# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000886163
**File Stem:** 0001104659-26-023943
**Filing Date:** 2026-3
**Character Count:** 6942
**Document Hash:** 5e054d7b149eec6ed45dfe83841b6125
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001104659-26-023943.hdr.sgml**: 20260305

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001104659-26-023943

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 4

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260303

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260305

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260305

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Sabba Stephen L
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001442372

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 4
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-33093
- **FILM NUMBER:** 26724758

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** DORSET MANAGEMENT CORP
- **STREET 2:** 485 UNDERHILL BLVD SUITE 205
- **CITY:** SYOSSET
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 11791
**ISSUER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000886163
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 03 Life Sciences
- **EIN:** 770160744
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BLVD
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 110
- **CITY:** SAN DIEGO
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92121
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 858-550-7500

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 3911 SORRENTO VALLEY BLVD
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 110
- **CITY:** SAN DIEGO
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92121

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 4

### STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] 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 for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

---

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

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | Amount | (A) or (D) | Price | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Common Stock<sup>(1)</sup> | 2026-03-03 |  | M |  | 2034 | A | $69.51 | 35827 | D |  |
| Common Stock<sup>(1)</sup> | 2026-03-03 |  | S |  | 2034 | D | $201.50 | 33793 | D |  |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | (A) | (D) | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Non- Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)<sup>(2)</sup> | $69.51 | 2026-03-03 |  | M |  |  | 2034 | <sup>(2)</sup> | 2026-05-23 | Common Stock | 2034 | $0 | 0 | D |  |

---

### Footnotes:

(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.

**Signature:** /s/ Stephen L. Sabba  
**Date:** 2026-03-05

### Remarks:

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* 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).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

**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 Number.**