LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC
Business
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC is a biopharmaceutical company that enables drug development by providing financing, acquiring royalty rights, and licensing platform technologies to partner companies. It offers revenue-generating royalties, Captisol material sales, license fees and milestone-based contract services, and operates platform technologies including Captisol and the NITRICIL nitric-oxide platform plus HepDirect/LTP/BEPro prodrug technologies. Key business activities consist of royalty aggregation, project finance, special situations and IP platform investments. Its products and services are distributed globally through partnerships, licensees, and third-party manufacturers and commercial collaborators.
Summary from filing dated 2025-02-28
Financials
Consolidated Statement of Income
| Concept | Trend | FY 2025 2025-12-31 | FY 2024 2024-12-31 | FY 2023 2023-12-31 | FY 2022 2022-12-31 | FY 2021 2021-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total revenue and income | 268 | 167 | 131 | 196 | 242 | |
| Cost of Captisol | 15 | 11 | 11 | 53 | 62 | |
| Amortization of intangibles | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | |
| Research and development | 81 | 21 | 25 | 36 | 32 | |
| General and administrative | 92 | 79 | 53 | 70 | 47 | |
| Financial royalty assets impairment | 6 | 31 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Fair value adjustments to partner program derivatives | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Total operating costs and expenses | 227 | 190 | 121 | 193 | 138 | |
| Gain on sale of Pelican | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Operating income (loss) from continuing operations | 41 | −23 | 12 | 3 | 104 | |
| Gain from short-term investments | 18 | 75 | 46 | 29 | −5 | |
| Gain (loss) from change in fair value of equity method investments and other investments | 91 | −35 | 0 | — | — | |
| Interest income | 14 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 886,000 | |
| Interest expense | −5 | −3 | −656,000 | −2 | — | |
| Other non-operating expense, net | −89,000 | −20 | −2 | 4 | −8 | |
| Total non-operating income, net | 118 | 25 | 52 | 33 | −32 | |
| Income before income tax from continuing operations | 159 | 3 | 64 | 36 | 72 | |
| Income tax expense | −35 | −7 | −10 | −41 | 4 | |
| Net income (loss) from continuing operations | 124 | −4 | 54 | −5 | 76 | |
| Net loss from discontinued operations | — | — | −2 | −28 | −19 | |
| Net income (loss): | 124 | −4 | 52 | −33 | 57 | |
| Basic net income (loss) from continuing operations (in USD per share) | 6.44 | −0.22 | 3.11 | −0.31 | 4.59 | |
| Basic net loss from discontinued operations (in USD per share) | 0 | 0 | −0.1 | −1.67 | −1.16 | |
| Basic net income (loss) per share (in USD per share) | 6.44 | −0.22 | 3.02 | −1.98 | 3.44 | |
| Shares used in basic per share calculation (in shares) | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | |
| Diluted net income (loss) from continuing operations (in USD per share) | 6.13 | −0.22 | 3.03 | −0.31 | 4.43 | |
| Diluted net loss from discontinued operations (in USD per share) | 0 | 0 | −0.09 | −1.67 | −1.11 | |
| Diluted net income (loss) per share (in USD per share) | 6.13 | −0.22 | 2.94 | −1.98 | 3.31 | |
| Shares used in diluted per share calculation (in shares) | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Consolidated Balance Sheet
| Concept | Trend | FY 2025 2025-12-31 | FY 2024 2024-12-31 | FY 2024 2024-09-30 | FY 2023 2023-12-31 | FY 2023 2023-09-30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash and cash equivalents | 175 | 72 | — | 23 | — | |
| Short-term investments | 559 | 184 | — | 147 | — | |
| Accounts receivable, net | 60 | 38 | — | 33 | — | |
| Inventory | 9 | 14 | — | 24 | — | |
| Short-term portion of financial royalty assets | 23 | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Income taxes receivable | 1 | 4 | — | 6 | — | |
| Other current assets | 6 | 9 | — | 3 | — | |
| Total current assets | 832 | 332 | — | 237 | — | |
| Intangible assets, net | 225 | 267 | — | 300 | — | |
| Goodwill | 102 | 105 | — | 103 | — | |
| Long-term portion of financial royalty assets, net | 197 | 185 | — | 62 | — | |
| Noncurrent derivative assets | 16 | 11 | — | 4 | 3 | |
| Equity method investments | 47 | 0 | — | 13 | — | |
| Other investments | 121 | 11 | 11 | 37 | — | |
| Deferred income taxes, net | 8 | 72,000 | — | 214,000 | — | |
| Other assets | 13 | 32 | — | 6 | — | |
| Total assets | 1,561 | 942 | — | 787 | — | |
| Accounts payable | 3 | 5 | — | 2 | — | |
| Accrued liabilities | 31 | 28 | — | 12 | — | |
| Income tax payable | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Current contingent liabilities | 287,000 | 206,000 | — | 256,000 | — | |
| Current operating lease liabilities | 1 | 1 | — | 403,000 | — | |
| Other current liabilities | 135,000 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Total current liabilities | 37 | 37 | — | 17 | — | |
| Long-term deferred revenue | 0 | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Long-term contingent liabilities | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | 4 | 6 | — | 6 | — | |
| 2030 Convertible Senior Notes, net | 446 | 0 | — | — | — | |
| Deferred income taxes, net | 36 | 33 | — | 32 | — | |
| Other long-term liabilities | 17 | 30 | — | 28 | — | |
| Total liabilities | 543 | 111 | — | 86 | — | |
| Commitments and contingencies | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; zero issued and outstanding at December 31, 2025 and 2024 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | — | |
| Common stock, $0.001 par value; 60,000 shares authorized; 19,774 and 19,106 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively | 20,000 | 20,000 | — | 18,000 | — | |
| Additional paid-in capital | 401 | 337 | — | 199 | — | |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 8 | −6 | — | −817,000 | — | |
| Retained earnings | 608 | 499 | — | 503 | — | |
