$LGND
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

$lgnd Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616321000050 Filed on February 24, 2021

Income Statement

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
Revenue	$69.99M	$41.85M	$41.42M
YoY Change	159.19%	68.69%	65.77%
Cost Of Revenue	$11.74M	$6.350M	$7.640M
YoY Change	505.15%	101.78%	217.67%
Gross Profit	$58.25M	$35.50M	$33.78M
YoY Change	132.35%	63.89%	49.59%
Gross Profit Margin	83.23%	84.83%	81.55%
Selling, General & Admin	$30.08M	$15.02M	$10.07M
YoY Change	192.61%	57.61%	-8.37%
% of Gross Profit	51.64%	42.31%	29.81%
Research & Development	$21.92M	$12.85M	$12.73M
YoY Change	17.47%	-6.47%	4.25%
% of Gross Profit	37.63%	36.21%	37.69%
Depreciation & Amortization	$13.10M	$4.700M	$4.500M
YoY Change	125.86%	23.68%	21.62%
% of Gross Profit	22.49%	13.24%	13.32%
Operating Expenses	$64.15M	$12.85M	$12.73M
YoY Change	82.04%	-6.47%	4.25%
Operating Profit	-$5.900M	$3.747M	$7.100M
YoY Change	-41.99%	-172.64%	-271.91%
Interest Expense	-$5.790M	$6.269M	$6.213M
YoY Change	-205.46%	-30.29%	-31.06%
% of Operating Profit		167.31%	87.51%
Other Income/Expense, Net	-$2.050M	-$15.36M	$21.02M
YoY Change	-41.09%	4.39%	-251.24%
Pretax Income	$3.370M	-$11.61M	$28.12M
YoY Change	-141.2%	-41.56%	-255.97%
Income Tax	-$2.391M	-$4.911M	$6.033M
% Of Pretax Income	-70.95%		21.46%
Net Earnings	$5.761M	-$6.701M	$22.09M
YoY Change	-178.22%	-56.06%	-253.17%
Net Earnings / Revenue	8.23%	-16.01%	53.32%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.36	-$0.42	$1.38
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.35	-$0.42	$1.32
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	16.08M shares	16.08M shares	16.06M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	16.68M shares	16.08M shares	16.69M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$411.2M	$795.1M	$809.9M
YoY Change	-61.57%	-30.83%	-41.83%
Cash & Equivalents	$47.62M	$456.9M	$115.2M
Short-Term Investments	$363.6M	$338.2M	$694.7M
Other Short-Term Assets	$3.822M	$3.191M	$5.489M
YoY Change	-19.26%	-36.67%	-3.23%
Inventory	$26.49M	$13.43M	$3.702M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$56.85M	$32.91M	$41.87M
Other Receivables	$2.300M	$0.00	$2.700M
Total Short-Term Assets	$500.6M	$857.7M	$863.6M
YoY Change	-55.45%	-27.5%	-40.12%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$14.43M	$7.157M	$7.883M
YoY Change	100.89%	11.64%	25.77%
Goodwill	$189.7M	$102.1M	$103.4M
YoY Change	99.16%	9.22%	17.46%
Intangibles	$595.3M	$224.6M	$215.3M
YoY Change	182.89%	3.84%	1.26%
Long-Term Investments		$813.0K
YoY Change		-98.37%
Other Assets	$4.267M	$13.70M	$6.059M
YoY Change	87.73%	450.8%	260.65%
Total Long-Term Assets	$861.7M	$389.7M	$379.3M
YoY Change	132.1%	6.95%	5.5%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$500.6M	$857.7M	$863.6M
Total Long-Term Assets	$861.7M	$389.7M	$379.3M
Total Assets	$1.362B	$1.247B	$1.243B
YoY Change	-8.87%	-19.39%	-31.02%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$3.784M	$10.17M	$6.103M
YoY Change	56.36%	398.48%	111.32%
Accrued Expenses	$18.53M	$14.50M	$12.83M
YoY Change	115.94%	11.01%	11.16%
Deferred Revenue	$29.44M	$5.404M	$8.917M
YoY Change	1276.11%	142.33%	849.63%
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$6.600M
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$100.1M	$42.30M	$29.26M
YoY Change	488.82%	18.5%	-73.15%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$442.3M	$455.0M	$449.7M
YoY Change	-30.78%	-27.95%	-27.96%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$30.87M	$25.32M	$26.47M
YoY Change	37.3%	217.33%	244.14%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$30.87M	$25.32M	$26.47M
YoY Change	37.3%	217.33%	244.14%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$100.1M	$42.30M	$29.26M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$30.87M	$25.32M	$26.47M
Total Liabilities	$652.8M	$549.6M	$547.9M
YoY Change	-10.3%	-21.13%	-27.94%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$392.0M	$386.2M	$392.9M
YoY Change	-2.04%	-5.22%	-7.06%
Common Stock	$16.00K	$16.00K	$16.00K
YoY Change	-5.88%	-5.88%	-15.79%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$709.5M	$697.8M	$695.0M
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$1.362B	$1.247B	$1.243B
YoY Change	-8.87%	-19.39%	-31.02%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3	2020 Q2
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$5.761M	-$6.701M	$22.09M
YoY Change	-178.22%	-56.06%	-253.17%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$13.10M	$4.700M	$4.500M
YoY Change	125.86%	23.68%	21.62%
Cash From Operating Activities	$600.0K	$12.70M	$24.40M
YoY Change	-108.22%	-304.84%	-139.93%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$4.500M
YoY Change	73.08%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	-$377.8M	$332.1M	-$26.70M
YoY Change	523.43%	95.93%	-110.05%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$382.3M	$332.1M	-$26.70M
YoY Change	504.91%	95.93%	-110.05%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-27.50M	-3.700M	0.000
YoY Change	-67.14%	-98.25%	-100.0%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	600.0K	12.70M	24.40M
Cash From Investing Activities	-382.3M	332.1M	-26.70M
Cash From Financing Activities	-27.50M	-3.700M	0.000
Net Change In Cash	-409.2M	341.1M	-2.300M
YoY Change	165.37%	-810.62%	-101.38%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$600.0K	$12.70M	$24.40M
Capital Expenditures	-$4.500M
Free Cash Flow	$5.100M
YoY Change	-208.51%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2020	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2020
CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2020	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000886163
CY2020	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2019	us-gaap	Accounting Standards Update Extensible List AccountingStandardsUpdateExtensibleList	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member
CY2020	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2020	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2020	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2020-12-31
CY2020	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2020	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-33093
CY2020	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC
CY2020	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2020	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	77-0160744
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	3911 Sorrento Valley Boulevard, Suite 110
CY2020	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	San Diego
CY2020	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	CA
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	92121
CY2020	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	858
CY2020	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	550-7500
CY2020	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common Stock, par value $.001 per share
CY2020	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	LGND
CY2020	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
CY2020	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2020	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2020	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2020	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2020	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2020	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2020	dei	Icfr Auditor Attestation Flag IcfrAuditorAttestationFlag	true
CY2020Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	1200000000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Taxes Receivable IncomeTaxesReceivable	2217000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
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CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	24067000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-2985000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	629302000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	143321000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax	-162000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Before Reclassification Adjustments Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeReclassificationAdjustmentsNetOfTax	200000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-423000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-3570000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	630110000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	142473000	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	lgnd	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Reclassification Of Equity Component Of Convertible Debt AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalReclassificationOfEquityComponentOfConvertibleDebt	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1535000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	30727000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	77998000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-162000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-423000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Equity Component Of Convertible Debt AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalEquityComponentOfConvertibleDebt	-3236000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Other AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalOther	3000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-2985000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity Including Portion Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest	709525000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	-2985000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	629302000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Profit Loss ProfitLoss	143321000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	812797000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Other Assets GainLossOnSaleOfOtherAssets	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	17114000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Business GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness	0	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Non Cash Change In Estimated Fair Value Of Contingent Value Rights NonCashChangeInEstimatedFairValueOfContingentValueRights	-963000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	25691000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	18361000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depletion And Amortization DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization	12784000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Gain Loss On Short Term Investments GainLossOnShortTermInvestments	-16933000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Gain Loss On Short Term Investments GainLossOnShortTermInvestments	1049000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Gain Loss On Short Term Investments GainLossOnShortTermInvestments	50377000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	-1479000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	23077000	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
CY2020	lgnd	Amortization Of Commercial License And Other Economic Rights AmortizationOfCommercialLicenseAndOtherEconomicRights	2275000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	30727000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	24515000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	20846000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	19053000	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
CY2020	lgnd	Royalties Recorded Upon Adoption Of New Accounting Pronouncement RoyaltiesRecordedUponAdoptionOfNewAccountingPronouncement	0	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	2657000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	-3498000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	2931000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	26061000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-25463000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	29544000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	17799000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	2061000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	2559000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-1245000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-6664000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable And Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities	-4533000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable	-9144000	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
CY2020	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Other Economic Rights IncreaseDecreaseInOtherEconomicRights	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Other Economic Rights IncreaseDecreaseInOtherEconomicRights	-12000000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Increase Decrease In Other Economic Rights IncreaseDecreaseInOtherEconomicRights	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	29236000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	-1147000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	-1158000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	-3339000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	3575000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Current Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInOtherCurrentLiabilities	-4300000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	54586000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Intangible Assets ProceedsFromSaleOfIntangibleAssets	0	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
CY2020	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Purchasefor Commercial License Rights PurchaseforCommercialLicenseRights	10000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	404884000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	4458000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Short Term Investments PaymentsToAcquireShortTermInvestments	422523000	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
CY2020	lgnd	Proceeds From Commercial License Rights ProceedsFromCommercialLicenseRights	1358000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Proceeds From Commercial License Rights ProceedsFromCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Proceeds From Commercial License Rights ProceedsFromCommercialLicenseRights	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Short Term Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfShortTermInvestments	394539000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Shortterm Investments ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfShorttermInvestments	644155000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Notes Receivable ProceedsFromCollectionOfNotesReceivable	0	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Equity Method Investments PaymentsToAcquireEquityMethodInvestments	500000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	22061000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Divestiture Of Businesses ProceedsFromDivestitureOfBusinesses	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-1900000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	231648000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	222209000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	27323000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	217674000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	9549000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Finance Lease Principal Payments FinanceLeasePrincipalPayments	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Notes Payable ProceedsFromNotesPayable	750000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Debt Issuance Costs PaymentsOfDebtIssuanceCosts	16900000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	0	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	453048000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	122868000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	380000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	30094000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders Financing Activity PaymentsToContingentValueRightHoldersFinancingActivity	2325000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-310545000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Excluding Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseExcludingExchangeRateEffect	-24311000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	0	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
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	20620000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	47962000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	72273000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	140250000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	119780000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	4463000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Warrants ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants	90000000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Purchase Of Convertible Bond Hedge PurchaseOfConvertibleBondHedge	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	12401000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Hedge Financing Activities ProceedsFromHedgeFinancingActivities	439559000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	12401000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Hedge Financing Activities PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities	439581000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	3017000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	2997000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Stock Options Exercised ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised	20183000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	1481000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	77998000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	5827000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	1513000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	2130000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	103817000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid IncomeTaxesPaid	341000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	343000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	730000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash Current RestrictedCashCurrent	2616000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	1562000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	170000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Accrued Inventory Purchases AccruedInventoryPurchases	2059000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	-212000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	256000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrealized Gain Loss On Investments UnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments	48000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	249000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Prior Period Reclassification Adjustment Description PriorPeriodReclassificationAdjustmentDescription	<div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:700;line-height:120%">Reclassifications</span></div><div><span><br/></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Certain reclassifications have been made to the previously issued financial statements to conform with the current period presentation. Specifically, our investment in Viking common stock and warrants was reclassified from “investment in Viking” to “short-term investments” in the audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019. Additionally, “gain (loss) from</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">short-term investments” in the consolidated statements of operations include both the gain (loss) from investment in Viking and other short-term investments, which was previously included in “other income, net” for both the twelve months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.</span></div>
CY2020	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div><span style="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="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>
CY2020	us-gaap	Concentration Risk Credit Risk ConcentrationRiskCreditRisk	<div><span style="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="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 maintain some cash and cash equivalents balances with financial institutions that are in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits. 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>
CY2020	lgnd	Maturity Period Of Highly Liquid Securities Maximum MaturityPeriodOfHighlyLiquidSecuritiesMaximum	P3M
CY2020	lgnd	Accounts Receivable Credit Loss Expense Reversal Covid AccountsReceivableCreditLossExpenseReversalCOVID	300000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Inventory Write Down InventoryWriteDown	0	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Accounts Receivable Credit Loss Expense Reversal Covid19 AccountsReceivableCreditLossExpenseReversalCOVID19	500000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	900000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	3300000	USD
CY2007	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	2.50
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	16185000	shares
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Restricted Stock WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock	0	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
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Restricted Stock WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesRestrictedStock	72000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	0	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
CY2018	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Share Based Payment Arrangements IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToShareBasedPaymentArrangements	1125000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Call Options And Warrants IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToCallOptionsAndWarrants	0	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	0	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
CY2018	us-gaap	Incremental Common Shares Attributable To Conversion Of Debt Securities IncrementalCommonSharesAttributableToConversionOfDebtSecurities	693000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	16185000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	8458000	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
CY2018	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	2845000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	32800000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	48400000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding	1500000	USD
	lgnd	Number Of Acquisitions NumberOfAcquisitions	6	acquisition
CY2020	lgnd	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Liability Acquisition Contingent Liabilities FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityAcquisitionContingentLiabilities	41800000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	0	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Purchase Commitment Consideration Paid To Date PurchaseCommitmentConsiderationPaidToDate	35300000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed PurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted	24100000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Finance Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForFinanceLeaseLiability	16100000	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Purchase Commitment Consideration Paid Allocated To Inventory PurchaseCommitmentConsiderationPaidAllocatedToInventory	25800000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	6600000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Finance Lease Remaining Lease Term LesseeFinanceLeaseRemainingLeaseTerm	P8Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	6892000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	10353000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAsset	15842000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Right Of Use Asset FinanceLeaseRightOfUseAsset	84000	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Lease Right Of Use Asset LeaseRightOfUseAsset	22734000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Lease Right Of Use Asset LeaseRightOfUseAsset	10437000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	1885000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	1242000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	6593000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Current FinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	13000	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Lease Liability Current LeaseLiabilityCurrent	8478000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Lease Liability Current LeaseLiabilityCurrent	1255000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	