gain on the sale of AVINZA, we recorded a reserve for AVINZA product returns. Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, we previously did not record a reserve for returns. Our reserve for AVINZA returns, including estimated losses on returns due to changes in price, $16.7 million as of March 31, 2007 and is included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet.
     Summary of Results from Discontinued Operations. Income from discontinued operations before income taxes was $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to a loss from discontinued operations before income taxes of $128.5 million for the same 2006 period. The following table summarizes results from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
         
    AVINZA  
    Product  
    Line  
Product sales
  $ 18,256  
 
     
Operating costs and expenses:
       
Cost of products sold
    3,608  
Research and development
    120  
Selling, general and administrative
    3,709  
Co-promotion
    2,814  
Co-promote termination charges
    2,012  
 
     
Total operating costs and expenses
    12,263  
 
     
Income from operations
    5,993  
Interest expense
     
 
     
Income before income taxes
  $ 5,993  
 
     

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     The following table summarizes results from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
                         
    Oncology     AVINZA        
    Product     Product        
    Line     Line     Total  
Product sales
  $ 15,489     $ 32,495     $ 47,984  
Collaborative research and development and other revenues
    58             58  
 
                 
Total revenues
    15,547       32,495       48,042  
 
                 
Operating costs and expenses:
                       
Cost of products sold
    4,146       5,594       9,740  
Research and development
    3,893             3,893  
Selling, general and administrative
    4,518       8,780       13,298  
Co-promotion
          10,957       10,957  
Co-promote termination charges
          136,241       136,241  
 
                 
Total operating costs and expenses
    12,557       161,572       174,129  
 
                 
Income (loss) from operations
    2,990       (129,077 )     (126,087 )
Interest expense
    (25 )     (2,414 )     (2,439 )
 
                 
Income (loss) before income taxes
  $ 2,965     $ (131,491 )   $ (128,526 )
 
                 
     Product sales were $18.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $48.0 million for the same 2006 period. Total operating costs and expenses were $12.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $174.1 million for the same 2006 period. The decrease in product sales and total operating costs and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same 2006 period is primarily due to the sales of the Oncology and AVINZA product lines effective October 25, 2006 and February 26, 2007, respectively.
     Co-promotion expense of $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 represents fees paid to King for contract sales expenses incurred under the Sales Call Agreement prior to the closing of the Transaction on February 26, 2007. This compares to $11.0 million of co-promotion expense recognized under our co-promotion arrangement with Organon that concluded September 30, 2006 (Refer to “Recent Developments – Organon Co-Promote Termination”).
     For the three months ended March 31, 2006, we recognized $136.2 million of co-promote termination costs in connection with the termination of our AVINZA co-promote arrangement with Organon effective January 1, 2006. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, we recognized $2.0 million of co-promote termination expense which represents the accretion of the termination liability to fair value as of February 26, 2007, the closing of the AVINZA product line sale Transaction (Refer to “Recent Developments – Organon Co-Promote Termination”).
     Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 of $2.4 million primarily represents interest on our then outstanding convertible subordinated notes. As part of the terms of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, we were required to redeem the outstanding notes. All of the notes converted into shares of common stock in 2006 prior to redemption. In accordance with EITF 87-24, Allocation of Interest to Discontinued Operations, the interest on the notes was allocated to discontinued operations because the debt was required to be repaid in connection with the disposal transaction.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources
     We have financed our operations through private and public offerings of our equity securities, collaborative research and development and other revenues, issuance of convertible notes, product sales and the subsequent sales of our commercial assets, capital and operating lease transactions, accounts receivable factoring and equipment financing arrangements, and investment income.
     Working capital was $87.4 million at March 31, 2007 compared to $64.7 million at December 31, 2006. Cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash and investments totaled $412.1 million at March 31, 2007 compared to $212.5 million at December 31, 2006. Working capital as of March 31, 2007 includes dividend payable of $252.7 million for a special dividend we declared on March 22, 2007 and subsequently paid on April 19, 2007. We primarily invest our cash in United States government and investment grade corporate debt securities. Restricted investments at March 31, 2007 consist of certificates of deposit held with a financial institution as collateral under equipment financing and third-party service provider arrangements.
Operating Activities
     Operating activities used cash of $45.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $20.0 million for the same 2006 period. The use of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2007 reflects net income of $274.3 million, adjusted by $302.4 million in items to reconcile net income to net cash used in operations. These reconciling items primarily reflect the gain on the sale of our AVINZA Product Line of $310.1 million and the amortization of deferred gain on sale leaseback of building of $0.5 million, partially offset by the recognition of $5.6 million of stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization of assets of $1.4 million, and the write-off of assets of $1.0 million.
     The use of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2007 is further impacted by changes in operating assets and liabilities due primarily to decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $13.0 million and to deferred revenue, net of $8.7 million and an increase in the restricted indemnity account of $10.0 million, partially offset by decreases in accounts receivable, net of $10.3 million, other current assets of $3.5 million, and inventories, net of $0.9 million. The decreases in deferred revenue and accounts receivable through February 26, 2007, the closing of the AVINZA sale transaction with King, are primarily due to a reduction in shipments of AVINZA starting in September 2006. The AVINZA Purchase Agreement with King provided for a reduction in the purchase price to the extent that product inventories in the wholesale and retail distribution channels were in excess of specified amounts. Accordingly, we reduced shipments of AVINZA starting in September 2006. The decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities is primarily due to the January 2007 payment of $10.0 million in accrued fees for co-promotion services to Organon during and following the co-promote transition period which terminated effective September 30, 2006, and lower headcount costs and operational expenses following the sale of our AVINZA Product Line to King in February 2007, partially offset by an increase in accrued income taxes of $15.5 million primarily due to income taxes due on the gain of the AVINZA Product Line. The increase in the restricted indemnity account is due to the funding of $10.0 million to support our existing indemnification obligations to continuing and departing directors in connection with the ongoing SEC investigation and related matters.
     Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2006 of $20.0 million reflects a net loss of $142.2 million, non-cash adjustments to operating activities of $141.5 million (primarily non-cash co-promote termination expense of $136.2 million), and changes in operating assets and liabilities that comprise a net cash outflow of $19.2 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2006 include decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $14.9 million and in deferred revenue, net of $6.6 million, partially offset by decreases in inventories, net of $1.5 million and accounts receivable, net of $0.9 million.
     Cash used in operating activities of $45.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 includes $26.7 million used in discontinued operations. Cash used in operating activities of $20.0 million for the same 2006 period includes $7.5 million provided by discontinued operations.

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Investing Activities
     Investing activities provided cash of $326.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to $3.0 million for the same 2006 period. Cash provided for the three months ended March 31, 2007 primarily reflects proceeds from the sale of our AVINZA Product Line of $280.4 million, the decrease of restricted cash of $38.8 million which was held in escrow as of December 31, 2006 and released in January 2007 to repay our loan with King, and net proceeds from sales of short-term investments of $7.1 million. The loan amount including interest was subsequently reimbursed to us in February 2007 in connection with the closing of the AVINZA Product Line sale to King. Cash provided for the three months ended March 31, 2006 primarily reflects proceeds of $3.2 million from the net sale of short-term investments.
     Cash provided by investing activities of $289.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 includes $280.4 million provided by discontinued operations from the sale of the AVINZA Product Line. Cash provided by investing activities of $3.0 million for the same 2006 period includes $0.02 million used in discontinued operations.
Financing Activities
     Cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $35.4 compared to cash provided by financing activities of $0.04 million for the same 2006 period. Cash used for the three months ended March 31, 2007 primarily reflects the repayment of debt of $37.8 million and net payments under equipment financing obligations of $0.5 million. These amounts are partially offset by proceeds from the issuance of common stock, primarily the exercise of employee stock options, of $2.9 million. Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2006 includes proceeds from the exercise of employee stock options of $0.5 million partially offset by net payments under equipment financing arrangements of $0.4 million.
     None of the cash used in financing activities of $35.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 relates to discontinued operations. Cash provided by financing activities of $0.04 million for the same 2006 period includes $0.1 million used in discontinued operations.
     Certain of our property and equipment is pledged as collateral under various equipment financing arrangements. As of March 31, 2007, $3.8 million was outstanding under such arrangements with $2.2 million classified as current. Our equipment financing arrangements have terms of four years with interest ranging from 7.35% to 10.11%.
     We believe our available cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and existing sources of funding will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated operating and capital requirements through at least the next 12 months. Our future operating and capital requirements will depend on many factors, including: the pace of scientific progress in our research and development programs; the magnitude of these programs; the scope and results of preclinical testing and clinical trials; the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals; the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims; competing technological and market developments; the amount of royalties on sales of AVINZA we receive from King; and the efforts of our collaborators. We will also consider additional equipment financing arrangements similar to arrangements currently in place.
     On March 22, 2007, we announced a return of cash on our common stock in the form of a $2.50 per share special cash dividend. The aggregate amount of $252.7 million was paid on April 19, 2007 to shareholders of record as of April 5, 2007. In addition to the cash dividend, the Board of Directors authorized up to $100.0 million in share repurchases over the subsequent 12 months.

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Leases and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
     We lease certain of our office and research facilities under operating lease arrangements with varying terms through November 2021. The agreements provide for increases in annual rents based on changes in the Consumer Price Index or fixed percentage increases ranging from 3% to 7%.
Contractual Obligations
     As of March 31, 2007, future minimum payments due under our contractual obligations are as follows (in thousands):
                                         
    Payments Due by Period  
    Total     Less than 1 year     1-3 years     3-5 years     After 5 years  
Capital lease obligations (1)
  $ 4,151     $ 2,397     $ 1,699     $ 55     $  
Operating lease obligations
    70,848       4,844       10,036       10,648       45,320  
Retention bonus obligation
    457       457                    
Severance obligation
    788       788                    
Consulting agreements
    920       920                    
Co-promote termination liability (2)
                             
Manufacturing agreements (3)
                             
 
                             
Total contractual obligations
  $ 77,164     $ 9,406     $ 11,735     $ 10,703     $ 45,320  
 
                             
 
(1)        Includes interest payments as follows:   $ 358     $ 246     $ 111     $ 1     $  
 
(2)   Our co-promote termination obligation to Organon was assumed by King pursuant to the AVINZA Purchase Agreement. However, as Organon did not consent to the legal assignment of the obligation to King, Ligand remains liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of the obligation. As of March 31, 2007, the total estimated amount of the obligation is approximately $192.8 on an undiscounted basis.
 
(3)   In May 2006, Ligand and Cardinal Health PTS, LLC (“Cardinal”) entered into the First Amendment to the Manufacturing and Packaging Agreement for the manufacturing of AVINZA. The amendment principally adjusted certain contract dates, near-term minimum commitments and contract prices. Under the terms of the amended agreement, we committed to minimum annual purchases ranging from $0.8 million to $1.2 million for 2006; $2.2 million to $3.3 million for 2007; and $2.4 million to $3.6 million for 2008 through 2010. As part of the closing of the AVINZA sale transaction, we and King agreed that the Cardinal agreement would not be assigned or transferred to King and that we would be responsible for winding down the contract and any resulting liabilities. The contract was subsequently terminated in April 2007. The costs of winding down the Cardinal agreement were not material.
     As of March 31, 2007, we have net open purchase orders (defined as total open purchase orders at quarter end less any accruals or invoices charged to or amounts paid against such purchase orders) totaling approximately $6.4 million. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2007 we plan to spend approximately $0.6 million on capital expenditures.
     On January 15, 2007, we announced that John L. Higgins had joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Higgins succeeded Henry F. Blissenbach, who continued to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors until March 1, 2007. We agreed to pay Mr. Higgins an annual salary of $400,000, with his employment commencing as of January 10, 2007. In addition, Mr. Higgins has a performance bonus opportunity with a target of 50% of his salary, up to a maximum of 75%, and received a restricted stock grant of 150,000 shares of our common stock vesting over two years. We also provided Mr. Higgins with a lump-sum relocation benefit of $100,000. Mr. Higgins’ employment agreement provides for severance payments and benefits in the event that employment is terminated under various scenarios, such as a change in control of the Company.
Critical Accounting Policies
     Certain of our accounting policies require the application of management judgment in making estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and disclosures made in the accompanying notes. Those estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors deemed to be applicable and reasonable under the circumstances. The use of judgment in determining such

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estimates and assumptions is by nature, subject to a degree of uncertainty. Accordingly, actual results could differ from the estimates made. Management believes that the only material changes during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 to the critical accounting policies reported in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis section of our 2006 Annual Report are related to 1) revenue recognition for AVINZA royalties, 2) AVINZA product returns and 3) co-promote termination accounting pursuant to the sale of AVINZA.
Revenue Recognition – AVINZA Royalties
     In accordance with the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, royalties are required to be reported and paid to us within 45 days of quarter-end during the 20 month period following the closing of the sale transaction (February 26, 2007). Thereafter, royalties will be paid on a calendar year basis. Royalties on sales of AVINZA due from King will be recognized in the quarter reported. Since there is a one quarter lag from when King recognizes AVINZA net sales to when King reports those sales and the corresponding royalties to us, we will begin recognizing AVINZA royalty revenue in the second quarter of 2007.
AVINZA Product Returns
     In connection with the sale of the AVINZA product line to King, we retained the obligation for returns of product that we shipped to wholesalers prior to the close of the transaction on February 26, 2007. The accrual for AVINZA product returns, which was recorded as part of the accounting for the AVINZA sale transaction, is based on historical experience. While our obligation is for returns of product from our wholesaler customers, retail pharmacies may also return AVINZA to the wholesalers who in turn could return the product to us. As of March 31, 2007, we believe that the majority of AVINZA in the distribution channel is held at the retail pharmacy level. Due to the estimates and assumptions inherent in determining the amount of product returns, and that following the sale of the AVINZA product line to King we will have limited visibility into the amount of Ligand shipped product in the distribution channel, we are unable to quantify an estimate of the reasonably likely effect of any changes to the returns accrual, including the timing of any such changes, on our financial position. Any such changes will be recorded as a component of discontinued operations in the period identified. For reference purposes, a 10% to 20% variance to our estimated allowance for returns on the AVINZA products would result in an approximate $1.7 million to $3.3 million adjustment to the reserve for AVINZA product returns.
Co-Promote Termination Accounting
     As part of the termination and return of co-promotion rights agreement that we entered into with Organon in January 2006, we agreed to make quarterly payments to Organon, effective for the fourth quarter of 2006, equal to 6.5% of AVINZA net sales through December 31, 2012 and thereafter 6% through patent expiration, currently anticipated to be November 2017. The estimated fair value of the amounts to be paid to Organon after the termination ($95.2 million as of January 2006), based on the future net sales of the product, was recognized as a liability and expensed as a cost of the termination as of the effective date of the agreement, January 2006.
     In connection with the AVINZA sale transaction, King assumed our obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA (the fair value of which approximated $93.2 million as of February 26, 2007). As Organon has not consented to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation from us to King, we remain liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of this obligation. Therefore, we recorded an asset on February 26, 2007 to recognize King’s assumption of the obligation, while continuing to carry the co-promote termination liability in our consolidated financial statements to recognize our legal obligation as primary obligor to Organon as required under SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This asset represents a non-interest bearing receivable for future payments to be made by King and is recorded at its fair value. As of March 31, 2007, the current portion of the co-promote termination liability includes approximately $1.2 million owed to Organon on net product sales recognized through February 26, 2007. Thereafter, the receivable and liability will remain equal and adjusted each quarter for changes in the fair value of the obligation. On a quarterly basis, management reviews the carrying value and assesses the co-promote termination receivable for impairment (e.g. in the event King defaults on the assumed obligation to pay Organon). On a quarterly basis, management also reviews the carrying value of the co-promote termination liability. Due to assumptions and judgments inherent in determining the estimates of future net AVINZA sales through November 2017, the actual amount of net AVINZA sales used to determine the amount of the asset and liability for a particular period may be materially different from current estimates. Any resulting changes to the co-promote termination liability will have a corresponding impact on the co-promote termination payments receivable. As of March 31, 2007, the fair value of the co-promote termination liability (and the corresponding receivable) was determined using a discount rate of 15%.

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
     At March 31, 2007, our investment portfolio included fixed-income securities of $8.1 million. These securities are subject to interest rate risk and will decline in value if interest rates increase. However, due to the short duration of our investment portfolio, an immediate 10% change in interest rates is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. At March 31, 2007, we also have certain equipment financing arrangements with variable rates of interest. Due to the relative insignificance of such arrangements, however, an immediate 10% change in interest rates would have no material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Declines in interest rates over time will, however, reduce our interest income, while increases in interest rates over time will increase our interest expense.
We do not have a significant level of transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars and as a result we have limited foreign currency exchange rate risk. The effect of an immediate 10% change in foreign exchange rates would have no material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
     The Company is required to maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms.
     The Company’s exiting interim chief accounting officer, who was employed by the Company until May 15, 2007 executed Exhibits 31.2 and 32.2 for the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. While this individual was the Company’s principal financial officer during the quarter ended March 31, 2007 and up until the Company’s chief financial officer was hired on April 30, 2007, Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 require that the Company’s new principal financial officer execute Exhibits 31.2 and 32.2 for the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007. The amendment to include the new certificates is not considered the result of material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting.
     Based on their most recent evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and its amendment, our chief executive officer and new chief financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act, are effective.
      There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Securities Litigation
     The Company was involved in several securities class action and shareholder derivative actions which followed announcements by the Company in 2004 and the subsequent restatement of its financial results in 2005. In June 2006, the Company entered into agreements to resolve all claims by the parties in each of these matters, including those asserted against the Company and the individual defendants in these cases. Under the agreements, the Company agreed to pay a total of $12.2 million in cash for a release and in full settlement of all claims. $12.0 million of the settlement amount and a portion of the Company’s total legal expenses were funded by the Company’s Directors and Officers Liability insurance carrier while the remainder of the legal fees incurred ($1.4 million for 2006) was paid by the Company. Of the $12.2 million settlement liability, $4.0 million was paid in October 2006 to Ligand’s insurance carrier and then disbursed to the claimants’ attorneys, while $8.0 million was paid in July 2006 by the insurance carrier directly to an independent escrow agent responsible for disbursing the funds to the class action suit claimants. As part of the settlement of the state derivative action, the Company agreed to adopt certain corporate governance enhancements including the formalization of certain Board practices and responsibilities, a Board self-evaluation process, Board and Board Committee term limits (with gradual phase-in) and one-time enhanced independence requirements for a single director to succeed the current shareholder representatives on the Board. Neither the Company nor any of its current or former directors and officers has made any admission of liability or wrongdoing. On October 12, 2006, the Superior Court of California approved the settlement of the state and federal derivative actions and entered final judgment of dismissal. The United States District Court approved the settlement of the Federal class action in October 2006.
SEC Investigation
     The SEC issued a formal order of private investigation dated September 7, 2005, which was furnished to Ligand’s legal counsel on September 29, 2005, to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ligand’s restatement of its consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, and for the first three quarters of 2004. The SEC has issued subpoenas for the production of documents and for testimony pursuant to that investigation to Ligand and others. The SEC’s investigation is ongoing and Ligand is cooperating with the investigation.
Other Matters
     The Company’s subsidiary, Seragen, Inc. and Ligand, were named parties to Sergio M. Oliver, et al. v. Boston University, et al., a shareholder class action filed on December 17, 1998 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, C.A. No. 16570NC, by Sergio M. Oliver and others against Boston University and others, including Seragen, its subsidiary Seragen Technology, Inc. and former officers and directors of Seragen. The complaint, as amended, alleged that Ligand aided and abetted purported breaches of fiduciary duty by the Seragen related defendants in connection with the acquisition of Seragen by Ligand and made certain misrepresentations in related proxy materials and seeks compensatory and punitive damages of an unspecified amount. On July 25, 2000, the Delaware Chancery Court granted in part and denied in part defendants’ motions to dismiss. Seragen, Ligand, Seragen Technology, Inc. and the Company’s acquisition subsidiary, Knight Acquisition Corporation, were dismissed from the action. Claims of breach of fiduciary duty remain against the remaining defendants, including the former officers and directors of Seragen. The court certified a class consisting of shareholders as of the date of the acquisition and on the date of the proxy sent to ratify an earlier business unit sale by Seragen. On January 20, 2005, the Delaware Chancery Court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Prior to trial, several of the Seragen director-defendants reached a settlement with the plaintiffs. The trial in this action then went forward as to the remaining defendants and concluded on February 18, 2005. On April 14, 2006, the court issued a memorandum opinion finding for the plaintiffs and against Boston University and individual directors affiliated with Boston University on certain claims. The opinion awards damages on these claims in the amount of approximately $4.8 million plus interest. Judgment, however, has not been entered and the matter is subject to appeal. While Ligand and its subsidiary Seragen have been dismissed from

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the action, such dismissal is also subject to appeal and Ligand and Seragen may have possible indemnification obligations with respect to certain defendants. As of March 31, 2007, the Company has not accrued an indemnification obligation based on its assessment that the Company’s responsibility for any such obligation is not probable or estimable.
     The Company received a letter in March 2007 from counsel to The Salk Institute for Biological Studies (“Salk”) alleging the Company owes Salk royalties on prior product sales of Targretin as well as a percentage of the amounts received from Eisai Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) and Eisai inc. (New Jersey) in the asset sale transaction completed with Eisai in October 2006. Salk alleges that they are owed at least 25% of the consideration paid by Eisai for that portion of our oncology product line and associated assets attributable to Targretin. In an April 11, 2007 request for mediation, Salk repeated these claims and asserted additional claims that allegedly increase the amount of royalty buy-out payments. The Company intends to vigorously oppose any claim that Salk may bring for payment related to these matters.
     The Company recorded approximately $7.2 million in transaction fees and other costs associated with the sale of AVINZA to King. This amount includes approximately $3.6 million for investment banking services and related expenses which have not yet been paid. The Company is disputing that these fees are owed to the investment banking firm. The investment banking firm has filed suit against the Company in New York on April 17, 2007 seeking recovery of these fees, plus interest, attorneys’ fees and costs.
     In addition, the Company is subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to matters arising out of the normal course of business. Due to the uncertainty of the ultimate outcome of these matters, the impact on future financial results is not subject to reasonable estimates.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
     The following is a summary description of some of the many risks we face in our business including any risk factors as to which there may have been a material change from those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. You should carefully review these risks in evaluating our business, including the businesses of our subsidiaries. You should also consider the other information described in this report.
Risks Related To Us and Our Business.
Failure to timely or successfully restructure our business could have adverse consequences for the Company.
     We completed the sale of our commercial businesses in February 2007. In connection with these sales we are also restructuring our remaining businesses, principally our research and development including the consolidation of our staff and facilities. If we are unable to successfully and timely complete this restructuring, our remaining assets could lose value, we may not be able to retain key employees, we may not have sufficient resources to successfully manage those assets or our business, and we may not be able to perform our obligations under various contracts and commitments. Any of these could have substantial negative impacts on our business and our stock price.
We are substantially dependent on AVINZA royalties for our revenues.
     We recently completed the sale of our two commercial product lines, oncology and pain, which in recent years provided substantially all of our continuing revenue. In each sale we received a one-time upfront cash payment. The consideration for the sale of the pain (AVINZA) franchise also included royalties that we will receive in the future from sales of AVINZA by King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., who acquired the AVINZA rights from us. These consist of a 15% royalty on AVINZA sales for the first 20 months, and then royalty payments ranging from 5-15% of AVINZA sales, depending on the level of total annual sales. These royalties represent and will represent substantially all of our ongoing revenue for the foreseeable future. Although we may also receive royalties and milestones from our partners in various past and future collaborations, the amount of revenue from these royalties and milestones is unknown and highly uncertain.
     Thus, any setback that may occur with respect to AVINZA could significantly impair our operating results and/or reduce the market price for our securities. Setbacks could include problems with shipping, distribution, manufacturing, product safety, marketing, government licenses and approvals, intellectual property rights, competition with existing or new products and physician or patient acceptance of the product, as well as higher than expected total rebates, returns or discounts.
     AVINZA was licensed from Elan Corporation which is its sole manufacturer. Any problems with Elan’s manufacturing operations or capacity could reduce sales of AVINZA, as could any licensing or other contract disputes with Elan, raw materials suppliers, or others.
     Similarly, King’s AVINZA sales efforts could be affected by a number of factors and decisions regarding its organization, operations, and activities as well as events both related and unrelated to AVINZA. Historically, AVINZA sales efforts, including our own and our prior co-promotion partners, have encountered a number of difficulties, uncertainties and challenges, including sales force reorganizations and lower than expected sales call and prescription volumes, which have hurt and could continue to hurt AVINZA sales growth. AVINZA could also face stiffer competition from existing or future pain products. The negative impact on the product’s sales growth in turn may cause our royalties, revenues and earnings to be disappointing.
     AVINZA sales also may be susceptible to higher than expected discounts (especially PBM/GPO rebates and Medicaid rebates, which can be substantial), returns and chargebacks and/or slower than expected market penetration that could reduce sales. Other setbacks that AVINZA could face in the sustained-release opioid market include product safety and abuse issues, regulatory action, intellectual property disputes and the inability to obtain sufficient quotas of morphine from the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) to support production requirements.

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     In particular, with respect to regulatory action and product safety issues, the FDA previously requested expanded warnings on the AVINZA label to alert doctors and patients to the dangers of using AVINZA with alcohol. Changes were made to the label, however, the FDA also requested clinical studies to investigate the risks associated with taking AVINZA with alcohol. Any additional warnings, studies and any further regulatory action could have significant adverse effects on AVINZA sales.
Significant returns of products we sold prior to selling our commercial businesses could harm our operating results.
     Under our agreements to sell our commercial businesses, we remain financially responsible for returns of our products sold before those businesses were transferred to their respective buyers. Thus if returns of those products are higher than expected, we could incur substantial expenses for processing and issuing refunds for those returns which, in turn, could hurt our financial results. The amount of returns could be affected by a number of factors including ongoing product demand, product rotation at distributors and wholesalers, and product stability issues.
Return from any dividend is speculative; you may not receive a return on your securities.
     In general, we intend to retain any earnings to support the expansion of our business. We have paid a special dividend of a substantial portion of the net proceeds from our product line asset sales. However, other than this special dividend, we do not anticipate paying cash dividends on any of our securities in the foreseeable future. Any returns you receive from our stock will be highly dependent on increases in the market price for our securities, if any. The price for our common stock has been highly volatile and may decrease.
We will have continuing obligations to indemnify the buyers of our commercial businesses, and may be subject to other liabilities related to the sale of our commercial product lines.
     In connection with the sale of our AVINZA product line, we have agreed to indemnify King for a period of 16 months after the closing for a number of specified matters including the breach of our representations, warranties and covenants contained in the asset purchase agreement, and in some cases for a period of 30 months following the closing of the asset sale. In addition, we have agreed to indemnify Eisai, the purchaser of our oncology product line, after the closing of the asset sale, for damages suffered by Eisai arising for any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or obligations we have made in the asset purchase agreement. Our obligation to indemnify Eisai survives the closing in some cases up to 18 or 36 months following the closing, and in other cases, until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. In a few instances, our obligation to indemnify Eisai survives in perpetuity. Under our agreement with King, $15.0 million of the total upfront cash payment was deposited into an escrow account to secure our indemnification obligations to King following the closing. Similarly, our agreement with Eisai required that $20.0 million of the total upfront cash payment be deposited into an escrow account to secure our indemnification obligations to Eisai after the closing.
     Our indemnification obligations under the asset purchase agreements could cause us to be liable to King or Eisai under certain circumstances, in excess of the amounts set forth in the escrow accounts. The AVINZA asset purchase agreement also allows King, under certain circumstances, to set off indemnification claims against the royalty payments payable to us. Under the asset purchase agreements, our liability for any indemnification claim brought by King and Eisai is generally limited to $40.0 million and $30.0 million, respectively. However, our obligation to provide indemnification on certain matters is not subject to these indemnification limits. For example, we agreed to retain, and provide indemnification without limitation to King, for all liabilities arising under certain agreements with Cardinal Health PTS, LLC related to the manufacture of AVINZA. Similarly, we agreed to retain, and provide indemnification without limitation to Eisai, for all liabilities related to certain claims regarding promotional materials for the ONTAK and Targretin drug products. We cannot predict the liabilities that may arise as a result of these matters. Any liability claims related to these matters or any indemnification claims made by King or Eisai could materially and adversely affect our financial condition.
     We may also be subject to other liabilities related to the products we recently sold. For example, we received a letter in March 2007 from counsel to the Salk Institute for Biological Studies alleging that we owe The Salk Institute royalties on prior sales of Targretin as well as a percentage of the amounts received from Eisai. Salk

