Segment Reporting (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2013

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Summary of segment information

Segment information is as follows:

Balance Sheet Data:	As of September 30, 2013
	Ligand			CyDex			Total
Total assets	$	38,270		$	63,407		$	101,677
	As of December 31, 2012
	Ligand			CyDex			Total
Total assets	$	28,731		$	75,529		$	104,260
Operating Data:	For the three months ended September 30, 2013
	Ligand			CyDex			Total
Net revenues from external customers	$	4,731		$	8,274		$	13,005
Depreciation and amortization expense	62			606			668
Operating (loss) income	(1,142		)	4,212			3,070
Interest expense, net	394			—			394
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	70			(10		)	60
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2013
	Ligand			CyDex			Total
Net revenues from external customers	$	14,789		$	19,448		$	34,237
Depreciation and amortization expense	179			1,828			2,007
Write-off of in-process research and development	—			480			480
Operating income	(944		)	9,462			8,518
Interest expense, net	1,755			—			1,755
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	301			(64		)	237
Gain on sale of Avinza Product Line before income taxes	2,588			—			2,588
	For the three months ended September 30, 2012
	Ligand			CyDex			Total
Net revenues from external customers	$	3,708		$	2,667		$	6,375
Depreciation and amortization expense	34			604			638
Operating (loss) income	(1,601		)	176			(1,425		)
Interest expense, net	735			—			735
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	173			(31		)	142
	For the nine months ended September 30, 2012
	Ligand			CyDex			Total
Net revenues from external customers	$	11,728		$	6,025		$	17,753
Depreciation and amortization expense	162			1,816			1,978
Operating loss	(3,560		)	(520		)	(4,080		)
Interest expense, net	2,198			—			2,198
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	543			(98		)	445
Gain on sale of Avinza Product Line before income taxes	3,656			—			3,656
Income tax benefit from discontinued operations	14			—			14