$LGND
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

$lgnd Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2018 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616319000041 Filed on February 28, 2019

Income Statement

Concept	2018	2017 Q4	2017 Q3
Revenue	$251.5M	$50.47M	$33.38M
YoY Change	78.21%	32.16%	54.38%
Cost Of Revenue	$6.337M	$1.740M	$2.385M
YoY Change	18.1%	-40.0%	138.74%
Gross Profit	$245.1M	$48.73M	$30.99M
YoY Change	80.58%	38.08%	50.29%
Gross Profit Margin	97.48%	96.56%	92.85%
Selling, General & Admin	$37.70M	$1.770M	$7.030M
YoY Change	161.81%	-73.3%	11.41%
% of Gross Profit	15.38%	3.63%	22.68%
Research & Development	$27.86M	$14.61M	$4.759M
YoY Change	3.63%	127.93%	-19.31%
% of Gross Profit	11.37%	29.98%	15.36%
Depreciation & Amortization	$12.78M	$4.100M	$2.000M
YoY Change	16.7%	36.67%	-31.03%
% of Gross Profit	5.22%	8.41%	6.45%
Operating Expenses	$27.86M	$20.37M	$4.759M
YoY Change	3.63%	29.25%	-19.31%
Operating Profit	$163.7M	$28.36M	$16.49M
YoY Change	140.51%	45.21%	201.74%
Interest Expense	$48.28M	-$1.470M	$3.386M
YoY Change	258.66%	-87.75%	8.66%
% of Operating Profit	29.49%	-5.18%	20.53%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$9.603M	$3.790M	-$4.422M
YoY Change	-188.55%	-3015.38%	3.92%
Pretax Income	$173.3M	$30.67M	$12.07M
YoY Change	202.86%	324.2%	896.78%
Income Tax	$30.01M	-$14.31M	$11.86M
% Of Pretax Income	17.31%	-46.65%	98.29%
Net Earnings	$143.3M	-$42.48M	$67.36M
YoY Change	1041.45%	1259.42%	6309.32%
Net Earnings / Revenue	57.0%	-84.18%	201.83%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$6.77	-$2.02	$3.19
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$5.96	-$2.02	$2.80
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	21.16M shares	21.07M shares	21.15M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	24.07M shares	21.07M shares	24.05M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2018	2017 Q4	2017 Q3
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$773.8M	$201.7M	$202.3M
YoY Change	283.64%	43.05%	63.01%
Cash & Equivalents	$117.2M	$20.62M	$32.74M
Short-Term Investments	$656.7M	$181.0M	$169.5M
Other Short-Term Assets	$25.20M	$1.514M	$1.112M
YoY Change	2420.0%	-30.39%	-59.65%
Inventory	$7.100M	$4.373M	$5.007M
Prepaid Expenses		$1.017M
Receivables	$55.90M	$25.60M	$12.80M
Other Receivables	$8.500M	$3.900M	$3.000M
Total Short-Term Assets	$870.5M	$237.0M	$224.2M
YoY Change	267.3%	45.36%	59.36%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$5.400M	$4.212M	$3.526M
YoY Change	28.57%	131.56%	93.1%
Goodwill		$85.96M	$72.21M
YoY Change		19.05%	-0.21%
Intangibles		$228.6M	$196.6M
YoY Change		11.67%	-5.23%
Long-Term Investments	$0.00	$6.438M	$5.137M
YoY Change	-100.0%	-22.85%	-70.37%
Other Assets	$47.00M	$4.859M	$2.028M
YoY Change	-47.37%	178.61%	16.28%
Total Long-Term Assets	$390.3M	$434.0M	$438.1M
YoY Change	-10.07%	-1.03%	-4.79%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$870.5M	$237.0M	$224.2M
Total Long-Term Assets	$390.3M	$434.0M	$438.1M
Total Assets	$1.261B	$671.0M	$662.3M
YoY Change	87.9%	11.54%	10.23%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$4.200M	$2.259M	$3.617M
YoY Change	82.61%	-17.37%	31.19%
Accrued Expenses	$19.20M	$7.377M	$6.423M
YoY Change	166.67%	15.32%	-3.78%
Deferred Revenue		$0.00
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$26.40M	$224.5M	$221.6M
YoY Change	-88.24%	5.45%	5.47%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$82.20M	$238.9M	$231.7M
YoY Change	-65.59%	5.17%	2.46%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$609.9M	$18.90M	$21.60M
YoY Change	3126.98%	-36.15%	-32.71%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$7.800M	$4.248M	$695.0K
YoY Change	-42.22%	518.34%	70.34%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$617.7M	$4.248M	$695.0K
YoY Change	1806.48%	518.34%	70.34%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$82.20M	$238.9M	$231.7M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$617.7M	$4.248M	$695.0K
Total Liabilities	$699.9M	$252.4M	$237.6M
YoY Change	158.08%	9.38%	3.08%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings		-$400.9M	-$393.9M
YoY Change		-7.01%	-7.96%
Common Stock		$21.00K	$21.00K
YoY Change		0.0%	-25.0%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$560.9M	$399.8M	$403.2M
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$1.261B	$671.0M	$662.3M
YoY Change	87.9%	11.54%	10.23%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2018	2017 Q4	2017 Q3
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$143.3M	-$42.48M	$67.36M
YoY Change	1041.45%	1259.42%	6309.32%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$12.78M	$4.100M	$2.000M
YoY Change	16.7%	36.67%	-31.03%
Cash From Operating Activities	$194.1M	$31.30M	$22.70M
YoY Change	119.1%	49.05%	22.7%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	$887.0K	-$2.200M
YoY Change	-58.86%
Acquisitions	$5.856M
YoY Change	-78.03%
Other Investing Activities	$1.000M	-$34.00M	-$51.70M
YoY Change		-60.74%	-991.38%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$423.3M	-$36.20M	-$51.50M
YoY Change	434.57%	-58.25%	-1130.0%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net	$122.9M
YoY Change	6149.64%
Debt Paid & Issued, Net	$217.7M
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	$328.6M	-7.200M	1.400M
YoY Change	-4467.74%	242.86%	-12.5%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	$194.1M	31.30M	22.70M
Cash From Investing Activities	-$423.3M	-36.20M	-51.50M
Cash From Financing Activities	$328.6M	-7.200M	1.400M
Net Change In Cash	$99.38M	-12.10M	-27.40M
YoY Change	5219.86%	-82.15%	-209.16%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$194.1M	$31.30M	$22.70M
Capital Expenditures	$887.0K	-$2.200M
Free Cash Flow	$193.2M	$33.50M
YoY Change	123.54%	59.52%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2018	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC
CY2018	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2018-12-31
CY2018	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2018	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2018
CY2018	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2018	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2018	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2018	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2018	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2018	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2018	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2018	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2018	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000886163
CY2018	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
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CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	60000000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	33333333	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	20765533	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	21148665	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	20765533	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	21148665	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Maturity Period Of Highly Liquid Securities Maximum MaturityPeriodOfHighlyLiquidSecuritiesMaximum	P3M
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	12800000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	12800000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	12800000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	12800000	USD
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CY2018	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
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CY2018Q4	lgnd	Current Portion Of Liability For Contingent Value Rights CurrentPortionOfLiabilityForContingentValueRights	5717000	USD
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CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Convertible Debt Current ConvertibleDebtCurrent	26433000	USD
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CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Convertible Debt Noncurrent ConvertibleDebtNoncurrent	609864000	USD
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CY2018Q4	lgnd	Liability For Contingent Value Rights LiabilityForContingentValueRights	6825000	USD
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CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	4248000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	699889000	USD
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CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
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CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	21000	USD
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CY2016	us-gaap	Nonoperating Income Expense NonoperatingIncomeExpense	-35925000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	143321000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	12556000	USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	6.77
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	0.60
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare	-0.11
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Basic Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare	0.04
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	6.77
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.60
CY2016	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.08
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	5.96
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	0.53
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare	-0.11
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Discontinued Operations Net Of Tax Per Diluted Share IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare	0.04
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	5.96
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.53
CY2016	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.08
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21160000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21032000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	20831000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24067000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	23481000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	20831000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	143321000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	12556000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-1636000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	73000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	143000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	93000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-921000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	400000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	2253000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	142473000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	12299000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-3796000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	237282000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	5416000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Acquisitions StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions	77331000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Equity Component Of Convertible Debt AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalEquityComponentOfConvertibleDebt	10065000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	18893000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	3901000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-2160000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-1636000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	-5558000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Equity Component Of Convertible Debt AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalEquityComponentOfConvertibleDebt	10704000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	24916000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	341290000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	1966000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-257000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	12556000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	399788000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	16417000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Equity Component Of Convertible Debt AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalEquityComponentOfConvertibleDebt	18859000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	20846000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	127481000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	73000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustment	-921000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther	346000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	143321000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	560914000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	143321000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	12556000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	-1636000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Royalties Recorded Upon Adoption Of New Accounting Pronouncement RoyaltiesRecordedUponAdoptionOfNewAccountingPronouncement	32707000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Royalties Recorded Upon Adoption Of New Accounting Pronouncement RoyaltiesRecordedUponAdoptionOfNewAccountingPronouncement	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	-10697000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Income Loss From Discontinued Operation During Phase Out Period Net Of Tax DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax	731000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	143321000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	12556000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	-2367000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Non Cash Change In Estimated Fair Value Of Contingent Value Rights NonCashChangeInEstimatedFairValueOfContingentValueRights	-3448000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Non Cash Change In Estimated Fair Value Of Contingent Value Rights NonCashChangeInEstimatedFairValueOfContingentValueRights	-2580000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Non Cash Change In Estimated Fair Value Of Contingent Value Rights NonCashChangeInEstimatedFairValueOfContingentValueRights	-3334000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Realized Investment Gains Losses RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	2611000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Realized Investment Gains Losses RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	831000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Realized Investment Gains Losses RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	2352000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	14718000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	11714000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	11290000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	42346000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-2048000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-23132000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Increase Decreasein Fair Valueof Convertible Debt Receivableand Warrant IncreaseDecreaseinFairValueofConvertibleDebtReceivableandWarrant	5411000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Increase Decreasein Fair Valueof Convertible Debt Receivableand Warrant IncreaseDecreaseinFairValueofConvertibleDebtReceivableandWarrant	4032000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Increase Decreasein Fair Valueof Convertible Debt Receivableand Warrant IncreaseDecreaseinFairValueofConvertibleDebtReceivableandWarrant	462000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	5452000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	81000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	-348000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	43954000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	11619000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	10925000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	20846000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	24915000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	18893000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	-29739000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	-44518000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Royalties Recorded Upon Adoption Of New Accounting Pronouncement RoyaltiesRecordedUponAdoptionOfNewAccountingPronouncement	0	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Change In Derivative Asset And Liability Fair Value ChangeInDerivativeAssetAndLiabilityFairValue	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Change In Derivative Asset And Liability Fair Value ChangeInDerivativeAssetAndLiabilityFairValue	2931000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Change In Derivative Asset And Liability Fair Value ChangeInDerivativeAssetAndLiabilityFairValue	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	29544000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	8358000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	8525000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	2559000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	843000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	244000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	868000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-402000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-526000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	-728000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Noncurrent Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherNoncurrentAssets	-183000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-4542000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-1713000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-2369000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Contingent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInContingentLiabilities	-2268000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Contingent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInContingentLiabilities	-3842000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Contingent Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInContingentLiabilities	-4998000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	-1158000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	-926000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	-8000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	194059000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	88570000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	60733000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	10000000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	17695000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	5856000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	26653000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	92502000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders And Other Contingency Payments Investing Activity PaymentsToContingentValueRightHoldersAndOtherContingencyPaymentsInvestingActivity	1000000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders And Other Contingency Payments Investing Activity PaymentsToContingentValueRightHoldersAndOtherContingencyPaymentsInvestingActivity	0	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders And Other Contingency Payments Investing Activity PaymentsToContingentValueRightHoldersAndOtherContingencyPaymentsInvestingActivity	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	887000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	2156000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	1850000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	1434255000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	254258000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	164438000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	131942000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	86985000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	24596000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Shortterm Investments ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfShorttermInvestments	892873000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Shortterm Investments ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfShorttermInvestments	109649000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Shortterm Investments ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfShorttermInvestments	118874000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From License Fees Received ProceedsFromLicenseFeesReceived	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From License Fees Received ProceedsFromLicenseFeesReceived	7054000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From License Fees Received ProceedsFromLicenseFeesReceived	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Notes Receivable ProceedsFromCollectionOfNotesReceivable	3914000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Notes Receivable ProceedsFromCollectionOfNotesReceivable	200000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Notes Receivable ProceedsFromCollectionOfNotesReceivable	300000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-423269000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-79179000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-134415000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	217674000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	750000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	16900000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	90000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	140250000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	439559000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	439581000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	20183000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	4517000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	6415000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	3765000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	10074000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	999000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	122868000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	1966000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	3901000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	30094000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders Financing Activity PaymentsToContingentValueRightHoldersFinancingActivity	25000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders Financing Activity PaymentsToContingentValueRightHoldersFinancingActivity	0	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders Financing Activity PaymentsToContingentValueRightHoldersFinancingActivity	6509000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	328585000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-7523000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-4994000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-215000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Excluding Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseExcludingExchangeRateEffect	99375000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Excluding Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseExcludingExchangeRateEffect	1868000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Excluding Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseExcludingExchangeRateEffect	-78676000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	20620000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	18752000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	97428000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	119780000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	20620000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	18752000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1513000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1838000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1838000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	341000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	157000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	38000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Acquisitions StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Acquisitions StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Equity Receivedin Repaymentof Note Receivable EquityReceivedinRepaymentofNoteReceivable	0	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Equity Receivedin Repaymentof Note Receivable EquityReceivedinRepaymentofNoteReceivable	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Acquisitions StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions	77331000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Equity Receivedin Repaymentof Note Receivable EquityReceivedinRepaymentofNoteReceivable	1200000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	2059000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	1007000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	646000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	48000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	144000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	-1109000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment Description PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustmentDescription	Reclassifications<span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">Certain reclassifications have been made to the previously issued statement of operations to conform with the current period presentation. See detail in </span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;line-height:120%;">Accounting Standards Recently Adopted</span> subsection below for further information.
CY2018	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Use of Estimates</span></div><div style="text-indent:24pt;"><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.</span></div>
CY2018	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk ConcentrationRiskCreditRisk	<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%;">Concentrations of Business Risk</span></div><div style="text-indent:24pt;"><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;line-height:120%;">Financial instruments that potentially subject to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents and investments. We invest excess cash principally in United States government debt securities, investment grade corporate debt securities and certificates of deposit. We have established guidelines relative to diversification and maturities that maintain safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed and modified to take advantage of trends in yields and interest rates.</span></div>
CY2018	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2007	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	2.50
CY2018	lgnd	Revenue Recognition Milestone Method Milestone Payment Received RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodMilestonePaymentReceived	4600000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Revenue Recognition Milestone Method Third Party Portion Of Milestone Payment Received RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodThirdPartyPortionOfMilestonePaymentReceived	3000000.0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	1600000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	1100000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Discontinued Operation Tax Effect Of Income Loss From Disposal Of Discontinued Operation DiscontinuedOperationTaxEffectOfIncomeLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperation	400000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21160000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21032000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	20831000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Restricted Stock WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock	0	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1125000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Restricted Stock WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock	72000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Restricted Stock WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock	141000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	0	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	1017000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	94000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	0	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	693000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	1214000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	0	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24067000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	23481000	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	20831000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	2845000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	335000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue	2963000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	3544000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	2600000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Significant Noncash Transaction Value Of Consideration Received1 OtherSignificantNoncashTransactionValueOfConsiderationReceived1	3900000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding	9300000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding	3900000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Settlements FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSettlements	0.0	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Convertible Notes Receivable Fair Value Period Increase Decrease ConvertibleNotesReceivableFairValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease	-900000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Including Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill	314543000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P20Y
CY2016	lgnd	Convertible Notes Receivable Fair Value Period Increase Decrease ConvertibleNotesReceivableFairValuePeriodIncreaseDecrease	-200000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue	3877000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Transfers Into Level3 FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersIntoLevel3	3877000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Asset Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue	0	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations Recurring Basis Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue	9990000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations Recurring Basis Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue	6991000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	1000000.0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	300000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	300000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Current OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent	1620000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Duein Oneand Two Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueinOneandTwoYears	1145000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Duein Threeand Four Years OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueinThreeandFourYears	198000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Next Twelve Months Net OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonthsNet	1260000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Duein Oneand Two Years Net OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueinOneandTwoYearsNet	1145000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Duein Threeand Four Years Net OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueinThreeandFourYearsNet	198000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Operating Leases Future Minimum Payments Due Net OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueNet	2603000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Convertible Carrying Amount Of The Equity Component DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponent	18900000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Number Of Securities Called By Warrants Or Rights ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights	3264643	shares
CY2014Q3	lgnd	Exercise Priceof Convertible Bond Hedge ExercisePriceofConvertibleBondHedge	75.05
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Number Of Securities Called By Warrants Or Rights ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights	3264643	shares
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Exercise Price Of Warrants Or Rights1 ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1	125.08
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Warrant Issued AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalWarrantIssued	11600000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Warrants Settled WarrantsSettled	525000	shares
CY2018	lgnd	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Warrants Settled AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalWarrantsSettled	28300000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	30100000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Derivative Gain Loss On Derivative Net DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet	-1800000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	2739643	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	2616000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Warrants Current WarrantsCurrent	9257000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Warrants Current WarrantsCurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Other Assets Current Other OtherAssetsCurrentOther	8545000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Other Assets Current Other OtherAssetsCurrentOther	1514000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	20418000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	1514000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Accrued Sales Returns AccruedSalesReturns	0	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	85959000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Including Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill	306439000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	7537000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	6074000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	2165000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1862000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	5372000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	4212000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	900000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	400000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	200000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	86646000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	15800000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	11300000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	10600000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve Current RestructuringReserveCurrent	1093000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	13600000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	4045000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	4085000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Professional Fees Current AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent	942000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Professional Fees Current AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent	430000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Sales Commission Current And Noncurrent AccruedSalesCommissionCurrentAndNoncurrent	428000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Sales Commission Current And Noncurrent AccruedSalesCommissionCurrentAndNoncurrent	396000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Royalties Current And Noncurrent AccruedRoyaltiesCurrentAndNoncurrent	1025000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Royalties Current And Noncurrent AccruedRoyaltiesCurrentAndNoncurrent	954000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Accrued Stock Repurchases AccruedStockRepurchases	4613000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Accrued Stock Repurchases AccruedStockRepurchases	0	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Accrued Sales Returns AccruedSalesReturns	3590000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve Current RestructuringReserveCurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	3464000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	7377000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	1512000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	19200000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Revenue Royaltyto Acquiree Shareholders Percent RevenueRoyaltytoAcquireeShareholdersPercent	0.20
