content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
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      <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>8585507500</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>John W. Kozarich</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Board of Directors</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>UBS Financial Services Inc</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>1000 Harbor Blvd</com:street1>
            <com:street2>3rd Floor</com:street2>
            <com:city>Weehawken</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>NJ</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>07086</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>4444</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>343076.8</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>17273000</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>05/16/2023</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>05/11/2021</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>stock option exercise</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>stock option exercise from issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>4444</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>05/11/2021</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>John W. Kozarich</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>501 West Ave</com:street1>
            <com:street2>Apt 2901</com:street2>
            <com:city>Austin</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>TX</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>78701</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>common stock</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>05/08/2023</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>6408</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>490627</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <remarks>John W. Kozarich is the Affliate, he is a co-trustee of the Kozarich-Durso Living Trust DTD 01/13/1996</remarks>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>05/16/2023</noticeDate>
        <signature>/s/ UBS Financial Services Inc, as attorney-in-fact for John W. Kozarich</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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text: 144
  0001223000
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000886163
  Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc
  001-33093
  3911 Sorrento Valley Blvd
  Suite 110
  San Diego
  CA
  92121
  8585507500
  John W. Kozarich
  Board of Directors
  Common Stock
  UBS Financial Services Inc
  1000 Harbor Blvd
  3rd Floor
  Weehawken
  NJ
  07086
  4444
  343076.8
  17273000
  05/16/2023
  NASDAQ
  Common
  05/11/2021
  stock option exercise
  stock option exercise from issuer
  N
  4444
  05/11/2021
  cash
  N
  John W. Kozarich
  501 West Ave
  Apt 2901
  Austin
  TX
  78701
  common stock
  05/08/2023
  6408
  490627
  John W. Kozarich is the Affliate, he is a co-trustee of the Kozarich-Durso Living Trust DTD 01/13/1996
  05/16/2023
  /s/ UBS Financial Services Inc, as attorney-in-fact for John W. Kozarich