5643000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	9970000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	112000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Noncurrent FinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	71000	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Lease Liability LeaseLiability	14233000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Lease Liability LeaseLiability	11296000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	2259000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	6649000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	2129000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	56000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	1766000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	49000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	1013000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	4000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	792000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	700000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	8659000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Payments Due FinanceLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	6758000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	1131000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount FinanceLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	53000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	7528000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Liability FinanceLeaseLiability	6705000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P4Y4M24D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.06
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	2400000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	2100000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Sublease Income SubleaseIncome	300000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	2100000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Sublease Income SubleaseIncome	700000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P7Y10M24D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finance Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent FinanceLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.035
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Payment On Liability FinanceLeaseInterestPaymentOnLiability	9700000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	48400000	USD
CY2014Q3	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Number Of Securities Called By Warrants Or Rights ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights	3264643	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Finance Lease Interest Expense FinanceLeaseInterestExpense	200000	USD
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
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Warrants PaymentsForRepurchaseOfWarrants	30100000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Derivative Gain Loss On Derivative Net DerivativeGainLossOnDerivativeNet	-1800000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Outstanding ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Equity Securities Fv Ni EquitySecuritiesFvNi	32800000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Class Of Warrant Or Right Exercise Price Of Warrants Or Rights1 ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1	1.50
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Warrants And Rights Outstanding WarrantsAndRightsOutstanding	1500000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	141732000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	141793000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsAmortizedCost	26856000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Through Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneThroughFiveYearsFairValue	26956000	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Debt Securities Available For Sale Amortized Cost Maturity Allocated And Single Maturity Date After Year Five DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAmortizedCostMaturityAllocatedAndSingleMaturityDateAfterYearFive	0	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Debt Securities Available For Sale Fair Value Maturity Allocated And Single Maturity Date After Year Five DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleFairValueMaturityAllocatedAndSingleMaturityDateAfterYearFive	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Held To Maturity Securities Debt Maturities Single Maturity Date Amortized Cost Basis HeldToMaturitySecuritiesDebtMaturitiesSingleMaturityDateAmortizedCostBasis	168588000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Single Maturity Date AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesSingleMaturityDate	168749000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	3000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	26232000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Held To Maturity Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Held To Maturity Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Accumulated Loss HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss	3000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition	26232000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	19000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	137946000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Held To Maturity Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Held To Maturity Securities Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Accumulated Loss HeldToMaturitySecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss	19000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition	137946000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionNumberOfPositions	14	position
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	19241000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	10035000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	4807000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	2850000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	14434000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	7185000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	1800000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	1500000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	900000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	189662000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	95229000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Including Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill	784992000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Including Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill	305677000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife	P20Y
CY2020	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	23400000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	16900000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	15800000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	47100000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	47100000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	47100000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	47100000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Finitelived ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	8810000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	1986000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Professional Fees Current AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent	977000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Professional Fees Current AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent	1135000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Sales Commission Current And Noncurrent AccruedSalesCommissionCurrentAndNoncurrent	421000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Sales Commission Current And Noncurrent AccruedSalesCommissionCurrentAndNoncurrent	381000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Royalties Current And Noncurrent AccruedRoyaltiesCurrentAndNoncurrent	693000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Royalties Current And Noncurrent AccruedRoyaltiesCurrentAndNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Accrued Sales Returns AccruedSalesReturns	687000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Accrued Sales Returns AccruedSalesReturns	3027000	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Accrued Asset Acquisitions Current AccruedAssetAcquisitionsCurrent	1500000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Accrued Asset Acquisitions Current AccruedAssetAcquisitionsCurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Accrued Subcontractor Expenses Current AccruedSubcontractorExpensesCurrent	733000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Accrued Subcontractor Expenses Current AccruedSubcontractorExpensesCurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Accrued Supplier Expenses Current AccruedSupplierExpensesCurrent	604000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Accrued Supplier Expenses Current AccruedSupplierExpensesCurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	4105000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	2052000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	18530000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	8581000	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
