Fair Value Measurements - Reconciliation of Level 3 Financial Instruments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024 USD ($)
Assets
Beginning balance	$ 3,531
Fair value adjustments to derivative assets	196
Ending balance	$ 3,727
Fair Value, Asset, Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]	Gain (Loss) on Investments
Liabilities
Beginning balance	$ 320
Payments to CVR holders and other contingent payments	(150)
Fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities	48
Ending balance	$ 218
Fair Value, Liability, Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Gain (Loss), Statement of Income or Comprehensive Income [Extensible Enumeration]	Non Cash Change In Estimated Fair Value Of Contingent Value Rights

Payments to Contingent Value Right Holders

No definition available.

Name:	lgnd_PaymentsToContingentValueRightHolders
Namespace Prefix:	lgnd_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income from asset measured at fair value on recurring basis using unobservable input (level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as an asset measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 820
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in income from liability measured at fair value on recurring basis using unobservable input (level 3).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Indicates line item in statement in which net income is reported that includes gain (loss) from asset measured at fair value using unobservable input (level 3).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationAssetGainLossStatementOfIncomeExtensibleList
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	enum2:enumerationSetItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicates line item in statement in which net income is reported that includes gain (loss) from liability measured at fair value using unobservable input (level 3).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationLiabilityGainLossStatementOfIncomeExtensibleList
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	enum2:enumerationSetItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration