<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2024-11-25</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001034842</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RIGL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001820066</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Santos David A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>611 GATEWAY BLVD, SUITE 900</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94080</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Chief Commercial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>false</aff10b5One>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.7</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2024-11-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2033-01-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person was granted a stock option with a performance-based condition with respect to 8,000 shares of the Issuer's common stock on January 26, 2023, as adjusted for the one-for-ten reverse stock split effective June 27, 2024 (the &quot;Reverse Stock Split&quot;). The exercise price of this option is $18.70, which is the closing price of the Issuer's common stock on Nasdaq on the date of grant, as adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split. In light of the performance-based vesting condition, this grant was not reportable under Section 16 until the performance metric was satisfied. On November 25, 2024, it was determined that the performance metric had been met.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option was fully vested on November 25, 2024, the date the determination was made that the performance metric had been met.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Raymond Furey (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2024-11-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