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alleges that they are owed at least 25% of the consideration paid by Eisai for that portion of our oncology product line and associated assets attributable to Targretin. In an April 11, 2007 request for mediation, Salk repeated these claims and asserted additional claims that allegedly increase the amount of royalty buy-out payments. The Company intends to vigorously oppose any claim that Salk may bring for payment related to these matters. Also, the Company recorded approximately $7.2 million in transaction fees and other costs associated with the sale of AVINZA to King. This amount includes approximately $3.6 million for investment banking services and related expenses which have not yet been paid. The Company is disputing that these fees are owed to the investment banking firm. The investment banking firm has filed suit against the Company in New York on April 17, 2007 seeking recovery of these fees, plus interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. Also, as previously disclosed, in connection with the AVINZA sale transaction, King assumed our obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA (the fair value of which approximated $93.2 million as of February 26, 2007). As Organon has not consented to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation from us to King, we remain liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of this obligation. Any successful claim brought against us by Salk, the investment banking firm mentioned above or others or any requirement to pay a material amount to Organon in the event of King’s default on its assumed obligation to Organon could cause our stock price to fall and could decrease our cash or otherwise adversely affect our business.
Our product development involves a number of uncertainties, and we may never generate sufficient revenues from the sale of products to become profitable.
     We were founded in 1987. We have incurred significant losses since our inception. At March 31, 2007, our accumulated deficit was approximately $588.9 million. We began generating commercial product revenues in 1999; however, we completed the sale of all of our commercial products in February 2007 and are now focused on our product development pipeline.
     Most of our products in development will require extensive additional development, including preclinical testing and human studies, as well as regulatory approvals, before we can market them. We cannot predict if or when any of the products we are developing or those being developed with our partners will be approved for marketing. For example, lasofoxifene (Oporia), a partner product being developed by Pfizer received a “non-approvable” decision from the FDA. There are many reasons why we or our collaborative partners may fail in our efforts to develop our other potential products, including the possibility that:
  Ø   preclinical testing or human studies may show that our potential products are ineffective or cause harmful side effects;
 
  Ø   the products may fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals from the FDA or foreign authorities in a timely manner, or at all;
 
  Ø   the products, if approved, may not be produced in commercial quantities or at reasonable costs;
 
  Ø   the products, if approved, may not achieve commercial acceptance;
 
  Ø   regulatory or governmental authorities may apply restrictions to our products, which could adversely affect their commercial success; or
 
  Ø   the proprietary rights of other parties may prevent us or our partners from marketing the products.
     Any product development failures for these or other reasons, whether with our products or our partners’ products, may reduce our expected revenues, profits, and stock price.

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Our drug development programs will require substantial additional future funding which could hurt our operational and financial condition.
     Our drug development programs require substantial additional capital to successfully complete them, arising from costs to:
  Ø   conduct research, preclinical testing and human studies;
 
  Ø   establish pilot scale and commercial scale manufacturing processes and facilities; and
 
  Ø   establish and develop quality control, regulatory, marketing, sales and administrative capabilities to support these programs.
 
  Our future operating and capital needs will depend on many factors, including:
 
  Ø   the pace of scientific progress in our research and development programs and the magnitude of these programs;
 
  Ø   the scope and results of preclinical testing and human studies;
 
  Ø   the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals;
 
  Ø   the time and costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims;
 
  Ø   competing technological and market developments;
 
  Ø   our ability to establish additional collaborations;
 
  Ø   changes in our existing collaborations;
 
  Ø   the cost of manufacturing scale-up; and
 
  Ø   the effectiveness of our commercialization activities.
     We currently estimate our research and development expenditures over the next three years to range between $110 million and $135 million. However, we base our outlook regarding the need for funds on many uncertain variables. Such uncertainties include regulatory approvals, the timing of events outside our direct control such as product launches by partners and the success of such product launches, negotiations with potential strategic partners, possible sale of assets or other transactions and other factors. Any of these uncertain events can significantly change our cash requirements.
     While we expect to fund our research and development activities primarily from cash generated from AVINZA royalties to the extent possible, if we are unable to do so we may need to complete additional equity or debt financings or seek other external means of financing. These financings could depress our stock price. If additional funds are required to support our operations and we are unable to obtain them on terms favorable to us, we may be required to cease or reduce further development or commercialization of our products, to sell some or all of our technology or assets or to merge with another entity.
Our product candidates face significant regulatory hurdles prior to marketing which could delay or prevent sales.
     Before we obtain the approvals necessary to sell any of our potential products, we must show through preclinical studies and human testing that each product is safe and effective. We and our partners have a number of products

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moving toward or currently in clinical trials, including lasofoxifene for which Pfizer announced receipt of non-approval letters from the FDA, and two products in Phase III trials by one of our partners involving bazedoxifene. Failure to show any product’s safety and effectiveness would delay or prevent regulatory approval of the product and could adversely affect our business. The clinical trials process is complex and uncertain. The results of preclinical studies and initial clinical trials may not necessarily predict the results from later large-scale clinical trials. In addition, clinical trials may not demonstrate a product’s safety and effectiveness to the satisfaction of the regulatory authorities. A number of companies have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials or in seeking regulatory approvals, despite promising results in earlier trials. The FDA may also require additional clinical trials after regulatory approvals are received, which could be expensive and time-consuming, and failure to successfully conduct those trials could jeopardize continued commercialization.
     The rate at which we complete our clinical trials depends on many factors, including our ability to obtain adequate supplies of the products to be tested and patient enrollment. Patient enrollment is a function of many factors, including the size of the patient population, the proximity of patients to clinical sites and the eligibility criteria for the trial. Delays in patient enrollment for our trials may result in increased costs and longer development times. In addition, our collaborative partners have rights to control product development and clinical programs for products developed under the collaborations. As a result, these collaborators may conduct these programs more slowly or in a different manner than we had expected. Even if clinical trials are completed, we or our collaborative partners still may not apply for FDA approval in a timely manner or the FDA still may not grant approval.
The restatement of our consolidated financial statements has had a material adverse impact on us, including increased costs and the increased possibility of legal or administrative proceedings.
     We determined that our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, and for the first three quarters of 2004, as described in more detail in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, should be restated. As a result of these events, we have become subject to a number of additional risks and uncertainties, including:
  We incurred substantial unanticipated costs for accounting and legal fees in 2005 in connection with the restatement. Although the restatement is complete, we expect to continue to incur unanticipated accounting and legal costs as noted below.
 
  The SEC has instituted a formal investigation of the Company’s restated consolidated financial statements identified above. This investigation will likely divert more of our management’s time and attention and cause us to incur substantial costs. Such investigations can also lead to fines or injunctions or orders with respect to future activities, as well as further substantial costs and diversion of management time and attention.
Material weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting could harm stockholder and business confidence on our financial reporting, our ability to obtain financing and other aspects of our business.
     As disclosed in the Company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K, management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls surrounding (i) the accounting for revenue recognition; (ii) record keeping and documentation; (iii) accounting personnel; (iv) financial statement close procedures; (v) the inability of the Company to maintain an effective independent Internal Audit Department; (vi) the existence of ineffective spreadsheet controls used in connection with the Company’s financial processes, including review, testing, access and integrity controls; (vii) the existence of accounting system access rights granted to certain members of the Company’s accounting and finance department that are incompatible with the current roles and duties of such individuals (i.e., segregation of duties); and (viii) the inability of management to properly maintain the Company’s documentation of the internal control over financial reporting during 2005 or to substantively commence the process to update such documentation and assessment until December 2005. As of December 31, 2006, these material weaknesses have been fully remediated.
     While no material weaknesses were identified as of December 31, 2006, we cannot assure you that material weaknesses will not be identified in future periods. The existence of one or more material weakness or significant deficiency could result in errors in our consolidated financial statements, and substantial costs and resources may be

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required to rectify any internal control deficiencies. If we fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal controls in accordance with applicable standards, we may be unable to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting. If we cannot produce reliable financial reports, our business and financial condition could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, or the market price of our stock could decline significantly. In addition, our ability to obtain additional financing to operate and expand our business, or obtain additional financing on favorable terms, could be materially and adversely affected, which, in turn, could materially and adversely affect our business, our financial condition and the market value of our securities. Also, perceptions of us could also be adversely affected among customers, lenders, investors, securities analysts and others. Any future weaknesses or deficiencies could also hurt our ability to do business with these groups.
We may require additional money to run our business and may be required to raise this money on terms which are not favorable or which reduce our stock price.
     We have incurred losses since our inception and may not generate positive cash flow to fund our operations for one or more years. As a result, we may need to complete additional equity or debt financings to fund our operations. Our inability to obtain additional financing could adversely affect our business. Financings may not be available at all or on favorable terms. In addition, these financings, if completed, still may not meet our capital needs and could result in substantial dilution to our stockholders. For instance, in April 2002 and September 2003 we issued an aggregate of 7.7 million shares of our common stock in private placement offerings. In addition, in November 2002 we issued in a private placement $155.3 million in aggregate principal amount of our 6% convertible subordinated notes due 2007, that converted into approximately 25.1 million shares of our common stock. The conversion of all of the notes was completed in November 2006.
     If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our research or drug development programs, or our marketing and sales initiatives. We may also be required to liquidate our business or file for bankruptcy protection. Alternatively, we may be forced to attempt to continue development by entering into arrangements with collaborative partners or others that require us to relinquish some or all of our rights to technologies or drug candidates that we would not otherwise relinquish.
We rely heavily on collaborative relationships and termination of any of these programs could reduce the financial resources available to us, including research funding and milestone payments.
     Our strategy for developing and commercializing many of our potential products, including products aimed at larger markets, includes entering into collaborations with corporate partners, licensors, licensees and others. These collaborations provide us with funding and research and development resources for potential products for the treatment or control of metabolic diseases, hematopoiesis, women’s health disorders, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer and skin disease, and osteoporosis. These agreements also give our collaborative partners significant discretion when deciding whether or not to pursue any development program. Our collaborations may not continue or be successful.
     In addition, our collaborators may develop drugs, either alone or with others, that compete with the types of drugs they currently are developing with us. This would result in less support and increased competition for our programs. If products are approved for marketing under our collaborative programs, any revenues we receive will depend on the manufacturing, marketing and sales efforts of our collaborators, who generally retain commercialization rights under the collaborative agreements. Our current collaborators also generally have the right to terminate their collaborations under specified circumstances. If any of our collaborative partners breach or terminate their agreements with us or otherwise fail to conduct their collaborative activities successfully, our product development under these agreements will be delayed or terminated.
     We may have disputes in the future with our collaborators, including disputes concerning which of us owns the rights to any technology developed. For instance, we were involved in litigation with Pfizer, which we settled in April 1996, concerning our right to milestones and royalties based on the development and commercialization of droloxifene. These and other possible disagreements between us and our collaborators could delay our ability and the ability of our collaborators to achieve milestones or our receipt of other payments. In addition, any

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disagreements could delay, interrupt or terminate the collaborative research, development and commercialization of certain potential products, or could result in litigation or arbitration. The occurrence of any of these problems could be time-consuming and expensive and could adversely affect our business.
Challenges to or failure to secure patents and other proprietary rights may significantly hurt our business.
     Our success will depend on our ability and the ability of our licensors to obtain and maintain patents and proprietary rights for our potential products both in the United States and in foreign countries. Patents may not be issued from any of these applications currently on file, or, if issued, may not provide sufficient protection.
     Our patent position, like that of many biotech and pharmaceutical companies, is uncertain and involves complex legal and technical questions for which important legal principles are unresolved. We may not develop or obtain rights to products or processes that are patentable. Even if we do obtain patents, they may not adequately protect the technology we own or have licensed. In addition, others may challenge, seek to invalidate, infringe or circumvent any patents we own or license, and rights we receive under those patents may not provide competitive advantages to us.
     Any conflicts resulting from the patent rights of others could significantly reduce the coverage of our patents and limit our ability to obtain meaningful patent protection.
     We have had and will continue to have discussions with our current and potential collaborators regarding the scope and validity of our patents and other proprietary rights. If a collaborator or other party successfully establishes that our patent rights are invalid, we may not be able to continue our existing collaborations beyond their expiration. Any determination that our patent rights are invalid also could encourage our collaborators to terminate their agreements where contractually permitted. Such a determination could also adversely affect our ability to enter into new collaborations.
     We may also need to initiate litigation, which could be time-consuming and expensive, to enforce our proprietary rights or to determine the scope and validity of others’ rights. If litigation results, a court may find our patents or those of our licensors invalid or may find that we have infringed on a competitor’s rights. If any of our competitors have filed patent applications in the United States which claim technology we also have invented, the Patent and Trademark Office may require us to participate in expensive interference proceedings to determine who has the right to a patent for the technology.
     We also rely on unpatented trade secrets and know-how to protect and maintain our competitive position. We require our employees, consultants, collaborators and others to sign confidentiality agreements when they begin their relationship with us. These agreements may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our competitors may independently discover our trade secrets.
Third party intellectual property may prevent us or our partners from developing our potential products and we may owe a portion of any payments we receive from our collaboration partners to one or more third parties.
     Our success will depend on our ability and the ability of our partners to avoid infringing the proprietary rights of others, both in the United States and in foreign countries. In addition, disputes with licensors under our license agreements may arise which could result in additional financial liability or loss of important technology and potential products and related revenue, if any. Further, the manufacture, use or sale of our potential products or our partners’ products or potential products may infringe the patent rights of others. This could impact AVINZA, eltrombopag, Bazedoxifene, lasofoxifene, LGD-4665 and any other products or potential products of ours or our partners. See note 4 of the consolidated financial statements, “Collaboration Agreements and Royalty Matters”.
     Several drug companies and research and academic institutions have developed technologies, filed patent applications or received patents for technologies that may be related to our business. Others have filed patent applications and received patents that conflict with patents or patent applications we have licensed for our use, either by claiming the same methods or compounds or by claiming methods or compounds that could dominate those licensed to us. In addition, we may not be aware of all patents or patent applications that may impact our

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ability to make, use or sell any of our potential products. For example, US patent applications may be kept confidential while pending in the Patent and Trademark Office and patent applications filed in foreign countries are often first published six months or more after filing.
     While we periodically receive communications or have conversations with the owners of other patents or other intellectual property, none of these third parties have directly threatened an action or claim against us other than the Salk claim described herein. If others obtain patents with conflicting claims, we may be required to obtain licenses to those patents or to develop or obtain alternative technology. We may not be able to obtain any such licenses on acceptable terms, or at all. Any failure to obtain such licenses could delay or prevent us from pursuing the development or commercialization of our potential products.
Our legacy commercial businesses expose us to product liability risks and we may not have sufficient insurance to cover any claims.
     We completed the sale of our commercial businesses in February 2007. Nevertheless, products we sold prior to divesting these businesses expose us to potential product liability risks. For example, such products may need to be recalled to address regulatory issues. A successful product liability claim or series of claims brought against us could result in payment of significant amounts of money and divert management’s attention from running our business.
     In addition, some of the compounds we are investigating may be harmful to humans. For example, retinoids as a class are known to contain compounds which can cause birth defects. We may not be able to maintain our insurance on acceptable terms, or our insurance may not provide adequate protection in the case of a product liability claim. To the extent that product liability insurance, if available, does not cover potential claims, we will be required to self-insure the risks associated with such claims. We believe that we carry reasonably adequate insurance for product liability claims.
We use hazardous materials which requires us to incur substantial costs to comply with environmental regulations.
     In connection with our research and development activities, we handle hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive compounds. To properly dispose of these hazardous materials in compliance with environmental regulations, we are required to contract with third parties at substantial cost to us. Our annual cost of compliance with these regulations is approximately $0.7 million. We cannot completely eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from the handling and disposing of hazardous materials, whether by us or by our third-party contractors. In the event of any accident, we could be held liable for any damages that result, which could be significant. We believe that we carry reasonably adequate insurance for toxic tort claims.
Our shareholder rights plan and charter documents may hinder or prevent change of control transactions.
     Our shareholder rights plan and provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in our ownership. In addition, our Board of Directors may issue shares of preferred stock without any further action by you. Such issuances may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our ownership. If changes in our ownership are discouraged, delayed or prevented, it would be more difficult for our current Board of Directors to be removed and replaced, even if you or our other stockholders believe that such actions are in the best interests of us and our stockholders.

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ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
     We held a Special Meeting of Stockholders on February 12, 2007. The following proposals were approved at the Special Meeting:
                                 
    Votes   Votes   Votes   Broker
    For   Against   Abstaining   Non Votes
1. Approval of the sale of our rights in and to AVINZA
    72,236,440       45,351       9,330        
 
                               
2. Amendment of the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan to allow equitable adjustments to be made to options outstanding under the plan in the event of the payment of a large non-recurring cash dividend
    71,576,022       696,639       18,460        

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
     
Exhibit Number   Description
 
   
3.1 (1)
  Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.2).
 
   
3.2 (1)
  Bylaws of the Company, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 3.3).
 
   
3.3 (2)
  Amended Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock of the Company.
 
   
3.4 (3)
  Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated June 14, 2000.
 
   
3.5 (4)
  Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated September 30, 2004.
 
   
3.6 (5)
  Amendment to the Bylaws dated November 13, 2005 (Filed as Exhibit 3.1).
 
   
4.1 (6)
  Specimen stock certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Company.
 
   
4.2 (7)
  Indenture dated November 26, 2002, between Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, with respect to the 6% convertible subordinated notes due 2007 (Filed as Exhibit 4.3).
 
   
4.3 (7)
  Form of 6% Convertible Subordinated Note due 2007 (Filed as Exhibit 4.4).
 
   
4.4 (7)
  Pledge Agreement dated November 26, 2002, between Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (Filed as Exhibit 4.5).
 
   
4.5 (7)
  Control Agreement dated November 26, 2002, among Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association and JP Morgan Chase Bank (Filed as Exhibit 4.6).
 
   
4.6 (8)
  2006 Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, by and between Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and Mellon Investor Services LLC, dated as of October 13, 2006 (Filed as Exhibit 4.1).
 
   
31.1
  Certification of Principal Executive Officer, Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Principal Financial Officer, Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32.1
  Certification of Principal Executive Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32.2
  Certification of Principal Financial Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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(1)   This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-58823) filed on July 9, 1998.
 
(2)   This exhibit was previously filed as part of and is hereby incorporated by reference to same numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1999.
 
(3)   This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and are hereby incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000.
 
(4)   This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2004.
 
(5)   This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is being incorporated by reference to the number and exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 14, 2005.
 
(6)   This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-47257) filed on April 16, 1992 as amended.
 
(7)   This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-102483) filed on January 13, 2003, as amended.
 
(8)   This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is being incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2006.

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Table of Contents

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
             
 
           
Date: May 23, 2007
  By:   /s/ John P. Sharp    
 
           
 
      John P. Sharp    
 
      Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer    

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