Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (Form 4)

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b). Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * Sabba Stephen L 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC [LGND] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 485 UNDERHILL BLVD SUITE 205 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/03/2026 (Street) SYOSSET, NY 11791 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock(1) 03/03/2026 M 2,034 A $69.51 35,827 D Common Stock(1) 03/03/2026 S 2,034 D $201.5 33,793 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
	Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.		SEC 1474 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Non- Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)(2)

$69.51

03/03/2026

M

2,034

(2)

05/23/2026

Common Stock

2,034

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Sabba Stephen L 485 UNDERHILL BLVD SUITE 205 SYOSSET, NY 11791	X

Signatures

/s/ Stephen L. Sabba		03/05/2026
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	These securities, as represented in Column 5, includes the grant of 1,209 restricted shares approved by the Board of Directors of the Company at the Annual Meeting held June 6, 2025, which shares will vest in full on the earlier of (a) the date of the next annual meeting of the Company stockholders following the grant date (such meeting has not yet been held) or (b) on the first anniversary of the grant date, as reported on the Reporting Person's Form 4, dated 10 June 2025, which was filed to reflect the 2025 Meeting grant.
(2)	These securities, as represented in Column 5, were acquired by a grant of 2,329 shares approved by the Board of Directors of the Company at the 2016 Meeting, as previously reported on the Reporting Person's Form 4, dated 25 May 2016. That grant vested in full on the first anniversary of the grant date or immediately (x) upon a change in control or a hostile takeover of the Company or (y) the death or permanent disability of the grantee if still serving at that time. The original grant was adjusted to 2,034 shares and the exercise price adjusted to $69.51 pursuant to the OmniAb Inc. separation from the Company.

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