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment At End Of Period BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAtEndOfPeriod	8942000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment Additions BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAdditions	41800000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Payments To Contingent Value Right Holders PaymentsToContingentValueRightHolders	2325000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Fair Value Measurementwith Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Liability Fair Value Adjustment Contingent Liabilities FairValueMeasurementwithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityFairValueAdjustmentContingentLiabilities	963000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation Recurring Basis Liability Repurchases Contingent Liabilities FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityRepurchasesContingentLiabilities	247000	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Business Acquisition Contingent Consideration Potential Cash Payment At End Of Period BusinessAcquisitionContingentConsiderationPotentialCashPaymentAtEndOfPeriod	49133000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	30727000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	24515000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	47.03
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense Net Of Tax AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax	20846000	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 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
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	1736304	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
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
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 Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	72002000	USD
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Gross ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	806300	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	92.93
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	156845	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	21.26
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	44012	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	91.30
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	2561822	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	85.59
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P6Y1M2D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	59033000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	1611830	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	76.05
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P4Y6M14D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Intrinsic Value1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1	53286000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber	2561822	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	85.59
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P6Y1M2D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	59033000	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
CY2018Q3	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
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Period In Force1 StockRepurchaseProgramPeriodInForce1	P3Y
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Authorized Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1	350000000.0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount1 StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1	248800000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	934079	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	78000000.0	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	10889000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	89471000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	589000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	23000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	-66000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	-158000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	11501000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	92508000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	266000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-15672000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3382000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-7553000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	167337000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30009000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	-2213000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-1456000	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
CY2020	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	-278000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	18000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Income Tax Reconciliation Contingent Value Rights IncomeTaxReconciliationContingentValueRights	948000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	-362000	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
CY2020	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Derived Intangible Income Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignDerivedIntangibleIncomeAmount	1652000	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
CY2020	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Expired Tax Credits Research EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExpiredTaxCreditsResearch	-699000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Expired Tax Credits Research EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExpiredTaxCreditsResearch	-879000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Expired Tax Credits Research EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExpiredTaxCreditsResearch	-2758000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Uncertain Tax Positions EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInUncertainTaxPositions	650000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Uncertain Tax Positions EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInUncertainTaxPositions	-441000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Uncertain Tax Positions EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInUncertainTaxPositions	-858000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-173000	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
CY2020	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Provision To Return Adjustments Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationProvisionToReturnAdjustmentsAmount	4803000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	108884000	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Provision To Return Adjustments Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationProvisionToReturnAdjustmentsAmount	184000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Provision To Return Adjustments Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationProvisionToReturnAdjustmentsAmount	150000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-3839000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	57000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-14000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-121876000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Disposition Of Business IncomeTaxReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness	127372000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Disposition Of Business IncomeTaxReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Disposition Of Business IncomeTaxReconciliationDispositionOfBusiness	0	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Expired Net Operating Losses And Credits Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExpiredNetOperatingLossesAndCreditsAmount	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Expired Net Operating Losses And Credits Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExpiredNetOperatingLossesAndCreditsAmount	0	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Expired Net Operating Losses And Credits Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExpiredNetOperatingLossesAndCreditsAmount	3054000	USD
CY2020	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Derivatives EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDerivatives	0	USD
CY2019	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Derivatives EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDerivatives	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	11994000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	9544000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	13120000	USD
CY2018	lgnd	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Derivatives EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDerivatives	615000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	3076000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	748000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	1599000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-7553000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	167337000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	30009000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Change In Amount ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount	-116500000	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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	64147000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	150727000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	19623000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	14843000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	10602000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	185716000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	24858000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	141338000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	84026000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	44378000	USD
CY2020Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Finite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	119381000	USD
CY2019Q4	lgnd	Deferred Tax Liabilities Finite Lived Intangible Assets DeferredTaxLiabilitiesFiniteLivedIntangibleAssets	40768000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	4923000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	10939000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	124304000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	51707000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	40278000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	7329000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	28736000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	30289000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	29363000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	3911000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	179000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	336000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	955000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	2096000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	657000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	31871000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	28736000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	30289000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	30200000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	33161000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	41420000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	41848000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	69990000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	29373000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	34320000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	38101000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Costs And Expenses OperatingCostsAndExpenses	75894000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-6284000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6033000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-4911000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-2391000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-24131000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	22086000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-6701000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	5761000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.46
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.38
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.42
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.36
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.46
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.32
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.42
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.35
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	16529000	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	16055000	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	16082000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	16077000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	16529000	shares
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	16694000	shares
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	16082000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	16684000	shares
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

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0000886163-21-000050-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000886163-21-000050-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000886163-21-000050.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0000886163-21-000050-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit101_ligand-2002stoc.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit1067_bondhedgexbarc.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit1068.htm	Edgar Link	pending
exhibit43_ligand-descripti.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd-20201231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd-20201231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd-20201231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
lgnd-20201231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
lgnd-20201231_g1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd-20201231_g2.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd-20201231_htm.xml	Edgar Link	completed
lgnd-20201231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
lgnd-20201231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
lgnd_123120xexhibit211.htm	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd_123120xexhibit231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd_123120xexhibit311.htm	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd_123120xexhibit312.htm	Edgar Link	pending
lgnd_123120xexhibit321.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ligand-ex1069xbondhedgeame.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ligandcydexex1072_gileadsu.htm	Edgar Link	pending
MetaLinks.json	Edgar Link	pending
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report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616321000050 Filed on February 24, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$LGND LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd

2020 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000088616321000050 Filed on February 24, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$LGND
LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC Stock $lgnd