| Total stockholders equity | 1,017 | 830 | — | 701 | — | |
| Total liabilities and stockholders equity | 1,561 | 942 | — | 787 | — |
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
| Concept | Trend | FY 2025 2025-12-31 | FY 2024 2024-12-31 | FY 2023 2023-12-31 | FY 2022 2022-12-31 | FY 2021 2021-12-31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change in estimated fair value of contingent liabilities | 860,000 | 683,000 | −265,000 | −748,000 | −37 | |
| Depreciation of fixed assets and amortization of intangible assets | 34 | 35 | 37 | 52 | 51 | |
| Gain from short-term investments | −18 | −68 | −46 | −29 | 4 | |
| (Gain) loss from change in fair value of equity method investments and other investments | −91 | 35 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Loss from equity method investment in Primrose Bio | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Gain on Pelthos Transaction | −53 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | |
| Accretion of premium on short-term investments, net | −5 | −1 | −1 | 16,000 | 111,000 | |
| Amortization of debt discount and issuance fees | 1 | 486,000 | 240,000 | 734,000 | 17 | |
| Loss (gain) on derivative instruments | −1 | 20 | −250,000 | 0 | — | |
| Non-cash income from financial royalty assets | −9 | −5 | −878,000 | −164,000 | — | |
| CECL adjustment to financial royalty assets | −922,000 | −4 | 4 | 0 | — | |
| Impairment loss of financial royalty assets | 6 | 31 | 924,000 | 0 | — | |
| Lease amortization expense | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | |
| Share-based compensation | 47 | 41 | 26 | 60 | 39 | |
| Deferred income taxes, net | 23 | −16 | 12 | 21 | −9 | |
| Other | 2 | 5 | 739,000 | 365,000 | 2 | |
| Accounts receivable, net | −22 | −6 | −3 | 55 | −29 | |
| Inventory | 5 | 10 | −11 | 12 | −427,000 | |
| Other economic rights | 0 | 0 | −5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 6 | 14 | −5 | −3 | 3 | |
| Income taxes receivable and payable | 3 | 2 | −2 | 2 | −4 | |
| Deferred revenue | −578,000 | −1 | 419,000 | −6 | −18 | |
| Other assets and liabilities | −4 | 1 | −10 | 6 | −9 | |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 49 | 97 | 50 | 138 | 79 | |
| Acquisition of financial royalty assets | −11 | −18 | −50 | 0 | — | |
| Acquisition of royalty receivables | −813,000 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| Proceeds from financial royalty assets | 10 | 7 | 418,000 | 92,000 | — | |
| Purchases of derivatives | −14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Purchases of property and equipment | −452,000 | −2 | −4 | −18 | −9 | |
| Purchases of short-term investments | −727 | −226 | −127 | −51 | −181 | |
| Proceeds from sale of short-term investments | 160 | 229 | 149 | 210 | 154 | |
| Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments | 218 | 33 | 45 | 25 | 67 | |
| Cash outflow on deconsolidation of LNHC, Inc. | −8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| Cash paid for investment in Primrose Bio | 0 | −998,000 | −15 | −750,000 | 0 | |
| Cash paid for other investments | −4 | −3 | 0 | — | — | |
| Cash paid for Novan acquisition, net of restricted cash received | 0 | 0 | −10 | 0 | 0 | |
| Cash paid for the Agenus Transaction | 0 | −75 | 0 | — | — | |
| Cash paid for Apeiron Acquisition, net of cash received | 0 | −92 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Cash paid for InvIOs investment | −303,000 | −4 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Net proceeds from Viking Share Collar and Viking Share Put | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Net cash used in investing activities | −377 | −144 | −12 | 164 | 31 | |
| Gross proceeds from issuance of 2030 Convertible Senior Notes | 460 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| Debt discount and payment of debt issuance cost | −16 | −426,000 | −949,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Purchase of 2030 Convertible Senior Notes hedge | −113 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| Proceeds from issuance of warrants | 67 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| Repurchase of common stock | −15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Proceeds from common stock issuance, net of commissions and fees | 0 | 37 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Repayment of 2023 Notes at maturity | 0 | 0 | −77 | −261 | −156 | |
| Payments under finance lease obligations | −27,000 | −25,000 | −45,000 | −54,000 | −9 | |
| Payments to CVR holders | −174,000 | 0 | 0 | −2 | −1 | |
| Net proceeds from stock option exercises and ESPP | 48 | 66 | 22 | 3 | 34 | |
| Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards | −10 | −5 | −5 | −8 | −6 | |
| Proceeds from Pelthos investors bridge loans | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| Net cash provided by (used) in financing activities | 428 | 97 | −60 | −276 | −138 | |
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | 2 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 103 | 49 | −22 | 25 | — | |
| Interest paid | 321,000 | 263,000 | 288,000 | 1 | 3 | |
| Taxes paid | 8 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 4 | |
| Pelthos shares received in exchange for LNHC, Inc. business | 44 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| Pelthos shares received for Ligand bridge loan cancellation | 13 | 0 | 0 | — | — | |
| Accrued Primrose transaction costs | 0 | 0 | 998,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Addition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | |
| Accrued royalty from financial royalty assets | 0 | 0 | 52,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Accrued purchases of financial royalty assets | 0 | 0 | 347,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Accrued debt issuance costs | 0 | 42,000 | 41,000 | 0 | 0 | |
| Accrued fixed asset purchases | 215,000 | 71,000 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments, net of tax | 181,000 | 45,000 | 167,000 | −67,000 | −221,000 |