<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001649903</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000886163</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-33093</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>555 Heritage Drive, Suite 200</com:street1>
        <com:city>Jupiter</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>858-550-7500</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Korenberg Matthew E</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Services</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>200 W Civic Center Dr - 4th Floor</com:street1>
          <com:city>Sandy</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>UT</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>84070</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>32183</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>3872683.51</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>18300000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>11/11/2024</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>11/11/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>STOCK OPTION EXERCISE</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>26251</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>11/11/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATION</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>COMMON</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>02/15/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>RESTRICTED STOCK</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>ISSUER</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5932</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>02/15/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>COMPENSATION</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER,</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>STOCK OPTION EXERCISE</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>09/23/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>9772</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>989120.89</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200,</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>RESTRICTED STOCK</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>09/23/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>4665</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>476282.51</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200,,</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>STOCK OPTION EXERCISE</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>09/20/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>4982</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>518671.86</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200,,,</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>RESTRICTED STOCK</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>09/20/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1293</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>134566.38</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200,,,,</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>PERFORMANCE AND RESTRICTED STOCK</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>08/26/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>11389</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>1202830.86</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>PERFORMANCE SHARES</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>08/23/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>4814</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>504395.41</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200,</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>ESPP</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>08/23/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1498</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>157084.15</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200,,</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>ESPP</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>08/22/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>59</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>6227.28</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>MATTHEW KORENBERG</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>555 HERITAE DRIVE, SUITE 200,</com:street1>
          <com:city>JUPITER</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>FL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>33458</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>PERFORMANCE SHARES</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>08/22/2024</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>598</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>63110.10</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>11/11/2024</noticeDate>
      <signature>/s/ Matthew E Korenberg</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
