Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4)

FORM 4 [ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^* FOEHR MATTHEW W	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC [ LGND ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President and COO
(Last) (First) (Middle) 3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BOULEVARD, STE 110	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 2/13/2020
(Street) SAN DIEGO, CA 92121 (City) (State) (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	2/13/2020		M		496	A	$21.92	148833	D
Common Stock	2/13/2020		A		7396	A	$0.0	156229	D
Common Stock	2/14/2020		M		7225 ⁽¹⁾	A	$14.47	163454	D
Common Stock	2/14/2020		S		7225 ⁽¹⁾	D	$95.8432 ⁽²⁾	156229	D
Common Stock	2/15/2020		F		869 ⁽³⁾	D	$97.23	155360	D
Common Stock	2/15/2020		F		447 ⁽⁴⁾	D	$97.23	154913	D
Common Stock	2/15/2020		F		1170 ⁽⁵⁾	D	$97.23	153743	D

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)*
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)			11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	$14.47	2/14/2020	2/14/2020	M			7225 ⁽¹⁾	⁽⁶⁾	2/9/2022	Common Stock	7225	$0.0	14450	D
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	$21.92	2/13/2020	2/13/2020	M			496	⁽⁷⁾	2/15/2023	Common Stock	496	$0.0	68331	D
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)	$95.68	2/13/2020		A		33210		⁽⁸⁾	2/13/2030	Common Stock	33210	$0.0	33210	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	The sale(s) reported on this Form 4 were made pursuant to a written trading plan adopted by the Reporting Person on November 15, 2019, in accordance with Rule 10b5-1.
(2)	The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $94.45 to $96.55, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request to the Securities Exchange Commission staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.
(3)	Represents shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of previously reported restricted stock units that were granted on 02/24/2017.
(4)	Represents shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of previously reported restricted stock units that were granted on 03/02/2018.
(5)	Represents shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of previously reported restricted stock units that were granted on 02/11/2019.
(6)	Grant to reporting person of options, exercisable over a 4-year period measured from the date of grant, 12-1/2% after six months, then 1/48th of the Option Shares per month thereafter. The date of grant was 02/09/12.
(7)	Grant to reporting person of options, exercisable over a 4-year period measured from the date of grant, 12-1/2% after six months, then 1/48th of the Option Shares per month thereafter. The date of grant was 02/15/13.
(8)	Grant to reporting person of options to purchase shares of common stock ("Option Shares"), exerciseable over a 4-year period measured from the date of grant, 12-1/2% after six months, then 1/48th of the Option Shares per month thereafter. The date of grant is 02/13/2020.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
FOEHR MATTHEW W 3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BOULEVARD, STE 110 SAN DIEGO, CA 92121			President and COO