<?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>0001223000</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>3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BLVD</com:street1>
        <com:street2>SUITE 110</com:street2>
        <com:city>SAN DIEGO</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>92121</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>858-550-7500</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>KOZARICH JOHN W</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>UBS Financial Services, Inc.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>Eleven Madison Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:street2>4th Floor</com:street2>
          <com:city>New York</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>NY</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>10010</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>467</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>107349.29</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>19941141</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>05/01/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>Nasdaq</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>04/24/2024</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Various</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>467</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>04/24/2024</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>NA</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>John Kozarich</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3911 Sorrentino Valley Blvd.</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 110</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Diego</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>92121</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/02/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>467</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>91490.02</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>John Kozarich</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3911 Sorrentino Valley Boulevard</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 110</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Diego</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>92121</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>03/02/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>467</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>93632.38</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>John Kozarich</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>3911 Sorrentino Valley Blvd</com:street1>
          <com:street2>Suite 110</com:street2>
          <com:city>San Diego</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>CA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>92121</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>04/01/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>467</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>94440.10</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>05/01/2026</noticeDate>
      <planAdoptionDates>
        <planAdoptionDate>03/07/2025</planAdoptionDate>
      </planAdoptionDates>
      <signature>/s/ UBS Financial Services Inc, as attorney-in-fact for John Kozarich</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