CY2017	lgnd	Threshold Revenue Amountto Trigger Royalty Payments ThresholdRevenueAmounttoTriggerRoyaltyPayments	15000000.0	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Additional Revenue Royaltyto Acquiree Shareholders Percent AdditionalRevenueRoyaltytoAcquireeShareholdersPercent	0.10
CY2017	lgnd	Threshold Revenue Amountto Trigger Additional Royalty Payments ThresholdRevenueAmounttoTriggerAdditionalRoyaltyPayments	35000000.0	USD
CY2016Q4	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment At End Of Period BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAtEndOfPeriod	8100000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders PaymentsToContingentValueRightHolders	5000000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Fair Value Measurementwith Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Liability Fair Value Adjustment Contingent Liabilities FairValueMeasurementwithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityFairValueAdjustmentContingentLiabilities	2500000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment Additions BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAdditions	8400000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment At End Of Period BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAtEndOfPeriod	14000000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders PaymentsToContingentValueRightHolders	4925000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Fair Value Measurementwith Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Liability Fair Value Adjustment Contingent Liabilities FairValueMeasurementwithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityFairValueAdjustmentContingentLiabilities	3426000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment At End Of Period BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAtEndOfPeriod	12501000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	20846000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	24915000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	18893000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	1876332	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	53.17
CY2017	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P5Y9M7D
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	157340000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	228362	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	162.00
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	358162	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	55.24
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	10228	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	114.53
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	1736304	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	66.71
CY2018	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P5Y5M19D
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	125858000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	1313374	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	47.03
CY2018	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P4Y6M21D
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	117314000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	1734304	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	66.71
CY2018	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P5Y5M19D
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	125858000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	260000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Accelerated Share Repurchases Final Price Paid Per Share AcceleratedShareRepurchasesFinalPricePaidPerShare	191.14
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Authorized Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1	200000000.0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	125200000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	782248	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	127500000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	14000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	2000000.0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	40500	shares
CY2016	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	3900000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Income Tax Expense Benefit TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	600000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Income Tax Expense Benefit TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	32400000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	21000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	424000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	111000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	12000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	-158000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	261000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	266000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	372000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	33000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	29928000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	44075000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10534000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-185000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	228000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-240000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30009000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	44675000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10327000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	36400000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	20031000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	2786000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	1635000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	622000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	175000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	948000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	903000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	1225000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	-8131000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	-4019000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	263000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Expired Tax Credits Research IncomeTaxReconciliationExpiredTaxCreditsResearch	-2758000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Expired Tax Credits Research IncomeTaxReconciliationExpiredTaxCreditsResearch	-2821000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Expired Tax Credits Research IncomeTaxReconciliationExpiredTaxCreditsResearch	-1525000	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Uncertain Tax Positions IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInUncertainTaxPositions	-1423000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Uncertain Tax Positions IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInUncertainTaxPositions	-858000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Uncertain Tax Positions IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInUncertainTaxPositions	-1308000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	178000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	32429000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	25000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-4225000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-4169000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	6283000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits Other IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsOther	-3054000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits Other IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsOther	0	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits Other IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsOther	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Derivatives EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDerivatives	615000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Derivatives EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDerivatives	0	USD
CY2016	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Derivatives EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDerivatives	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	1435000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	391000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-328000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30009000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	44675000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10327000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Change In Amount ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount	-2500000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Change In Amount ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount	-8400000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Change In Amount ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount	6300000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	57181000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	90272000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	31101000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	30677000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndIntangibleAssets	1637000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndIntangibleAssets	1984000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities	657000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities	845000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	957000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	17000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Capital Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalLossCarryforwards	0	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Capital Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsCapitalLossCarryforwards	1609000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	5137000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	11430000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	12499000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	102963000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	143040000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	4476000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	6987000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	98487000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	136053000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Fair Value Adjustment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFairValueAdjustment	179000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Fair Value Adjustment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFairValueAdjustment	243000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Financing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFinancingArrangements	2905000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Financing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFinancingArrangements	737000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Finite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	44643000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Finite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	48237000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	1759000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	2414000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investments DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments	2480000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investments DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	51966000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	51631000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	46521000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	84422000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	29363000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	38770000	USD
CY2015Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	36452000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	1247000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	1067000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	70000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	336000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	109000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	2408000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	657000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	10583000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	160000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	30289000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	29363000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	38770000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	28200000	USD
CY2017Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	56157000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	90043000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	45663000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	59590000	USD
CY2017Q1	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	19116000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	19868000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	22301000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	26441000	USD
CY2017Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10033000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	22419000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	11864000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-14307000	USD
CY2017Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	45279000	USD
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	73160000	USD
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	67362000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-42482000	USD
CY2017Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.13
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	3.45
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	3.19
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-2.02
CY2017Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.83
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.99
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.80
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-2.02
CY2017Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21209000	shares
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21212000	shares
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21148000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21071000	shares
CY2017Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24800000	shares
CY2017Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24438000	shares
CY2017Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24052000	shares
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	21071000	shares
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	29267000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	27995000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	33375000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	50465000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	19051000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	14980000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	16882000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	22113000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1114000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2242000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3645000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	37674000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	5079000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	6058000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	8426000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-7007000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.24
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.29
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.40
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.33
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.22
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.26
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.36
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.33
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	20938000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21013000	shares
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21071000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21109000	shares
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	23019000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	23216000	shares
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	23551000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	21109000	shares

Files In Submission

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

2018 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616319000041 Filed on February 28, 2019

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$LGND LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

2018 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616319000041 Filed on February 28, 2019

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

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Files In Submission

$LGND
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd