$LGND
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

$lgnd Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616320000025 Filed on February 27, 2020

Income Statement

Concept	2018 Q4	2018 Q3	2018 Q2
Revenue	$59.59M	$45.66M	$90.04M
YoY Change	18.08%	36.82%	221.64%
Cost Of Revenue	$2.960M	$1.460M	$1.134M
YoY Change	70.11%	-38.78%	25.58%
Gross Profit	$56.64M	$44.20M	$88.91M
YoY Change	16.23%	42.64%	228.17%
Gross Profit Margin	95.05%	96.8%	98.74%
Selling, General & Admin	$11.16M	$9.630M	$9.290M
YoY Change	530.51%	36.98%	41.83%
% of Gross Profit	19.7%	21.79%	10.45%
Research & Development	$8.840M	$5.483M	$6.135M
YoY Change	-39.49%	15.21%	27.23%
% of Gross Profit	15.61%	12.4%	6.9%
Depreciation & Amortization	$3.300M	$5.400M	$3.000M
YoY Change	-19.51%	170.0%	15.38%
% of Gross Profit	5.83%	12.22%	3.37%
Operating Expenses	$23.48M	$5.483M	$6.135M
YoY Change	15.27%	15.21%	27.23%
Operating Profit	$33.16M	$23.36M	$70.18M
YoY Change	16.93%	41.65%	439.19%
Interest Expense	-$89.27M	$11.20M	$13.45M
YoY Change	5972.79%	230.77%	302.69%
% of Operating Profit	-269.21%	47.94%	19.17%
Other Income/Expense, Net	-$660.0K	$55.86M	$25.40M
YoY Change	-117.41%	-1363.32%	-638.79%
Pretax Income	-$56.79M	$79.23M	$95.58M
YoY Change	-285.16%	556.33%	1051.55%
Income Tax	-$14.31M	$11.86M	$22.42M
% Of Pretax Income		14.97%	23.46%
Net Earnings	-$42.48M	$67.36M	$73.16M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Net Earnings / Revenue	-71.29%	147.52%	81.25%
Basic Earnings Per Share	-$2.02	$3.19	$3.45
Diluted Earnings Per Share	-$2.02	$2.80	$2.99
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	21.07M shares	21.15M shares	21.21M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	21.07M shares	24.05M shares	24.44M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2018 Q4	2018 Q3	2018 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$764.6M	$1.112B	$1.017B
YoY Change	279.08%	449.63%	489.05%
Cash & Equivalents	$117.2M	$115.6M	$151.5M
Short-Term Investments	$647.4M	$996.3M	$865.3M
Other Short-Term Assets	$11.02M	$25.34M	$12.82M
YoY Change	627.81%	2178.69%	1095.62%
Inventory	$7.124M	$8.136M	$9.520M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$55.85M	$47.00M	$42.00M
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$870.5M	$1.745B	$1.480B
YoY Change	267.28%	678.42%	650.83%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$5.372M	$4.407M	$4.187M
YoY Change	27.54%	24.99%	123.31%
Goodwill	$86.65M	$85.96M	$85.96M
YoY Change	0.8%	19.05%	19.05%
Intangibles	$219.8M	$216.3M	$222.0M
YoY Change	-3.85%	10.02%	11.4%
Long-Term Investments	$55.45M	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change	761.26%	-100.0%	-100.0%
Other Assets	$471.0K	$499.0K	$642.0K
YoY Change	-90.31%	-75.39%	-61.51%
Total Long-Term Assets	$390.3M	$360.5M	$377.8M
YoY Change	-10.08%	-17.72%	-14.69%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$870.5M	$1.745B	$1.480B
Total Long-Term Assets	$390.3M	$360.5M	$377.8M
Total Assets	$1.261B	$2.106B	$1.858B
YoY Change	87.89%	217.93%	190.35%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$4.183M	$1.647M	$2.682M
YoY Change	85.17%	-54.47%	49.08%
Accrued Expenses	$19.20M	$9.267M	$9.312M
YoY Change	160.27%	44.28%	74.87%
Deferred Revenue	$3.286M	$2.450M	$1.700M
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$26.40M	$213.1M	$210.4M
YoY Change	-88.24%	-3.84%	-3.75%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$82.25M	$793.3M	$632.9M
YoY Change	-65.57%	242.43%	180.22%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$609.9M	$602.8M	$595.9M
YoY Change	3126.98%	2690.74%	2352.26%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$951.0K	$986.0K	$1.563M
YoY Change	-77.61%	41.87%	70.82%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$951.0K	$986.0K	$1.563M
YoY Change	-77.61%	41.87%	70.82%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$82.25M	$793.3M	$632.9M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$951.0K	$986.0K	$1.563M
Total Liabilities	$699.9M	$1.406B	$1.238B
YoY Change	177.32%	491.91%	437.03%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	-$229.2M	-$183.9M	-$254.2M
YoY Change	-42.83%	-53.31%	-36.81%
Common Stock	$21.00K	$21.00K	$21.00K
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$560.9M	$699.5M	$619.8M
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$1.261B	$2.106B	$1.858B
YoY Change	87.89%	217.93%	190.35%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2018 Q4	2018 Q3	2018 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	-$42.48M	$67.36M	$73.16M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$3.300M	$5.400M	$3.000M
YoY Change	-19.51%	170.0%	15.38%
Cash From Operating Activities	$32.60M	$27.10M	$73.60M
YoY Change	4.15%	19.38%	377.92%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$10.90M		-$200.0K
YoY Change	395.45%		100.0%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$286.2M	-$78.70M	-$586.6M
YoY Change	-941.76%	52.22%	-1810.2%
Cash From Investing Activities	$275.3M	-$78.30M	-$586.7M
YoY Change	-860.5%	52.04%	-1815.5%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-347.1M	58.90M	613.6M
YoY Change	4720.83%	4107.14%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	32.60M	27.10M	73.60M
Cash From Investing Activities	275.3M	-78.30M	-586.7M
Cash From Financing Activities	-347.1M	58.90M	613.6M
Net Change In Cash	-39.20M	7.700M	100.5M
YoY Change	223.97%	-128.1%	102.62%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$32.60M	$27.10M	$73.60M
Capital Expenditures	-$10.90M		-$200.0K
Free Cash Flow	$43.50M		$73.80M
YoY Change	29.85%		376.13%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2019	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2019	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2019
CY2019	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2019	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000886163
CY2019	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2015Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Period In Force1 StockRepurchaseProgramPeriodInForce1	P3Y
CY2019	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2019	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2019	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2019	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2019	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2019-12-31
CY2019	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2019	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-33093
CY2019	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC
CY2019	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2019	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	77-0160744
CY2019	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	3911 Sorrento Valley Boulevard, Suite 110
CY2019	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	San Diego
CY2019	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	CA
CY2019	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	92121
CY2019	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	858
CY2019	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	550-7500
CY2019	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common Stock, par value $.001 per share
CY2019	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	LGND
CY2019	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
CY2019	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2019	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2019	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2019	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
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CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	5.96
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.53
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	19757000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	629302000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	143321000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	12556000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax	200000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax	73000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax	143000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	608000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	630110000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	142473000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	12299000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	341290000	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
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	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-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
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	-1421000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	24515000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	448433000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	200000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	608000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther	1547000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	629302000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	767232000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	629302000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	143321000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	12556000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	812797000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Non Cash Change In Estimated Fair Value Of Contingent Value Rights NonCashChangeInEstimatedFairValueOfContingentValueRights	30000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Realized Investment Gains Losses RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	41000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Realized Investment Gains Losses RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	2611000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	24515000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Realized Investment Gains Losses RealizedInvestmentGainsLosses	831000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	18361000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	12784000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	10955000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	2888000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	47658000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1114000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	10274000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	29988000	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
CY2019	lgnd	Amortization Of Commercial License And Other Economic Rights AmortizationOfCommercialLicenseAndOtherEconomicRights	25370000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Amortization Of Commercial License And Other Economic Rights AmortizationOfCommercialLicenseAndOtherEconomicRights	1934000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Amortization Of Commercial License And Other Economic Rights AmortizationOfCommercialLicenseAndOtherEconomicRights	759000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	20846000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	24915000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	-74829000	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
CY2019	lgnd	Royalties Recorded Upon Adoption Of New Accounting Pronouncement RoyaltiesRecordedUponAdoptionOfNewAccountingPronouncement	0	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	-1456000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	2832000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	-870000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-25463000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	29544000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	8358000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	2061000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	2559000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	843000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-6826000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	11219000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	-318000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	460000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Other Economic Rights IncreaseDecreaseInOtherEconomicRights	-12000000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Other Economic Rights IncreaseDecreaseInOtherEconomicRights	0	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Other Economic Rights IncreaseDecreaseInOtherEconomicRights	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	2428000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	-5458000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	-5062000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	-29336000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Intangible Assets ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets	812797000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Intangible Assets ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Intangible Assets ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	10000000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	11840000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	2553000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	2356545000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	535877000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Shortterm Investments ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfShorttermInvestments	1494851000	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
CY2019	lgnd	Proceeds From Commercial License Rights ProceedsFromCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Proceeds From Commercial License Rights ProceedsFromCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Proceeds From Commercial License Rights ProceedsFromCommercialLicenseRights	7054000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Notes Receivable ProceedsFromCollectionOfNotesReceivable	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	1000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	4669000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	1000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	466918000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	27323000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	217674000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	750000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	4517000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	16900000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	90000000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	140250000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	12401000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	439559000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	12401000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	439581000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	2997000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	20183000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	4418000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	453048000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	380000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	30094000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders Financing Activity PaymentsToContingentValueRightHoldersFinancingActivity	3000000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-485172000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Excluding Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseExcludingExchangeRateEffect	-47590000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	83000	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
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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	72273000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	5827000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1513000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1838000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	103817000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	341000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	157000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	730000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	2616000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	170000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	2059000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	1007000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	256000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	48000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	144000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	495000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	15000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment Description PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustmentDescription	ReclassificationsCertain reclassifications have been made to the previously issued financial statements to conform with the current period presentation. Specifically, our investment in Viking warrants was reclassified from “other current assets” to “investment in Viking” in the audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018.
CY2019	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255, 0.0);color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;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',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;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>
CY2019	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',sans-serif;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',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;">Financial instruments that potentially subject us 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, mutual funds 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>
CY2019	lgnd	Maturity Period Of Highly Liquid Securities Maximum MaturityPeriodOfHighlyLiquidSecuritiesMaximum	P3M
CY2018	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	3300000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	2300000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Revenue Recognition Milestone Method Milestone Payment Received RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodMilestonePaymentReceived	4600000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Revenue Recognition Milestone Method Third Party Portion Of Milestone Payment Received RevenueRecognitionMilestoneMethodThirdPartyPortionOfMilestonePaymentReceived	4000000.0	USD
CY2007	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	2.50
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	18995000	shares
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
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Restricted Stock WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock	43000	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	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Restricted Stock WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock	141000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	719000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1125000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1000000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	1214000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	19757000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	8926000	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
CY2017	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	335000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding	1500000	USD
CY2019Q1	lgnd	Revenue From Contract With Customers And Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets RevenueFromContractWithCustomersAndGainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	827000000.0	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Intangible Assets GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets	812800000	USD
CY2018Q1	lgnd	Variable Interest Entity Qualitativeor Quantitative Information Loss Percentage Recorded VariableInterestEntityQualitativeorQuantitativeInformationLossPercentageRecorded	0.124
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	48400000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	46200000	USD
	lgnd	Number Of Acquisitions NumberOfAcquisitions	3	acquisition
CY2017	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	10353000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	1242000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	9970000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	11212000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Operating Lease Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLeaseAssets	6100000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Operating Lease Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingLeaseLiabilities	6000000.0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	1914000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	2221000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	2261000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	1988000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	1989000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	3493000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	13866000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	2654000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	11212000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P6Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.06
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	1800000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	2100000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Sublease Income SubleaseIncome	700000	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
CY2019	lgnd	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Warrants Settled AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalWarrantsSettled	28300000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	30100000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Derivative Gain Loss On Derivative Net DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet	-1800000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	1890359	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	2739643	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	10035000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	7537000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	2850000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	2165000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	7185000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	5372000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	1500000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	900000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	400000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	95229000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	86646000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Including Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill	305677000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Including Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill	306439000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P20Y
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	16900000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	15800000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	12100000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	14100000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	14100000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	14100000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	14100000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	14100000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	1986000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	4045000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Professional Fees Current AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent	1135000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Professional Fees Current AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent	942000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Sales Commission Current And Noncurrent AccruedSalesCommissionCurrentAndNoncurrent	381000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Sales Commission Current And Noncurrent AccruedSalesCommissionCurrentAndNoncurrent	428000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Royalties Current And Noncurrent AccruedRoyaltiesCurrentAndNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Royalties Current And Noncurrent AccruedRoyaltiesCurrentAndNoncurrent	1025000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Accrued Stock Repurchases AccruedStockRepurchases	0	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Accrued Stock Repurchases AccruedStockRepurchases	4613000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Accrued Sales Returns AccruedSalesReturns	3027000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Accrued Sales Returns AccruedSalesReturns	3590000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment At End Of Period BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAtEndOfPeriod	8942000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve Current RestructuringReserveCurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve Current RestructuringReserveCurrent	1093000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Lease Liability Current LeaseLiabilityCurrent	1242000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Lease Liability Current LeaseLiabilityCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	2065000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	3464000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	9836000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	19200000	USD
CY2017Q4	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment At End Of Period BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAtEndOfPeriod	13961000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders PaymentsToContingentValueRightHolders	4885000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Fair Value Measurementwith Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Liability Fair Value Adjustment Contingent Liabilities FairValueMeasurementwithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityFairValueAdjustmentContingentLiabilities	3466000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment At End Of Period BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAtEndOfPeriod	12542000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders PaymentsToContingentValueRightHolders	3050000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Fair Value Measurementwith Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Liability Fair Value Adjustment Contingent Liabilities FairValueMeasurementwithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityFairValueAdjustmentContingentLiabilities	-30000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Liability Repurchases Contingent Liabilities FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityRepurchasesContingentLiabilities	520000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	24515000	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
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
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	338617	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	116.69
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	112011	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	23.65
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	6531	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	139.37
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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	72002000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	1956379	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	77.54
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P5Y5M12D
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	1454726	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	61.82
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P4Y5M1D
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	70345000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	1956379	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	77.54
CY2019	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P5Y5M12D
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	72002000	USD
CY2016Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Authorized Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1	200000000.0	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Authorized Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1	350000000.0	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Authorized Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1	500000000.0	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Authorized Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1	350000000.0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	326800000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	4122133	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	448400000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	89471000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	3103000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	-66000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	-158000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	261000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	92508000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	266000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	372000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	74627000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	202000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	167337000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30009000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	44675000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	167294000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	2466000	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
CY2019	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	18000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	948000	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	903000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	-819000	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
CY2019	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Derived Intangible Income Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeAmount	402000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Derived Intangible Income Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeAmount	0	USD
CY2017	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Derived Intangible Income Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeAmount	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Expired Tax Credits Research IncomeTaxReconciliationExpiredTaxCreditsResearch	-879000	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
CY2019	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Uncertain Tax Positions IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInUncertainTaxPositions	-441000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-210000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-1193000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits Other IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCreditsOther	0	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
CY2019	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Derivatives EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDerivatives	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	621000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	1435000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	391000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	167337000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30009000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	44675000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Change In Amount ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount	-136900000	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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	150727000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	57181000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	14843000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	31101000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndIntangibleAssets	419000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Assets Property Plant And Equipment And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxAssetsPropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndIntangibleAssets	1637000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities	171000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities	657000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Deferred Income DeferredTaxAssetsDeferredIncome	957000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	17960000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	11430000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	184120000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	102963000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	141338000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	4476000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	42782000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	98487000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Fair Value Adjustment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFairValueAdjustment	18000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Fair Value Adjustment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFairValueAdjustment	179000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Financing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFinancingArrangements	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Financing Arrangements DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFinancingArrangements	2905000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Finite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	41664000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Finite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	44643000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	1040000	USD
CY2018Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	1759000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investments DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments	2937000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Investments DeferredTaxLiabilitiesInvestments	2480000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Deferred Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxDeferredIncome	3488000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Deferred Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxDeferredIncome	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	964000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	50111000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	51966000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	7329000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	46521000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	30289000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	543000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	-54000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	2042000	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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	28736000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	29363000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	27100000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	43484000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	24987000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	24808000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	27003000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	29738000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	29117000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	29966000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	37182000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	176376000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3609000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-4620000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-810000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	666337000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-14419000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-15251000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-7365000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	32.59
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.74
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.81
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.43
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	31.32
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.74
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.81
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.43
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	20447000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	19558000	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	18770000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	17243000	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	21277000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	19558000	shares
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	18770000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	17243000	shares
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	56157000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	90043000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	45663000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	59590000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	19116000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	19868000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	22301000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	26441000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10033000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	22419000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	11864000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-14307000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	45279000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	73160000	USD
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	67362000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-42482000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	2.13
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	3.45
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	3.19
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-2.02
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.83
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.99
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	2.80
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-2.02
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21209000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21212000	shares
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21148000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	21071000	shares
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24800000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24438000	shares
CY2018Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24052000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	21071000	shares

Files In Submission

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$LGND
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616320000025 Filed on February 27, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$LGND LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616320000025 Filed on February 27, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$LGND
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd