10-Q 1 d10q.htm FORM 10-Q Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Mark One

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Transition Period From                      to                      .

Commission File Number: 001-33093

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   77-0160744

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

10275 Science Center Drive

San Diego, CA

  92121-1117
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (858) 550-7500

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer  ¨     Accelerated Filer  x    Non-Accelerated Filer  ¨    Smaller Reporting Company  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨    No  x

As of April 30, 2009, the registrant had 113,301,941 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

QUARTERLY REPORT

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
   ITEM 1.   Financial Statements (Unaudited)    3
     Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008    3
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008    4
     Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008    5
     Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    6
   ITEM 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    19
   ITEM 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    28
   ITEM 4.   Controls and Procedures    29
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   
   ITEM 1.   Legal Proceedings    30
   ITEM 1A.   Risk Factors    31
   ITEM 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    *
   ITEM 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    *
   ITEM 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    *
   ITEM 5.   Other Information    *
   ITEM 6.   Exhibits    41
SIGNATURE   

 

* No information provided due to inapplicability of item.

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

      March 31,
2009
    December, 31
2008
 
ASSETS     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,920     $ 28,753  

Short-term investments

     47,684       51,918  

Accounts receivable, net

     2,715       —    

Other current assets

     1,179       2,300  

Current portion of co-promote termination payments receivable

     11,197       10,958  
                

Total current assets

     67,695       93,929  

Restricted investments

     1,341       1,341  

Property and equipment, net

     11,195       12,903  

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets

     2,185       5,375  

Long-term portion of co-promote termination payments receivable

     46,806       47,524  

Restricted indemnity account

     10,264       10,232  

Other assets

     101       144  
                

Total assets

   $ 139,587     $ 171,448  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 15,641     $ 14,627  

Accrued liabilities

     7,771       12,665  

Allowances for loss on returns, rebates and chargebacks related to discontinued operations

     5,590       9,590  

Current portion of accrued litigation settlement costs

     180       8,680  

Current portion of deferred gain

     1,964       1,964  

Current portion of co-promote termination liability

     11,197       10,958  

Current portion of equipment financing obligations

     349       1,829  

Current portion of deferred revenue

     10,192       10,301  
                

Total current liabilities

     52,884       70,614  

Long-term portion of co-promote termination liability

     46,806       47,524  

Long-term portion of equipment financing obligations

     54       2,178  

Long-term portion of deferred revenue

     10,380       16,819  

Long-term portion of deferred gain

     22,801       23,292  

Other long-term liabilities

     9,015       9,041  
                

Total liabilities

     141,940       169,468  
                

Commitments and contingencies

    

Common stock subject to conditional redemption; 997,568 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively

     12,345       12,345  

Stockholders’ deficit:

    

Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 118,912,238 and 118,562,748 shares issued at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively

     119       119  

Additional paid-in capital

     712,021       711,195  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     11       81  

Accumulated deficit

     (684,715 )     (679,626 )

Treasury stock, at cost; 6,607,905 shares at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively

     (42,134 )     (42,134 )
                

Total stockholders’ deficit

     (14,698 )     (10,365 )
                
   $ 139,587     $ 171,448  
                

See accompanying notes.

 

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

Revenues:

    

Royalties

   $ 2,730     $ 4,874  

Collaborative research and development and other revenues

     6,740       —    
                

Total revenues

     9,470       4,874  
                

Operating costs and expenses:

    

Research and development

     10,462       7,165  

General and administrative

     6,817       10,099  
                

Total operating costs and expenses

     17,279       17,264  
                

Accretion of deferred gain on sale leaseback

     491       491  
                

Loss from operations

     (7,318 )     (11,899 )
                

Other income (expense):

    

Interest income

     139       935  

Interest expense

     (194 )     (52 )

Other, net

     (109 )     (482 )
                

Total other income, net

     (164 )     401  
                

Loss before income taxes

     (7,482 )     (11,498 )

Income tax benefit

     —         1,781  
                

Loss from continuing operations

     (7,482 )     (9,717 )
                

Discontinued operations:

    

Gain on sale of AVINZA Product Line before income taxes

     2,131       8,321  

Gain on sale of Oncology Product Line before income taxes

     235       915  

Income tax expense on discontinued operations

     —         (3,452 )
                

Discontinued operations

     2,366       5,784  
                

Net loss

   $ (5,116 )   $ (3,933 )
                

Basic and diluted per share amounts:

    

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.10 )

Discontinued operations

     0.02       0.06  
                

Net loss

   $ (0.05 )   $ (0.04 )
                

Weighted average number of common shares

     113,118,073       95,047,440  
                

See accompanying notes.

 

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     For the three months ended March 31,  
     2009     2008  

Operating activities

    

Net loss

   $ (5,116 )   $ (3,933 )

Less: gain from discontinued operations

     2,366       5,784  
                

Loss from continuing operations

     (7,482 )     (9,717 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Accretion of deferred gain on sale leaseback

     (491 )     (491 )

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

     162       —    

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment

     819       298  

Non-cash lease costs

     262       4,148  

Loss on asset write-offs

     (3 )     669  

Realized loss on investment

     88       500  

Stock-based compensation

     820       996  

Other

     19       (5 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition:

    

Accounts receivable, net

     (2,715 )     —    

Other current assets

     802       2,048  

Other long term assets

     (202 )     (68 )

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (12,497 )     (4,409 )

Other liabilities

     (174 )     84  

Deferred revenue

     (2,214 )     —    
                

Net cash used in operating activities of continuing operations

     (22,806 )     (5,947 )

Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations

     (1,315 )     (3,452 )
                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (24,121 )     (9,399 )

Investing activities

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (214 )     (196 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment and building

     15       —    

Purchases of short-term investments

     (11,257 )     (22,601 )

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

     15,400       9,012  

Other, net

     (71 )     (50 )
                

Net cash provide by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations

     3,873       (13,835 )

Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations

     —         8,058  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     3,873       (5,777 )

Financing activities

    

Principal payments on equipment financing obligations

     (163 )     (514 )

Repayment of debt

     (3,443 )     —    

Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

     21       34  

Repurchase of common stock

     —         (1,613 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (3,585 )     (2,093 )
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (23,833 )     (17,269 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     28,753       76,812  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 4,920     $ 59,543  
                

See accompanying notes.

 

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (the “Company” or “Ligand”) were prepared in accordance with instructions for this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 and, therefore, do not include all information necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. However, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements, have been included. The results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year or any other future period. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

The Company’s and its partners’ products are in various stages of development. Potential products that are promising at early stages of development may not reach the market for a number of reasons. Prior to generating revenues from these products, the Company or its collaborative partners must complete the development of the products in the human health care market. No assurance can be given that: (1) product development efforts will be successful, (2) required regulatory approvals for any indication will be obtained, (3) any products, if introduced, will be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at reasonable costs or, (4) patient and physician acceptance of these products will be achieved. The Company faces risks common to companies whose products are in various stages of development. These risks include, among others, the Company’s need for additional financing to complete its research and development programs and commercialize its technologies. The Company has incurred significant losses since its inception. At March 31, 2009, the Company’s accumulated deficit was $684.7 million. Management expects that the Company will continue to incur substantial research and development expenses. As further discussed in Note 2, the Company sold its oncology product line (“Oncology”) on October 25, 2006 and its AVINZA product line (“AVINZA”) on February 26, 2007. The operating results for Oncology and AVINZA have been presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as “Discontinued Operations.”

Principles of Consolidation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Ligand Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., Ligand Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Incorporated, Seragen, Inc. (“Seragen”), Nexus Equity VI LLC (“Nexus”) and Pharmacopeia LLC. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, including disclosure of contingent assets and contingent liabilities, at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s critical accounting policies are those that are both most important to the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and require the most difficult, subjective or complex judgments on the part of management in their application, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Because of the uncertainty of factors surrounding the estimates or judgments used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements, actual results may materially vary from these estimates.

Income (Loss) Per Share

Net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Basic and diluted income (loss) per share amounts are equivalent for the periods presented as the inclusion of potential common shares in the number of shares used for the diluted computation would be anti-dilutive to loss per share from continuing operations. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128, Earnings Per Share, no potential common shares are included in the computation of any diluted per share amounts, including income (loss) per share from discontinued operations and net income (loss) per share, as the Company reported a loss from continuing operations for all periods presented. Potential common shares, the shares

 

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that would be issued upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants and the vesting of restricted shares, were 5.8 million and 4.1 million at March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and have been excluded from the computation of loss per share.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

The Company accounts for and discloses guarantees in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 45 (“FIN 45”), Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others, an interpretation of FASB Statements Nos. 5, 57 and 107 and rescission of FIN 34. The following is a summary of the Company’s agreements that management has determined are within the scope of FIN 45:

Under its amended and restated bylaws, the Company has agreed to indemnify its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences arising as a result of the officer’s or director’s serving in such capacity. The term of the indemnification period is for the officer’s or director’s lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. The Company has a directors and officers liability insurance policy that limits its exposure and enables it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. As a result of its insurance policy coverage, management believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal and has no liabilities recorded for these agreements as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

Revenue Recognition

Royalties on sales of AVINZA and PROMACTA are recognized in the quarter reported by the respective partner.

Revenue from research funding under the Company’s collaboration agreements is earned and recognized on a percentage of completion basis as research hours are incurred in accordance with the provisions of each agreement.

Revenue earned related to up-front product and technology license fees is recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) 104 issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Emerging Issue Task Force (EITF) No. 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables” (EITF 00-21), EITF No. 07-1, “Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements (EITF 07-1) and EITF No. 07-3, “Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance Payments for Goods or Services Received for Use in Future Research and Development Activities” (EITF 07-3) issued by the FASB. Accordingly, amounts received under
multiple-element arrangements requiring ongoing services or performance by the Company are recognized over the period of such services or performance.

Revenue from milestones is recognized when earned, as evidenced by written acknowledgement from the collaborator, provided that (i) the milestone event is substantive, its achievability was not reasonably assured at the inception of the agreement, and the Company has no further performance obligations relating to that event, and (ii) collectibility is reasonably assured. If these criteria are not met, the milestone payment is recognized over the remaining period of the Company’s performance obligations under the arrangement.

Income Taxes

The Company recognizes liabilities or assets for the deferred tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (SFAS 109). These temporary differences will result in taxable or deductible amounts in future years when the reported amounts of the assets or liabilities are recovered or settled. SFAS 109 requires that a valuation allowance be established when management determines that it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Management evaluates the realizability of its net deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis and valuation allowances are provided, as necessary. During this evaluation, management reviews its forecasts of income in conjunction with other positive and negative evidence surrounding the realizability of its deferred tax assets to determine if a valuation allowance is required. Adjustments to the valuation allowance will increase or decrease the Company’s income tax provision or benefit. Management also applies the guidance of SFAS 109 to determine the amount of income tax expense or benefit to be allocated among continuing operations, discontinued operations, and items charged or credited directly to stockholders’ equity (deficit).

Due to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (SFAS 123R) beginning January 1, 2006, the Company recognizes windfall tax benefits associated with the exercise of stock options directly to stockholders’

 

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equity only when realized. Accordingly, deferred tax assets are not recognized for net operating loss carryforwards resulting from windfall tax benefits occurring from January 1, 2006 onward. A windfall tax benefit occurs when the actual tax benefit realized by the Company upon an employee’s disposition of a share-based award exceeds the deferred tax asset, if any, associated with the award that the Company had recorded.

The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, on January 1, 2007. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined in FIN 48 as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

The Company applies the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective transition method to account for stock-based compensation. Under that transition method, compensation cost recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 includes: (a) compensation cost for all stock-based awards granted prior to, but not yet vested as of January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the original provisions of SFAS No. 123, and (b) compensation cost for all stock-based awards granted subsequent to January 1, 2006, based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R).

Stock-based compensation expense for awards to employees and non-employee directors is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period until the last tranche vests. Compensation cost for consultant awards is recognized over each separate tranche’s vesting period. The Company recognized compensation expense of $0.8 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, associated with option awards, restricted stock and an equitable adjustment of employee stock options.

The fair-value for options that were awarded to employees and directors was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2009     2008  

Risk-free interest rate

   2.0 %   3.0 %

Dividend yield

   —       —    

Expected volatility

   74 %   65 %

Expected term

   6.0 years     6.0 years  

The expected term of the employee and non-employee director options is the estimated weighted-average period until exercise or cancellation of vested options (forfeited unvested options are not considered). The expected term for consultant awards is the remaining period to contractual expiration.

Volatility is a measure of the expected amount of variability in the stock price over the expected life of an option expressed as a standard deviation. In selecting this assumption, management used the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price over a period approximating the expected term.

 

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Stock Option Activity

The following is a summary of the Company’s stock option plan activity and related information:

 

     Shares     Weighted-
Average
Exercise

Price
   Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
in Years
   Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
(in thousands)

Balance at December 31, 2008

   3,030,076     $ 6.55      

Granted

   1,490,850       2.63      

Exercised

   —         —        

Forfeited

   (183,849 )     4.33      

Cancelled

   (2,500 )     4.41      
                  

Balance at March 31, 2009

   4,334,577     $ 5.29    7.27    $ 620
                        

Exercisable at March 31, 2009

   1,764,731     $ 8.00    4.41    $ 100
                        

Options expected to vest as of March 31, 2009

   3,966,900     $ 5.45    7.10    $ 554
                        

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of all stock options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $1.72 per share. The total intrinsic value of all options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $1,000. As of March 31, 2009, there was $5.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.4 years.

As of March 31, 2009, 0.6 million shares were available for future option grants or direct issuance under the Company’s 2002 stock incentive plan.

Cash received from options exercised for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $4,000. There is no current tax benefit related to options exercised because of net operating losses (“NOLs”) for which a full valuation allowance has been established.

Restricted Stock Activity

Restricted stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

     Shares     Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Stock

Price

Nonvested at December 31, 2008

   598,672     $ 5.14

Granted

   210,560       2.69

Vested

   (268,246 )     6.52

Forfeited

   (55,164 )     3.65
            

Nonvested at March 31, 2009

   485,822     $ 3.49
            

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of restricted stock granted during the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $2.69 per share. As of March 31, 2009, there was $1.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.0 years.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The Company has an employee stock purchase plan (as amended, the “2002 ESPP”). The 2002 ESPP allows employees to purchase a limited amount of common stock at the end of each three month period at a price equal to the lesser of 85% of fair market value on either the first trading day of the period or the last trading day of the period (the “Lookback Provision”). The 15% discount and the Lookback Provision make the 2002 ESPP compensatory under SFAS 123(R). There were 9,140 shares of common stock issued under the 2002 ESPP during the three

 

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months ended March 31, 2009, resulting in a compensation expense of $6,000. There were 8,954 shares of common stock issued under the 2002 ESPP during the three months ended March 31, 2008, resulting in a compensation expense of $40,000. As of March 31, 2009, 38,251 shares were available for future purchases under the 2002 ESPP.

Warrants

As of March 31, 2009, warrants to purchase 867,637 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding with an exercise price of $8.59 per share and warrants to purchase 105,554 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding with an exercise price of $9.47 per share. The warrants were assumed in the acquisition of Pharmacopeia, Inc. and expire in April 2012 and March 2011, respectively.

Share Repurchases

In March 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized up to $100.0 million in share repurchases over the subsequent 12 months. The Company repurchased an aggregate of 6.5 million shares of its common stock totaling $41.2 million prior to the expiration of the repurchase period on March 31, 2008.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid securities with maturities at the date of acquisition of three months or less. The following table summarizes the various investment categories at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     Cost    Gross
unrealized
gains
   Gross
unrealized
losses
    Estimated
fair value

March 31, 2009

          

U.S. government securities

   $ 45,249    $ 15    $ (4 )   $ 45,260

Corporate obligations

     2,424      —        —         2,424
                            
     47,673      15      (4 )     47,684

Certificates of deposit - restricted

     1,341      —        —         1,341
                            
   $ 49,014    $ 15    $ (4 )   $ 49,025
                            

December 31, 2008

          

U.S. government securities

   $ 50,174    $ 81    $ —       $ 50,255

Corporate obligations

     1,663      —        —         1,663
                            
     51,837      81      —         51,918

Certificates of deposit - restricted

     1,341      —        —         1,341
                            
   $ 53,178    $ 81    $ —       $ 53,259
                            

In July 2007, the Company purchased $5.0 million of commercial paper issued by Golden Key Ltd. The investment was
highly-rated and within the Company’s investment policy at the time of purchase, but during the third quarter of 2007, large credit rating agencies downgraded the quality of this security. In addition, as a result of not meeting certain liquidity covenants, the assets of Golden Key Ltd. were assigned to a trustee who established a committee of the largest senior credit holders to determine the next steps. Subsequently, Golden Key Ltd. defaulted on its obligation to settle the security on the stated maturity date of October 10, 2007. Based on available information, management currently estimates that it will be able to recover approximately $1.6 million on this investment. Management adjusted the carrying value by recording an impairment loss of $0.1 million and $0.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. As a result of ongoing volatility in the liquidity of the capital markets, the Company may be exposed to additional impairment for this investment until it is fully recovered or disposed of.

 

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Other Current Assets

Other current assets consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     March 31,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Income taxes receivable

   $ —      $ 817

Prepaid expenses

     1,051      1,147

Other receivables

     128      325

Other

     —        11
             
   $ 1,179    $ 2,300
             

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is stated at cost and consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Equipment and leasehold improvements

   $ 53,244     $ 54,664  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (42,049 )     (41,761 )
                
   $ 11,195     $ 12,903  
                

Depreciation of equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives or their related lease term, whichever is shorter. During the third quarter 2008, the Company conducted a physical count of its fixed assets that resulted in the write-off of gross fixed assets totaling $23.8 million and related accumulated depreciation of $23.7 million.

Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     March 31,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Collaborative research and development with Schering-Plough

   $ 1,838    $ 2,000

Goodwill

     347      3,375
             
   $ 2,185    $ 5,375
             

The collaborative research and development with Schering-Plough is being amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of three years. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company recorded $0.2 million of amortization expense. Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company finalized its preliminary purchase price allocation for Pharmacopeia, which resulted in an increase in transaction costs of $0.3 million and decreases in property and equipment of $1.1 million, liabilities assumed of $4.4 million and goodwill of $3.0 million.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Management reviews long-lived assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. Fair value for the Company’s long-lived assets is determined using the expected cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $0.7 million to general and administrative expense as a result of vacating a building in February 2008. As of March 31, 2009, management believes that the future cash flows to be received from its long-lived assets will exceed the assets’ carrying value.

 

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Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     March 31,
2009
   December 31,
2008

Warrant liability

   $ 673    $ 670

Compensation

     2,706      2,686

Legal

     652      4,166

Restructuring costs

     226      848

Other

     3,514      4,295
             
   $ 7,771    $ 12,665
             

The following summarizes the activity in the accrued liability accounts related to allowances for loss on returns, rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts for the three months ended March 31, 2009 (in thousands):

 

     Charge-backs
and Rebates
    Returns     Total  

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 508     $ 9,082     $ 9,590  

AVINZA Transaction Provision (1)

     (26 )     (2,249 )     (2,275 )

Oncology Transaction Provision (2)

     —         (398 )     (398 )

Payments

     (121 )     —         (121 )

Charges

     —         (1,206 )     (1,206 )
                        

Balance at March 31, 2009

   $ 361     $ 5,229     $ 5,590  
                        

 

(1)

The AVINZA transaction provision amounts represent changes in the estimates of the accruals for rebates, chargebacks and returns recorded in connection with the sale of the AVINZA product line.

 

(2)

The Oncology transaction provision amounts represent changes in the estimates of the accruals for rebates, chargebacks and returns recorded in connection with the sale of the Oncology product line.

Comprehensive Income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss) represents net income adjusted for the change during the periods presented in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities less reclassification adjustments for realized gains or losses included in net income. Comprehensive income (loss) is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2009     2008  

Net loss as reported

   $ (5,116 )   $ (3,933 )

Unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities

     (70 )     (52 )
                

Comprehensive loss

   $ (5,186 )   $ (3,985 )
                

New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — An Amendment of ARB No. 51,” which is effective for calendar-year companies beginning January 1, 2009. The standard establishes new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133,” which is effective for calendar-year companies beginning January 1, 2009. The standard enhances required disclosures regarding derivatives and hedging activities. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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In April 2008, the FASB issued Staff Position (FSP) No. FAS 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (FSP 142-3). FSP 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (SFAS 142). FSP 142-3 is effective for calendar-year companies beginning January 1, 2009. The requirement for determining useful lives must be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the effective date and the disclosure requirements must be applied prospectively to all intangible assets recognized as of, and subsequent to, the effective date. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 141(R)-1, “Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies.” FSP FAS 141(R)-1 amends the provisions in Statement 141R for the initial recognition and measurement, subsequent measurement and accounting, and disclosures for assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in business combinations. The FSP is effective for contingent assets or contingent liabilities acquired in business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

2. Discontinued Operations

Oncology Product Line

On September 7, 2006, the Company, Eisai Inc., a Delaware corporation and Eisai Co., Ltd., a Japanese company (together with Eisai Inc., “Eisai”), entered into a purchase agreement (the “Oncology Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Eisai agreed to acquire all of the Company’s worldwide rights in and to the Company’s oncology products, including, among other things, all related inventory, equipment, records and intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities as set forth in the Oncology Purchase Agreement. The Oncology product line included the Company’s four marketed oncology drugs: ONTAK, Targretin capsules, Targretin gel and Panretin gel. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded pre-tax gains of $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, due to subsequent changes in certain estimates of assets and liabilities recorded as of the sale date.

Prior to the Oncology sale, the Company recorded accruals for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to Oncology products when product sales were recognized as revenue under the sell-through method. Upon the Oncology sale, the Company accrued for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to Oncology products in the distribution channel which had not sold-through at the time of the Oncology sale and for which the Company retained the liability subsequent to the sale. These products expired at various dates through July 31, 2008. The Company’s accruals for Oncology rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts total $0.3 million and $0.4 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

Additionally, and pursuant to the terms of the Oncology Purchase Agreement, the Company retained the liability for returns of product from wholesalers that had been sold by the Company prior to the close of the transaction. Accordingly, as part of the accounting for the gain on the sale of the Oncology Product Line, the Company recorded a reserve for Oncology product returns. Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, the Company previously did not record a reserve for returns from wholesalers. Oncology products sold by the Company may be returned through a specified period subsequent to the product expiration date, but no later than July 31, 2009. The Company’s reserve for Oncology returns is $0.4 million and $0.9 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

AVINZA Product Line

On September 6, 2006, the Company and King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“King”), entered into a purchase agreement (the “AVINZA Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which King agreed to acquire all of the Company’s rights in and to AVINZA in the United States, its territories and Canada, including, among other things, all AVINZA inventory, records and related intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities as set forth in the AVINZA Purchase Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction”).

Pursuant to the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, at the closing on February 26, 2007 (the “Closing Date”), the Company received $280.4 million in net cash proceeds, which is net of $15.0 million that was funded into an escrow account to support any potential indemnification claims made by King following the closing.

 

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In connection with the sale, the Company agreed to indemnify King in certain cases for a period of 30 months after the closing of the Transaction, including any breach of certain of the Company’s representations, warranties or covenants contained in the asset purchase agreement. Under the Company’s agreement with King, $15.0 million of the total upfront cash payment was deposited into an escrow account to secure the Company’s indemnification obligations to King following the closing of the Transaction. Of the escrowed amount, $7.5 million was released to the Company in August 2007, and the remaining $7.5 million, plus interest of $0.6 million, was released to the Company in February 2008 and recorded as gain on sale of the AVINZA product line.

Prior to the AVINZA sale, the Company recorded accruals for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to AVINZA products when product sales were recognized as revenue under the sell-through method. Upon the AVINZA sale, the Company accrued for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to AVINZA products in the distribution channel which had not sold-through at the time of the AVINZA sale and for which the Company retained the liability subsequent to the sale. These products expire at various dates through June 30, 2009. The Company’s accruals for AVINZA rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts total $0.1 million and $0.1 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

Additionally, and pursuant to the terms of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, the Company retained the liability for returns of product from wholesalers that had been sold by the Company prior to the close of the transaction. Accordingly, as part of the accounting for the gain on the sale of AVINZA, the Company recorded a reserve for AVINZA product returns. AVINZA products sold by the Company may be returned through a specified period subsequent to the product expiration date, but no later than December 31, 2009. Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, the Company previously did not record a reserve for returns from wholesalers. The Company’s reserve for AVINZA returns is $4.8 million and $8.2 million as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

3. Financial Instruments

The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including available-for-sale fixed income and equity securities and other equity securities. The fair value of these certain financial assets and liabilities was determined using the following inputs at March 31, 2009:

 

     Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
          Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets
   Significant Other
Observable Inputs
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
     Total    (Level 1)    (Level 2)    (Level 3)

Assets:

           

Fixed income available-for-sale securities

   $ 47,684    $ 46,109    $ 1,575    $ —  
                           

Total assets

   $ 47,684    $ 46,109    $ 1,575    $ —  
                           

Liabilities:

           

Warrant liability

   $ 673    $ —      $ —      $ 673
                           

Total liabilities

   $ 673    $ —      $ —      $ 673
                           

The Company’s short-term investments are fixed income available-for-sale securities and include U.S. Government Notes and Corporate Discount Commercial Paper. The fair value of the Company’s short-term investments are determined using quoted market prices in active markets. The fair value of the warrant liability is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which uses certain significant observable inputs, including stock price (quoted market prices in active market), warrant exercise price (defined in warrant agreement), expected life of warrant (defined in warrant agreement), dividend yields (determined by the Company), and risk-free interest rate (quoted market prices based on expected life assumption).

4. AVINZA Co-Promotion

In February 2003, the Company and Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. (“Organon”) announced that they had entered into an agreement for the co-promotion of AVINZA. Subsequently in January 2006, the Company signed an agreement with Organon that terminated the AVINZA co-promotion agreement between the two companies and returned AVINZA co-promotion rights to Ligand. In consideration of the early termination and return of rights under the terms of the agreement, the Company agreed to and paid Organon $37.8 million in October 2006. The Company further agreed to and paid Organon $10.0 million in January 2007, in consideration of certain minimum

 

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sales calls during a Transition Period. In addition, following the Transition Period, the Company agreed to make royalty payments to Organon equal to 6.5% of AVINZA net sales through December 31, 2012 and thereafter 6.0% through patent expiration, currently anticipated to be November of 2017.

On February 26, 2007, the Company consummated its agreement with King pursuant to which King acquired all of the Company’s rights in and to AVINZA, assumed certain liabilities, and reimbursed the Company the $47.8 million previously paid to Organon (comprised of the $37.8 million paid in October 2006 and the $10.0 million that the Company paid in January 2007). King also assumed the Company’s co-promote termination obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA. In connection with King’s purchase of AVINZA, Organon did not consent to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation to King. Accordingly, the Company remains liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of the obligation. Therefore, the Company recorded an asset as of February 26, 2007 to recognize King’s assumption of the obligation, while continuing to carry the co-promote termination liability in the Company’s consolidated financial statements to recognize the Company’s legal obligation as primary obligor to Organon as required under SFAS No. 140, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities. This asset represents a non-interest bearing receivable for future payments to be made by King and is recorded at its fair value based on management’s estimate of future sales of AVINZA. As of March 31, 2009 and thereafter, the receivable and liability will remain equal and adjusted each quarter for changes in the estimated fair value of the obligation including for any changes in the estimate of future net AVINZA product sales. This receivable will be assessed on a quarterly basis for impairment (e.g., in the event King defaults on the assumed obligation to pay Organon). As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the fair value of the co-promote termination liability (and the corresponding receivable) was determined using a discount rate of 15%.

On an annual basis, management reviews the carrying value of the co-promote termination liability. Due to assumptions and judgments inherent in determining the estimates of future net AVINZA sales through November 2017, the actual amount of net AVINZA sales used to determine the current fair value of the Company’s co-promote termination asset and liability may be materially different from current estimates.

A summary of the co-promote termination liability as of March 31, 2009 is as follows (in thousands):

 

Net present value of payments based on estimated future net AVINZA product sales as of December 31, 2008

   $ 58,482  

Assumed payments made by King or assignee

     (2,113 )

March 31, 2009 fair value adjustment of estimated future payments based on estimated future net AVINZA product sales

     1,634  
        

Total co-promote termination liability as of March 31, 2009

     58,003  

Less: current portion of co-promote termination liability as of March 31, 2009

     (11,197 )
        

Long-term portion of co-promote termination liability as of March 31, 2009

   $ 46,806  
        

5. Property Leases

The Company leases an 82,500 square foot office and laboratory facility in San Diego, California through November 2021. Under the terms of the lease, the Company pays a basic annual rent of $3.0 million (subject to an annual fixed percentage increase, as set forth in the agreement), plus a 1% annual management fee, property taxes and other normal and necessary expenses associated with the lease including, but not limited to, utilities and repairs and maintenance. The Company has the right to extend the lease for two five-year terms and will have the first right of refusal to lease, at market rates, any facilities built on the sold lots.

The Company leases approximately 99,000 square feet in three facilities in Cranbury, New Jersey under leases that expire in 2016. The leases for the New Jersey facilities provide generally for scheduled rent increases, options to extend the leases with certain changes to the terms of the lease agreement, and refurbishment allowances.

The Company also leases an office and research facility in San Diego, California under an operating lease arrangement through July 2015. The Company fully vacated this facility in February 2008. The lease agreement provides for increases in annual rents based on changes in the Consumer Price Index or fixed percentage increases ranging from 3% to 7%. Commencing January 2008, the Company sublet this facility through July 2015. The

 

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sublease agreement provides for a 3% increase in annual rents. As of March 31, 2009, the Company expects to receive aggregate future minimum lease payments totaling $5.5 million (nondiscounted) over the duration of the sublease agreement. In accordance with SFAS No. 146 (As Amended) “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” the Company recorded a net charge to operating expenses of $4.3 million for exit costs when it fully ceased use of this facility in the first quarter of 2008. The net charge consisted of a $6.5 million charge for future rent payments offset by a $2.3 million reversal of deferred rent. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, $4.8 million and $5.0 million, respectively, has been recorded as a liability for these exit costs on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

6. Litigation

The SEC issued a formal order of private investigation dated September 7, 2005, which was furnished to the Company’s legal counsel on September 29, 2005, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Company’s restatement of its consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, and for the first three quarters of 2004. In April 2009, the Company received notification from the SEC that it had completed its investigation and is not recommending enforcement action at this time against the Company relating to the previously disclosed SEC investigation in connection with the restatement of the Company’s financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 and for the first three quarters of 2004. As a result, in April 2009, the Company received $10.3 million from a restricted indemnity account which had been established in a trust account with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to the Company’s independent directors and to the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, to support the Company’s indemnification obligations to continuing and departing directors in connection with the SEC investigation and related matters.

On March 4, 2008, The Rockefeller University (Rockefeller) filed suit against the Company alleging, among other things, a breach by the Company of their September 30, 1992 license agreement with Rockefeller, as well as other causes of action for unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, specific performance to perform an audit and declaratory relief. In February 2009, the Company reached a settlement with Rockefeller whereby the parties resolved all disputes that have arisen between them, including Rockefeller’s primary claim relating to the development of PROMACTA as well the Company’s counterclaims. As part of the settlement, the parties executed mutual releases and agreed to jointly seek dismissal with prejudice of all claims, demands and causes of action, whether known or unknown, arising out of or based upon the license agreement, the ongoing litigation, PROMACTA, LGD-4665, and any other compound developed by the Company that was subject to the license agreement. The Company also agreed to pay Rockefeller $5.0 million immediately upon settlement, $1.0 million on or before February 10, 2010, $1.0 million on or before February 10, 2011, and 50% of any milestone payment and 5.88% to 7.0% of certain royalties, in each case received by the Company pursuant to an agreement with SmithKline Beecham Corporation (now known as GlaxoSmithKline) entered into on December 29, 1994. The Company also agreed to pay Rockefeller 1.5% of world-wide net sales of LGD-4665 as certain payments are received by the Company pursuant to its agreement with SmithKline Beecham Corporation entered into on December 17, 2008. As of March 31, 2009, the Company has recorded a liability of $2.0 million related to the settlement, which is included in other long term liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets.

On October 10, 2008, the Company received notice that a putative class action complaint was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer County (Equity Division) by Allen Heilman, one of Phamacopeia’s stockholders, against Pharmacopeia, the members of its Board of Directors, Ligand and two of Ligand’s wholly owned subsidiaries. The complaint generally alleges that Pharmacopeia’s Board of Directors’ decision to enter into the proposed transaction with Ligand on the terms contained in the proposed merger agreement constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty and gives rise to other unspecified state law claims. The complaint also alleges that Ligand and two of Ligand’s wholly owned subsidiaries aided and abetted Pharmacopeia’s Board of Directors’ breach of fiduciary duty. In addition, the complaint alleges that the named plaintiff will seek “equitable relief,” including among other things, an order preliminarily and permanently enjoining the proposed transaction. While the Company believes that neither Ligand nor Pharmacopeia engaged in any wrongful acts, in an effort to minimize the cost and expense of any litigation, in December 2008, the Company entered into a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with the named plaintiff providing for the settlement of the lawsuit. Subject to court approval and further definitive documentation, the MOU provides a release and settlement by the purported class of all claims against Pharmacopeia, Ligand, and Ligand’s affiliates and agents in connection with the complaint. Pursuant to the MOU, the Company has agreed not to oppose any fee application by plaintiffs’ counsel that does not exceed $0.2 million, which has been recorded as a liability at March 31, 2009.

In addition, from time to time the Company is subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to matters arising out of the normal course of its business. Due to the uncertainty of the ultimate outcome of these matters, the impact on future financial results is not subject to reasonable estimates.

 

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7. Acquisition of Pharmacopeia

On December 23, 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of Pharmacopeia, Inc., a clinical development stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing novel small molecule therapeutics to address significant medical needs, under which the Company acquired all outstanding shares of Pharmacopeia in a cash and stock transaction. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination. In connection with the acquisition, the Company issued 17,997,039 shares of common stock to Pharmacopeia stockholders, or 0.5985 shares for each outstanding Pharmacopeia share, as well as $9.3 million in cash. The value of the common stock issued was derived from the number of Ligand common shares issued at a price of $3.14 per share determined by the average closing price of Ligand shares for the two days prior, the day of, and the two days subsequent to the public announcement on September 24, 2008. In addition, Pharmacopeia security holders received a contingent value right (CVR) that entitles each holder the right to receive a proportionate share of an aggregate of $15.0 million if Ligand enters into a license, sale, development, marketing or option agreement with respect to any product candidate from Pharmacopeia’s DARA program (other than any agreement with Bristol-Meyers Squibb or any of its affiliates) on or prior to December 31, 2011. The estimated fair value of the CVRs is not included in the total purchase price as the Company’s management has deemed, based on currently available information, that the likelihood of payment is not probable. The results of Pharmacopeia’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements commencing December 23, 2008.

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company finalized its purchase price allocation for Pharmacopeia, which resulted in an increase in transaction costs of $0.3 million and decreases in property and equipment of $1.1 million, liabilities assumed of $4.4 million and goodwill of $3.0 million. The components of the final purchase price allocation for Pharmacopeia are as follows:

 

Purchase Consideration:

  

(in thousands)

  

Fair value of common stock issued to Pharmacopeia shareholders

   $ 56,439  

Cash paid to Pharmacopeia shareholders

     9,337  

Transaction costs

     4,558  
        

Total purchase consideration

   $ 70,334  
        

Allocation of Purchase Price:

  

(in thousands)

  

Cash acquired

   $ 17,754  

Other current assets

     1,390  

Property and equipment

     10,408  

Acquired intangible assets

     2,000  

In-process research and development

     72,000  

Goodwill

     347  

Other assets

     144  

Liabilities assumed

     (33,709 )
        
   $ 70,334  
        

8. Warrant Liability

In connection with the acquisition of Pharmacopeia, the Company assumed approximately 867,637 warrants (as adjusted as a result of the merger from the original 1,450,000) to purchase its common stock. Under EITF 00-19, to qualify as permanent equity, an equity derivative must permit the issuer to settle in unregistered shares. Under securities law, if the warrants were issued in connection with a public offering and have a cash settlement feature at the holder’s option, a company does not have the ability to settle in unregistered shares. Therefore, the warrants cannot be classified as permanent equity and are instead classified as a liability. The warrants issued as part of Pharmacopeia’s equity financing in October 2006 meet this criteria, and have been recorded as a liability in the accompanying balance sheet. The fair value of the warrants will be remeasured at each reporting date until the warrants are exercised or have expired. Changes in the fair value of the warrants are reported in the statement of operations as income (decreases) or expense (increases).

 

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At March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the fair value of the warrants was approximately $0.7 million and included in accrued liabilities.

The fair value of the warrants was calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008:

 

     March 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Risk-free interest rate

   1.2 %   1.0 %

Dividend yield

   —       —    

Expected volatility

   78 %   78 %

Expected term

   3.1 years     3.3 years  

9. Reductions in Workforce

In December 2008, Pharmacopeia announced a reduction in its workforce of thirty positions, twenty-two of which were eliminated effective December 31, 2008 and the remaining eight of which will be eliminated effective June 30, 2009. Accrued severance costs for those positions eliminated prior to December 31, 2008 of $0.1 million and $0.7 million were included in the accrued restructuring costs as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively. Also included in accrued restructuring costs was a $0.2 million of costs to exit a leased facility which is comprised of the difference between the remaining lease obligations of the abandoned operating leases, which run through the year 2016, and the Company’s estimate of potential future sublease income, discounted to present value.

10. Note Payable

In December 2006, Pharmacopeia entered into a loan and security agreement (the Line of Credit) with a lending institution to provide up to a total of $5.0 million in funding in the form of term loans, from time to time through December 2008. Term loans secured by laboratory equipment have a fixed term of 48 months. Term loans secured by all other collateral categories have a fixed term of 36 months.

As of December 31, 2008, the aggregate balance of term loans originated under the Line of Credit was approximately $3.4 million, of which approximately $2.1 million was classified as equipment financing obligations, long-term. Interest rates on these term loans range from 10.08% to 10.28%. The Company paid off the Line of Credit in full in January 2009.

11. Common Stock Subject to Conditional Redemption

During the three months ended March 31, 2009, the Company earned a milestone from Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer). Pursuant to the Company’s 1991 research agreement and 1996 settlement agreement with Pfizer, Pfizer elected to pay the milestone by returning 323,338 shares of stock it owns in the Company, which at the date the milestone was earned had a market value of $0.9 million. The Company is entitled to royalties on future sales from Pfizer, which pursuant to the 1996 settlement agreement, Pfizer may elect to pay by returning up to 665,230 shares of stock it owns in Ligand.

 

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ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Caution: This discussion and analysis may contain predictions, estimates and other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Item 1A “Risk Factors.” This outlook represents our current judgment on the future direction of our business. These statements include those related to our AVINZA and PROMACTA royalty revenues, product returns, and product development. Actual events or results may differ materially from our expectations. For example, there can be no assurance that our revenues or expenses will meet any expectations or follow any trend(s), that we will be able to retain our key employees or that we will be able to enter into any strategic partnerships or other transactions. We cannot assure you that we will receive expected AVINZA and PROMACTA royalties to support our ongoing business or that our internal or partnered pipeline products will progress in their development, gain marketing approval or achieve success in the market. In addition, ongoing or future arbitration, or litigation or disputes with third parties may have a material adverse effect on us. Such risks and uncertainties, and others, could cause actual results to differ materially from any future performance suggested. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of this quarterly report. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Our trademarks, trade names and service marks referenced herein include Ligand. Each other trademark, trade name or service mark appearing in this quarterly report belongs to its owner.

References to Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (“Ligand,” the “Company,” “we” or “our”) include our wholly owned subsidiaries — Ligand Pharmaceuticals (Canada) Incorporated; Ligand Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.; Seragen, Inc. (“Seragen”); Nexus Equity VI LLC (“Nexus”); and Pharmacopeia LLC.

Overview

We are a biotechnology company that focuses on drug discovery and early-stage development of pharmaceuticals that address critical unmet medical needs or that are more effective and/or safer than existing therapies, more convenient to administer and are cost effective. Our goal is to build a profitable company by generating income from research, milestone, and royalty revenues resulting from our collaborations with pharmaceutical partners.

On December 23, 2008, we acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Pharmacopeia, Inc., or Pharmacopeia. As consideration, we issued 18.0 million shares of our common stock to Pharmacopeia stockholders, or 0.5985 shares for each outstanding Pharmacopeia share, as well as approximately $9.3 million in cash. Security holders of Pharmacopeia also received contingent value rights, under which they could receive an aggregate cash payment of $15.0 million under certain circumstances. Pharmacopeia was a clinical development stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing novel small molecule therapeutics to address significant medical needs. Pharmacopeia’s strategy was to retain the rights to product candidates at least to clinical validation, and to continue development on its own New Drug Application, or NDA, filings and commercialization for selected indications. Pharmacopeia had a broad portfolio of clinical and preclinical candidates under development internally or by partners.

Our business strategy includes a targeted internal drug research and early-stage development capabilities. We also have research and development collaborations for our product candidates with numerous global pharmaceutical companies. We aim to create value for shareholders by advancing our internally developed programs through early clinical development and then entering licensing agreements with larger pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with substantially greater development and commercialization infrastructure. In addition to advancing our R&D programs, we expect to collect licensing fees and royalties from existing and future license agreements. We aim to build a profitable company by generating income from our corporate licenses.

We currently receive royalty revenues from King Pharmaceuticals, or King, and GlaxoSmithKline, or GSK. In February 2007, we completed the sale of our AVINZA product line to King. As a result of the sale, we received the right to future royalties on the net sales of AVINZA through 2017. Through October 2008, we received a 15% royalty on AVINZA net sales. Subsequent royalty payments are to be based upon calendar year net sales. If calendar year net sales are less than $200.0 million, the royalty payment due will be 5% of all net sales. If calendar year net sales are greater than $200.0 million, the royalty payment due will be 10% of all net sales less than $250.0 million, plus 15% of net sales greater than $250.0 million.

 

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In November 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, granted approval of GSK’s PROMACTA for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura, or ITP, who have had an insufficient response to corticosteroids, immunoglobulins or splenectomy. PROMACTA is the first oral thrombopoietin, or TPO, receptor agonist therapy for the treatment of adult patients with chronic ITP. As a result of the FDA’s approval of PROMACTA, we will be entitled to receive tiered royalties in the range of 4.7%-9.3% on annual net sales of PROMACTA. As part of a settlement agreement and mutual release we entered into on February 11, 2009 with The Rockefeller University, or Rockefeller, we agreed to pay a share of such royalties to Rockefeller.

In March 2009, Pfizer received approval from the European Commission (EC) for FABLYN® (lasofoxifene) Tablets, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women at increased risk of fracture. As a result, we earned a milestone which, pursuant to our 1991 research agreement and 1996 settlement agreement with Pfizer, Pfizer elected to pay by returning 323,338 shares of stock it owns in Ligand, which at the date the milestone was earned had a market value of $0.9 million. We are entitled to royalties on future sales from Pfizer, which pursuant to the 1996 settlement agreement, Pfizer may elect to pay by returning up to 665,230 shares of stock it owns in Ligand. Pfizer also submitted an NDA for osteoporosis treatment in December 2007. The FDA Advisory Committee in early September 2008 voted 9-3 in favor of approval of this drug and in January 2009, Pfizer received a complete response letter from the FDA requesting additional information for FABLYN. Pfizer is reviewing the letter and intends to work with the FDA to determine the appropriate next steps regarding its application. Pfizer has also submitted NDAs for osteoporosis prevention and vaginal atrophy, and the FDA issued non-approvable letters for both NDAs. Under the terms of our agreement with Pfizer, we are entitled to receive royalty payments equal to 6% of worldwide net sales of lasofoxifene for any indication. We previously sold to Royalty Pharma the rights to a total of 3% of net sales of lasofoxifene for a period of ten years following the first commercial sale of lasofoxifene. Accordingly, we will receive approximately 3% of worldwide net annual sales of lasofoxifene.

We also have the potential to receive near-term royalties on product candidates resulting from our research and development collaboration arrangements with third party pharmaceutical companies if and when any such product candidate is ultimately approved by the FDA and successfully marketed. Our near-term product candidates are discussed below.

In addition to the approval granted for GSK’s PROMACTA for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic ITP, the compound is also being studied for thrombocytopenia associated with chronic hepatitis C virus, chronic liver disease and oncology-related thrombocytopenia. Two Phase III studies in hepatitis C and one Phase III in chronic liver disease are ongoing. In December 2008, GSK submitted a marketing authorization application in the EU and international for Revolade (Eltrombopag) for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura, or ITP.

Bazedoxifene is a product candidate that resulted from a collaboration with Wyeth. Bazedoxifene is a synthetic drug that was specifically designed to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures while at the same time protecting breast and uterine tissue. In June 2006, Wyeth submitted an NDA for bazedoxifene to the FDA for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The FDA issued an approvable letter for bazedoxifene for this indication in April 2007. Wyeth received a second approvable letter in December 2007 and plans to have further discussions with the FDA to discuss the issues raised for the prevention indication. Wyeth also submitted a second NDA for bazedoxifene in the United States in July 2007 for the treatment of osteoporosis and a marketing authorization application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) in September 2007 for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Wyeth received a third approvable letter in the second quarter of 2008 for bazedoxifene for the treatment of osteoporosis. In the letter, the FDA requested information similar to that outlined in its approvable letter for bazedoxifene’s NDA for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis issued in December 2007. This included further analyses concerning the incidence of stroke and venous thrombotic events. Wyeth indicated that it will file a complete response in 2009 and expects the FDA will convene an advisory committee to review the pending NDAs for both the treatment and prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis with bazedoxifene. In April 2009, Wyeth received approval from the EC for CONBRIZA™ (bazefoxifene) for the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis in women at increased risk of fracture. As a result, we earned a $0.6 million milestone and are entitled to royalties on future sales.

Wyeth is also developing bazedoxifene in combination with PREMARIN (Aprela) for the treatment of moderate to severe menopausal vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, and for the prevention of post-menopausal osteoporosis. Two Phase III studies with bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens (Aprela), showed reduced number and severity of hot flashes in symptomatic postmenopausal women by up to 80 percent, when compared with placebo. Wyeth expects to file an initial NDA no earlier than the first half of 2010.

We previously sold to Royalty Pharma AG, or Royalty Pharma, the rights to a total of 3.0% of net sales of bazedoxifene for a period of ten years following the first commercial sale of each product. After giving effect to the royalty sale, we will receive 0.5% of the first $400.0 million in net annual sales. If net annual sales are between $400.0 million and $1.0 billion, we will receive a net royalty of 1.5% on the portion of net sales between $400.0

 

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million and $1.0 billion, and if annual sales exceed $1.0 billion, we will receive a net royalty of 2.5% on the portion of net sales exceeding $1.0 billion. Additionally, the royalty owed to Royalty Pharma may be reduced by one third if net product sales exceed certain thresholds across all indications.

In December 2008, we entered into an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with SmithKline Beecham Corporation, doing business as GSK. Pursuant to the terms of the GSK agreement, we granted GSK the exclusive right to develop, manufacture and commercialize our LGD-4665 product candidate, as well as all other TPO-related molecules discovered by us. Under the terms of the GSK agreement, GSK paid us $5 million as an upfront license fee and agreed to pay us up to $158.0 million in development and commercial milestones and a royalty on net sales. In the first year of sales, royalties will be one-half of the regular royalty rate. GSK has the exclusive right to develop, manufacture and commercialize LGD-4665, as well as other TPO-related molecules discovered by us. GSK will direct all product development and commercialization and will be responsible for all costs going forward for development, patent maintenance and prosecution, and commercialization.

Results of Operations

Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $9.5 million, compared to $4.9 million for the same 2008 period. Our loss from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $7.5 million, compared to $9.7 million for the same 2008 period.

Royalty Revenue

Royalty revenues were $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $4.9 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease in royalty revenues of $2.2 million is primarily due to a reduction in the contractual royalty rate from 15% to 5% under our agreement with King for AVINZA sales.

Collaborative Research and Development and Other Revenues

We recorded collaborative research and development and other revenues of $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to zero for the same period in 2008. The increase of $6.7 million is due to $2.4 million of milestones earned from Pfizer, Schering-Plough and GlaxoSmithKline as well as $4.3 million in collaboration revenues resulting from agreements acquired from Pharmacopeia.

 

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Research and Development Expenses

The major components of research and development expenses are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     2009    2008

Internal research programs

   $ 3,434    $ 3,688

Collaborative research

     3,504      —  

Development

     3,524      3,477
             

Total research and development

   $ 10,462    $ 7,165
             

Research and development expenses were $10.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $7.2 million for the same 2008 period. The increase of $3.3 million is primarily due to the costs associated with servicing our collaboration agreements that were acquired from Pharmacopeia in December 2008.

A summary of our significant internal research and development programs as of March 31, 2009 is as follows:

 

Program

  

Disease/Indication

  

Development Phase

Dual-Acting angiotensin and endothelin Receptor Antagonist (DARA)    Diabetic Nephropathy*    Phase II
Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) (agonists)    Muscle wasting and frailty    Pre-clinical
Chemokine Receptor (CCR1)    Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases    Pre-clinical
Small molecule Erythropoiein (EPO) receptor agonists    Chemotherapy-induced anemia and anemia due to kidney failure    Research
Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulators (SGRMs)    Inflammation and cancer    Research
Androgen-independent Prostate Cancer (AiPC)    Prostate cancer    Research

 

* Phase II clinical trials conducted so far have studied patients with hypertension

We do not provide forward-looking estimates of costs and time to complete our ongoing research and development projects, as such estimates would involve a high degree of uncertainty. Uncertainties include our inability to predict the outcome of complex research, our inability to predict the results of clinical studies, regulatory requirements placed upon us by regulatory authorities such as the FDA and EMEA, our inability to predict the decisions of our collaborative partners, our ability to fund research and development programs, competition from other entities of which we may become aware in future periods, predictions of market potential from products that may be derived from our research and development efforts, and our ability to recruit and retain personnel or third-party research organizations with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform certain research. Refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for additional discussion of the uncertainties surrounding our research and development initiatives.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses were $6.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $10.1 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease of $3.3 million is primarily due to $4.1 million of expenses incurred during the first quarter of 2008 as a result of exiting a facility, which was partially offset by an increase in legal expenses associated with settlements reached with Rockefeller University and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the first quarter of 2009.

 

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Accretion of Deferred Gain on Sale Leaseback

On November 9, 2006, we sold real property located in San Diego, California for a sale price of $47.6 million. This property includes our corporate headquarter building totaling approximately 82,500 square feet, the land on which the building is situated, and two adjacent vacant lots. As part of the sale transaction, we agreed to leaseback the building for a period of 15 years. In accordance with SFAS 13, Accounting for Leases, we recognized an immediate pre-tax gain on the sale transaction of $3.1 million and deferred a gain of $29.5 million on the sale of the building. The deferred gain is recognized on a straight-line basis over the 15 year term of the lease at a rate of approximately $2.0 million per year. The amount of the deferred gain recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was $0.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Interest Income

Interest income was $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $0.9 million for the same period in 2008. The decrease of $0.8 million is primarily due to lower yields as a result of macro-economic conditions as well as lower cash and investment balances.

Income Taxes

We recorded no provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2009 as we did not realize any taxable income from either continuing or discontinued operations.

We had losses from continuing operations and income from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008. In accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, the income tax benefit generated by the loss from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 of $1.8 million captures the deemed use of losses from continuing operations used to offset the income from our AVINZA product line that was sold on February 26, 2007.

Net income tax expense combining both continuing and discontinued operations was $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008. This expense reflects the net tax due on taxable income generated by discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 that was not fully offset by net operating losses and research and development credit carryforwards due to federal and state alternative minimum tax requirements, and from state income taxes for certain states incurred after full utilization of state net operating loss and research and development credits.

Discontinued Operations

Oncology Product Line

On September 7, 2006, we and Eisai Inc., a Delaware corporation and Eisai Co., Ltd., a Japanese company (which we collectively refer to as Eisai), entered into a purchase agreement, or the Oncology Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which Eisai agreed to acquire all of our worldwide rights in and to our oncology products, including, among other things, all related inventory, equipment, records and intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities as set forth in the Oncology Purchase Agreement. The Oncology product line included our four marketed oncology drugs: ONTAK, Targretin capsules, Targretin gel and Panretin gel.

Prior to the Oncology sale, we recorded accruals for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to Oncology products when product sales were recognized as revenue under the sell-through method. Upon the Oncology sale, we accrued for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to Oncology products in the distribution channel which had not sold-through at the time of the Oncology sale and for which we retained the liability subsequent to the Oncology sale.

Additionally, and pursuant to the terms of the Oncology Purchase Agreement, we retained the liability for returns of product from wholesalers that had been sold by us prior to the close of the transaction. Accordingly, as part of the accounting for the gain on the sale of the Oncology product line, we recorded a reserve for Oncology product returns. Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, we previously did not record a reserve for returns from wholesalers.

 

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During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, we recognized a $0.2 million and $0.9 million pre-tax gain, respectively, due to subsequent changes in certain estimates and liabilities recorded as of the sale date.

AVINZA Product Line

On September 6, 2006, we and King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or King, entered into a purchase agreement, or the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which King agreed to acquire all of our rights in and to AVINZA in the United States, its territories and Canada, including, among other things, all AVINZA inventory, records and related intellectual property, and assume certain liabilities as set forth in the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, which we collectively refer to as the Transaction.

Pursuant to the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, at the closing on February 26, 2007, which we refer to as the Closing Date, we received $280.4 million in net cash proceeds, which is net of $15.0 million that was funded into an escrow account to support any potential indemnification claims made by King following the closing of the Transaction.

In connection with the sale, we agreed to indemnify King in certain cases for a period of 30 months after the closing of the Transaction, including any breach of certain of our representations, warranties or covenants contained in the Avinza Purchase Agreement. Under our agreement with King, $15.0 million of the total upfront cash payment was deposited into an escrow account to secure our indemnification obligations to King following the closing. Of the escrowed amount, $7.5 million was released to us in August 2007, and the remaining $7.5 million, plus interest of $0.6 million, was released to us in February 2008 and recorded as gain on sale of our AVINZA product line.

Prior to the AVINZA sale, we recorded accruals for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to AVINZA products when product sales were recognized as revenue under the sell-through method. Upon the AVINZA sale, we accrued for rebates, chargebacks, and other discounts related to AVINZA products in the distribution channel which had not sold-through at the time of the AVINZA sale and for which we retained the liability subsequent to the sale.

Additionally, and pursuant to the terms of the AVINZA Purchase Agreement, we retained the liability for returns of product from wholesalers that had been sold by us prior to the close of the Transaction. Accordingly, as part of the accounting for the gain on the sale of AVINZA, we recorded a reserve for AVINZA product returns. Under the sell-through revenue recognition method, we previously did not record a reserve for returns from wholesalers.

During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, we recognized a gain of $2.1 million and $8.3 million, respectively. The gain for the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily related to subsequent changes in certain estimates and liabilities recorded as of the sale date. The gain for the three months ended March 31, 2008 primarily related to the $8.1 million pre-tax gain resulting from the release of funds from an escrow account as well as changes in certain estimates and liabilities recorded as of the sale date.

Income Taxes

For the three months ended March 31, 2008 we recorded income tax expense on discontinued operations of $3.5 million. The tax expense primarily reflects the net tax due on taxable income that was generated by the release of escrow funds from the sale of our AVINZA product line.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have financed our operations through private and public offerings of our equity securities, collaborative research and development and other revenues, issuance of convertible notes, product sales and the subsequent sales of our commercial assets, capital and operating lease transactions, accounts receivable factoring and equipment financing arrangements and investment income. In March 2007, we announced that our board of directors had authorized a stock repurchase program under Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of up to $100 million of shares of our common stock in the open market and negotiated purchases over a period of 12 months. We repurchased an aggregate of 6.5 million shares of our common stock totaling $41.2 million prior to the close of the repurchase period on March 31, 2008.

Working capital was $14.8 million at March 31, 2009 compared to $23.3 million at December 31, 2008. Available cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $52.6 million as of March 31, 2009 compared to $80.7 million as of December 31, 2007. We primarily invest our cash in United States government and investment grade corporate debt securities.

 

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On July 19, 2007, we purchased $5.0 million of commercial paper issued by Golden Key Ltd. The investment was highly-rated and within our investment policy at the time of purchase, but during the third quarter of 2007, large credit rating agencies downgraded the quality of this security. In addition, as a result of not meeting certain liquidity covenants, the assets were assigned to a trustee who established a committee of the largest senior credit holders to determine the next steps. Subsequently, Golden Key defaulted on its obligation to settle the security on the stated maturity date of October 10, 2007. Based on available information, we currently estimate that we will be able to recover approximately $1.6 million on this security. Accordingly, we adjusted the carrying value by recording an impairment loss of $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2009. Further, liquidity in the capital markets has continued to be volatile. Accordingly, we may be exposed to additional impairment for this investment until it is fully recovered.

In April 2009, we received notification from the SEC that it had completed its investigation and will not recommend enforcement action against us relating to the previously disclosed SEC investigation in connection with the restatement of our financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 and for the first three quarters of 2004. As a result, in April 2009, we received $10.3 million from a restricted indemnity account which had been established in a trust account with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to our independent directors and to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors, to support our indemnification obligations to continuing and departing directors in connection with the SEC investigation and related matters.

Based on our current business outlook, we believe our currently available cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments as well as our current and future royalty revenues will be sufficient to satisfy our anticipated operating and capital requirements through at least the next twelve months. Our future operating and capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to: the pace of scientific progress in our research and development programs; the magnitude of these programs; the scope and results of preclinical testing and clinical trials; the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals; the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims; competing technological and market developments; the amount of royalties on sales of AVINZA and PROMACTA; and the efforts of our collaborative partners. We will also consider additional equipment financing arrangements similar to arrangements currently in place.

Operating Activities

Operating activities used cash of $22.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $5.9 million for the same period in 2008. The cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 includes $8.5 million of non-recurring litigation settlement payments to Rockefeller University and the Salk Institute.

The use of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2009 reflects a net loss of $5.1 million, adjusted by $2.4 million of gain from discontinued operations and $1.7 million of non-cash items to reconcile the net loss to net cash used in operations. These reconciling items primarily reflect the recognition of $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expense, depreciation of assets of $0.8 million, realized loss on investment of $0.1 million, non-cash lease costs of $0.3 million and the amortization of acquired intangible assets of $0.2 million, partially offset by the accretion of deferred gain on the sale leaseback of the building of $0.5 million. The use of cash during the three months ended March 31, 2009 is further impacted by changes in operating assets and liabilities due primarily to decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $3.9 million, a decrease in accrued litigation settlement costs of $8.5 million, an increase in accounts receivable, net of $2.7 million and a decrease in deferred revenue of $2.2 million partially offset by a decrease in other current assets of $0.8 million. Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations was $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

The use of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2008 reflects a net loss of $3.9 million, adjusted by $5.8 million of gain from discontinued operations and $6.1 million of non-cash items to reconcile the net loss to net cash used in operations. These reconciling items primarily reflect the recognition of $1.0 million of stock-based compensation expense, depreciation of assets of $0.3 million, realized loss on investment of $0.5 million, non-cash lease costs of $4.1 million and the write-off of assets of $0.7 million, partially offset by the accretion of deferred gain on the sale leaseback of the building of $0.5 million. The use of cash during the three months ended March 31, 2008 is further impacted by changes in operating assets and liabilities due primarily to decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $4.4 million partially offset by decreases in other current assets of $2.0 million. Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations was $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

 

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Investing Activities

Investing activities provided cash of $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $5.8 million of cash used in investing activities for the same 2008 period.

Cash provided by investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily reflects the net proceeds from the sale of short-term investments of $4.1 million partially offset by purchases of property and equipment of $0.2 million. Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations was zero for the three months ended March 31, 2009.

Cash used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2008 primarily reflects the net purchases of short-term investments of $13.6 million and $0.2 million of purchases of property and equipment. Net cash provided by investing activities of discontinued operations was $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used cash of $3.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $2.1 million for the same 2008 period.

Cash used for the three months ended March 31, 2009 primarily reflects payments under equipment financing obligations of $0.2 million and the repayment of debt of $3.4 million related to an equipment line of credit acquired from Pharmacopeia that was paid off in February 2009.

Cash used for the three months ended March 31, 2008 primarily reflects payments under equipment financing obligations of $0.5 million and repurchases of our common stock of $1.6 million.

None of the cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 relates to discontinued operations.

Other

As part of our alliances with GSK, Wyeth, Cephalon and Schering-Plough and our discovery collaboration agreement with BMS, we have received up-front cash payments and licenses to certain product candidates. In connection with these agreements, we are obligated to perform significant research and development activities over multiple years and as such, expect to incur significant costs performing such activities. The following table provides the period over which these research and development activities are to be provided, as well as the deferred revenue currently recorded for each agreement as of March 31, 2009:

 

Collaborative Agreement

   Expiration of
Initial Research Term
   Deferred Revenue

2007 Schering-Plough Agreement

   February 2012    $ 3,237

BMS Discovery Collaboration Agreement

   December 2010      7,642

GSK Agreement

   March 2011      5,578

Wyeth Agreement

   December 2009      1,373

Cephalon Agreement

   May 2009      196

Certain of our property and equipment is pledged as collateral under various equipment financing arrangements. As of March 31, 2009, $0.4 million was outstanding under such arrangements with $0.3 million classified as current. During January 2009, we paid off the remaining $3.4 million of financing obligations acquired from Pharmacopeia, Inc. in December 2008.

In connection with the acquisition of Pharmacopeia on December 23, 2008, Pharmacopeia security holders received a contingent value right that entitles them to an aggregate cash payment of $15.0 million under certain circumstances.

Leases and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We lease our office and research facilities under agreements accounted for as operating leases with varying terms through November 2021. The agreements provide for increases in annual rents based on changes in the Consumer Price Index or fixed percentage increases ranging from 3% to 7%. Commencing January 2008, we also sublease a portion of our facilities through July 2015. The sublease agreement provides for a 3% increase in annual rents.

 

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Contractual Obligations

As of March 31, 2009, future minimum payments due under our contractual obligations are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Payments Due by Period
     Total    Less than 1 year    1-3 years    3-5 years    More than 5 years

Capital lease obligations (1)

   $ 423    $ 368    $ 55    $ —      $ —  

Operating lease obligations (2)

     81,209      7,853      16,173      16,827      40,356

Consulting agreements

     489      489      —        —        —  

Co-promote termination liability (3)

     —        —        —        —        —  
                                  

Total contractual obligations

   $ 82,121    $ 8,710    $ 16,228    $ 16,827    $ 40,356
                                  

 

(1)      Includes interest payments as follows:

   $ 21    $ 19    $ 2    $    $

(2)      We lease an office and research facility under an operating lease arrangement through July 2015. Commencing January 2008, we sublet this facility through July 2015. The sublease agreement provides for a 3% increase in annual rents. As of March 31, 2009, we expect to receive aggregate future minimum lease payments totaling $5.5 million (nondiscounted) over the duration of the sublease agreement as follows: less than one year, $0.8 million; one to three years, $1.7 million; three to five years, $1.8 million; and more than five years, $1.2 million.

(3)      Our co-promote termination obligation to Organon was assumed by King pursuant to the AVINZA Purchase Agreement. However, as Organon did not consent to the legal assignment of the obligation to King, we remain liable to Organon in the event of King’s default of the obligation. We have excluded payments under the co-promote termination liability from the table as amounts are expected to be reimbursed by King. As of March 31, 2009, the total estimated amount of the obligation is $58.0 million on an undiscounted basis.

As of March 31, 2009, we have net open purchase orders (defined as total open purchase orders at year end less any accruals or invoices charged to or amounts paid against such purchase orders) totaling approximately $4.9 million. We plan to spend approximately $0.8 million on capital expenditures during the remainder of 2009.

 

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

At March 31, 2009, our investment portfolio included fixed-income securities of $49.0 million. These securities are subject to interest rate risk and will decline in value if interest rates increase. However, due to the short duration of our investment portfolio, an immediate 10% change in interest rates is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. At March 31, 2009, we also have certain equipment financing arrangements with variable rates of interest. Due to the relative insignificance of such arrangements, however, an immediate 10% change in interest rates would have no material impact on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Declines in interest rates over time will, however, reduce our interest income, while increases in interest rates over time will increase our interest expense.

We do not have a significant level of transactions denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars and as a result we have limited foreign currency exchange rate risk. The effect of an immediate 10% change in foreign exchange rates would have no material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report, which we refer to as the Evaluation Date. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded as of the Evaluation Date that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective such that the information relating to us, including our consolidated subsidiaries, required to be disclosed in our SEC reports (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that there has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting during that quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The SEC issued a formal order of private investigation dated September 7, 2005, to investigate the circumstances surrounding restatement of our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, and for the first three quarters of 2004. In April 2009, the Company received notification from the SEC that it had completed its investigation and is not recommending enforcement action against the Company at this time relating to the previously disclosed SEC investigation in connection with the restatement of the Company’s financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 and for the first three quarters of 2004. As a result, in April 2009, the Company received $10.4 million from a restricted indemnity account which had been established in a trust account with Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel to the Company’s independent directors and to the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, to support the Company’s indemnification obligations to continuing and departing directors in connection with the SEC investigation and related matters.

We and Seragen, Inc., our subsidiary, were named parties to Sergio M. Oliver, et al. v. Boston University, et al., a shareholder class action filed on December 17, 1998 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware. We and Seragen were dismissed from the action, but such dismissal is subject to appeal and we and Seragen may have possible indemnification obligations with respect to certain defendants. As of March 31, 2009, we have not accrued an indemnification obligation based on our assessment that our responsibility for any such obligation is not probable or estimable.

On March 4, 2008, Rockefeller filed suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, against us alleging, among other things, a breach by us of our September 30, 1992 license agreement with Rockefeller, as well as other causes of action for unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, specific performance to perform an audit and declaratory relief. In February 2009, we reached a settlement with Rockefeller whereby the parties resolved all disputes that have arisen between them, including Rockefeller’s primary claim relating to the development of PROMACTA as well our counterclaims. As part of the settlement, the parties executed mutual releases and agreed to jointly seek dismissal with prejudice of all claims, demands and causes of action, whether known or unknown, arising out of or based upon the license agreement, the ongoing litigation, PROMACTA, LGD-4665, and any other compound developed by us that was subject to the license agreement. We also agreed to pay Rockefeller $5.0 million immediately upon settlement, $1.0 million on or before February 10, 2010, $1.0 million on or before February 10, 2011, and 50% of any milestone payment and 5.88% to 7.0% of certain royalties, in each case received by us pursuant to an agreement with SmithKline Beecham Corporation (now known as GlaxoSmithKline) entered into on December 29, 1994. We also agreed to pay Rockefeller 1.5% of world-wide net sales of LGD-4665 as certain payments are received by us pursuant to our agreement with SmithKline Beecham Corporation entered into on December 17, 2008. As of March 31, 2009, we have recorded a liability of $2.0 million related to the settlement.

On October 10, 2008, we received notice that a putative class action complaint was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer County (Equity Division) by Allen Heilman, one of Phamacopeia’s stockholders, against Pharmacopeia, the members of its Board of Directors, us and two of our wholly owned subsidiaries. The complaint generally alleges that Pharmacopeia’s Board of Directors’ decision to enter into the proposed transaction with us on the terms contained in the proposed merger agreement constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty and gives rise to other unspecified state law claims. The complaint also alleges that we and two of our wholly owned subsidiaries aided and abetted Pharmacopeia’s Board of Directors’ breach of fiduciary duty. In addition, the complaint alleges that the named plaintiff will seek “equitable relief,” including among other things, an order preliminarily and permanently enjoining the proposed transaction. While we believe that neither Ligand nor Pharmacopeia engaged in any wrongful acts, in an effort to minimize the cost and expense of any litigation, in December 2008, we entered into a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, with the named plaintiff providing for the settlement of the lawsuit. Subject to court approval and further definitive documentation, the MOU provides a release and settlement by the purported class of all claims against Pharmacopeia, us, and our affiliates and agents in connection with the complaint. Pursuant to the MOU we have agreed not to oppose any fee application by plaintiffs’ counsel that does not exceed $0.2 million, which has been recorded as a liability at March 31, 2009.

In addition, from time to time we are subject to various lawsuits and claims with respect to matters arising out of the normal course of our business. Due to the uncertainty of the ultimate outcome of these matters, the impact on future financial results is not subject to reasonable estimates.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The following is a summary description of some of the many risks we face in our business including any risk factors as to which there may have been a material change from those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. You should carefully review these risks in evaluating our business, including the businesses of our subsidiaries. You should also consider the other information described in this report.

We have marked with an asterisk (*) those risk factors that reflect substantive changes from the risk factors included in our previously filed Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Risks Related To Us and Our Business.

We are substantially dependent on AVINZA and PROMACTA royalties for our revenues.

King is obligated to pay us royalties based on its sales of AVINZA and GSK is obligated to pay us royalties on its sales of PROMACTA. These royalties represent and will for some time represent substantially all of our ongoing revenue. Although we may also receive royalties and milestones from our partners in various past and future collaborations, the amount of revenue from such royalties and milestones is unknown and highly uncertain. As a result, any setback that may occur with respect to AVINZA or PROMACTA could significantly impair our operating results and/or reduce the market price of our stock. Setbacks could include problems with shipping, distribution, manufacturing, product safety, marketing, government licenses and approvals, intellectual property rights, competition with existing or new products and physician or patient acceptance of the products, as well as higher than expected total rebates, returns or discounts.

King and GSK’s sales efforts for AVINZA and PROMACTA, respectively, could be affected by a number of factors and decisions regarding their organizations, operations, and activities as well as events both related and unrelated to AVINZA or PROMACTA, including sales force reorganizations and lower than expected sales calls and prescription volumes. AVINZA and PROMACTA could also face stiffer competition from existing or future products. The negative impact on the sales of AVINZA or PROMACTA will negatively affect our royalties, revenues and earnings.

Sales of AVINZA and PROMACTA may also be negatively impacted by higher than expected discounts (especially pharmacy benefit management/group purchasing organization rebates and Medicaid rebates, which can be substantial), returns and chargebacks and/or slower than expected market penetration. Other setbacks that AVINZA could face in the sustained-release opioid market include abuse issues and the inability to obtain sufficient quotas of morphine from the Drug Enforcement Agency to support production requirements.

AVINZA or PROMACTA could also face regulatory action and product safety issues. For example, the FDA previously requested expanded warnings on the AVINZA label to alert doctors and patients to the dangers of using AVINZA with alcohol. Changes were subsequently made to the label. The FDA also requested clinical studies to investigate the risks associated with taking AVINZA with alcohol. Any additional warnings, studies and any further regulatory action could have significant adverse effects on AVINZA sales.

On September 10, 2007, King reported that Actavis, a manufacturer of generic pharmaceutical products headquartered in Iceland, had filed with the FDA an Abbreviated New Drug Application, or ANDA, with a Paragraph IV Certification pertaining to AVINZA, the rights to which were acquired by King from us in February 2007. According to the report, Actavis’s Paragraph IV Certification sets forth allegations that U.S. Patent No. 6,066,339, or the 339 patent, which pertains to AVINZA, and which is listed in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products With Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, will not be infringed by Actavis’s manufacture, use, or sale of the product for which the ANDA was submitted. The expiration date for this patent is November 2017. King, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development, Inc., Elan Corporation, plc and Elan Pharma International Ltd. jointly filed suit in federal district court in New Jersey on October 18, 2007 against Actavis, Inc. and Actavis Elizabeth LLC for patent infringement under the 339 patent. The lawsuit seeks a judgment that would, among other things, prevent Actavis from commercializing its proposed morphine product until after expiration of the 339 patent.

AVINZA was licensed from Elan Corporation, or Elan, which is its sole manufacturer. Any problems with Elan’s manufacturing operations or capacity could reduce sales of AVINZA, as could any licensing or other contract disputes with Elan, raw materials suppliers, or others.

 

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Further, pursuant to the agreement with King, beginning in 2009 we will no longer be entitled to receive AVINZA royalties on a quarterly basis, but will collect royalties on an annual basis, which may adversely impact our cash flows.

Our product candidates face significant regulatory hurdles prior to marketing which could delay or prevent sales.

Before we obtain the approvals necessary to sell any of our potential products, we must show through preclinical studies and human testing that each product is safe and effective. We and our partners have a number of products moving toward or currently awaiting regulatory action, including bazedoxifene, lasofoxifene, PS433540 and PS178990. Failure to show any product’s safety and effectiveness could delay or prevent regulatory approval of a product and could adversely affect our business. The clinical trials process is complex and uncertain. For example, the results of preclinical studies and initial clinical trials may not necessarily predict the results from later large-scale clinical trials. In addition, clinical trials may not demonstrate a product’s safety and effectiveness to the satisfaction of the regulatory authorities. Recently, a number of companies have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials or in seeking regulatory approvals, despite promising results in earlier trials. The FDA may also require additional clinical trials after regulatory approvals are received. Such additional trials may be expensive and time-consuming, and failure to successfully conduct those trials could jeopardize continued commercialization of a product.

The rate at which we complete our clinical trials depends on many factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain adequate supplies of the products to be tested and patient enrollment. Patient enrollment is a function of many factors, including the size of the patient population, the proximity of patients to clinical sites and the eligibility criteria for the trial. Delays in patient enrollment for our trials may result in increased costs and longer development times. In addition, our collaborative partners have rights to control product development and clinical programs for products developed under the collaborations. As a result, these collaborative partners may conduct these programs more slowly or in a different manner than expected. Moreover, even if clinical trials are completed, we or our collaborative partners still may not apply for FDA approval in a timely manner or the FDA still may not grant approval.

We rely heavily on collaborative relationships, and any disputes or litigation with our collaborative partners or termination or breach of any of the related agreements could reduce the financial resources available to us, including milestone payments and future royalty revenues.

Our strategy for developing and commercializing many of our potential products, including products aimed at larger markets, includes entering into collaborations with corporate partners and others. These collaborations have provided us with funding and research and development resources for potential products for the treatment of a variety of diseases. These agreements also give our collaborative partners significant discretion when deciding whether or not to pursue any development program. Our existing collaborations may not continue or be successful, and we may be unable to enter into future collaborative arrangements to develop and commercialize our product candidates.

In addition, our collaborators may develop drugs, either alone or with others that compete with the types of drugs they are developing with us. This would result in increased competition for our programs. If products are approved for marketing under our collaborative programs, revenues we receive will depend on the manufacturing, marketing and sales efforts of our collaborative partners, who generally retain commercialization rights under the collaborative agreements. Generally, our current collaborative partners also have the right to terminate their collaborations under specified circumstances. If any of our collaborative partners breach or terminate their agreements with us or otherwise fail to conduct their collaborative activities successfully, our product development under these agreements will be delayed or terminated. Disputes or litigation may also arise with our collaborators, including disputes or litigation over ownership rights to intellectual property, know-how or technologies developed with our collaborators. Such disputes or litigation could adversely affect our rights to one or more of our product candidates, including our PS433540 and PS178990 compounds. Any such dispute or litigation could delay, interrupt or terminate the collaborative research, development and commercialization of certain potential products, create uncertainty as to ownership rights of intellectual property, or could result in litigation or arbitration. The occurrence of any of these problems could be time-consuming and expensive and could adversely affect our business.

 

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If we consume cash more quickly than expected, and if we are unable to raise additional capital, we may be forced to curtail operations.

Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception. Clinical and preclinical development of drug candidates is a long, expensive and uncertain process. Also, we may acquire companies, businesses or products and the consummation of such acquisitions may consume additional cash. For example, as part of the consideration for our recent acquisition of Pharmacopeia we distributed approximately $9.3 million in cash to Pharmacopeia stockholders. Security holders of Pharmacopeia also received contingent value rights under which we could be required to make an aggregate cash payment of $15.0 million to such security holders under certain circumstances.

We believe that our capital resources will be adequate to fund our operations at their current levels at least for the next twelve months. However, changes may occur that would cause us to consume available capital resources before that time. Examples of relevant potential changes that could impact our capital resources include:

 

   

the costs associated with our drug research and development activities, and additional costs we may incur if our development programs are delayed or are more expensive to implement than we currently anticipate;

 

   

changes in existing collaborative relationships, including the funding we receive in connection with those relationships;

 

   

the progress of our milestone and royalty producing activities;

 

   

acquisitions of other businesses or technologies;

 

   

the termination of our lease agreements;

 

   

the purchase of additional capital equipment;

 

   

cash payments or refunds we may be required to make pursuant to certain agreements with third parties;

 

   

competing technological and market developments; and

 

   

the cost of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights, and the outcome of related litigation.

Additional capital may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. If additional capital is not available, we may be required to curtail operations significantly or to obtain funds by entering into arrangements with partners or other third parties that may require us to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies, products or potential markets that we would not otherwise relinquish.

If, as the result of a merger, or otherwise, our collaborative partners were to change their strategy or the focus of their development and commercialization efforts with respect to our alliance products, the success of our alliance products could be adversely affected.

Our collaborative partners may change the focus of their development and commercialization efforts as the result of a merger. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have historically re-evaluated their priorities from time to time, including following mergers and consolidations which are common in these industries, and two of our collaborative partners have recently entered into merger agreements. In January 2009, Wyeth, a collaborative partner of ours, and Pfizer announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which Pfizer will acquire Wyeth in a cash and stock transaction. Furthermore, in March 2009, Schering-Plough Corporation, another of our collaborative partners, and Merck & Co., Inc., or Merck, announced that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Merck and Schering-Plough will combine, under the name Merck, in a stock and cash transaction. As a result of the consummation of these mergers our collaborative partners may develop and commercialize, either alone or with others, products and services that are similar to or competitive with our alliance products. Furthermore, the ability of our alliance products to reach their potential could be limited if our collaborative partners reduce or fail to increase spending related to such products as a result of these mergers.

If our collaborative partners terminate their collaborations with us or do not commit sufficient resources to the development, manufacture, marketing or distribution of our alliance products, we could be required to devote additional resources to our alliance products, seek new collaborative partners or abandon such alliance products, all of which could have an adverse effect on our business.

 

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Third party intellectual property may prevent us or our partners from developing our potential products and we may owe a portion of any payments we receive from our collaborative partners to one or more third parties.

Our success will depend on our ability and the ability of our collaborative partners to avoid infringing the proprietary rights of others, both in the United States and in foreign countries. In addition, disputes with licensors under our license agreements may arise which could result in additional financial liability or loss of important technology and potential products and related revenue, if any. Further, the manufacture, use or sale of our potential products or our collaborative partners’ products or potential products may infringe the patent rights of others. This could impact AVINZA, PROMACTA, bazedoxifene, lasofoxifene, LGD-4665, PS433540, PS178990 and any other products or potential products.

Several drug companies and research and academic institutions have developed technologies, filed patent applications or received patents for technologies that may be related to our business. Others have filed patent applications and received patents that conflict with patents or patent applications we have licensed for our use, either by claiming the same methods or compounds or by claiming methods or compounds that could dominate those licensed to us. In addition, we may not be aware of all patents or patent applications that may impact our ability to make, use or sell any of our potential products. For example, US patent applications may be kept confidential while pending in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and patent applications filed in foreign countries are often first published six months or more after filing.

On March 4, 2008, Rockefeller filed suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, against us alleging, among other things, a breach by us of our September 30, 1992 license agreement with Rockefeller, as well as other causes of action for unjust enrichment, quantum meruit, specific performance to perform an audit and declaratory relief. In February 2009 we reached a settlement with Rockefeller whereby the parties resolved all disputes that have arisen between them, including Rockefeller’s primary claim relating to the development of PROMACTA as well our counterclaims.

Other possible disagreements or litigation with our collaborative partners could delay our ability and the ability of our collaborative partners to achieve milestones or our receipt of other payments. In addition, other possible disagreements or litigation could delay, interrupt or terminate the research, development and commercialization of certain potential products being developed by either our collaborative partners or by us. The occurrence of any of the foregoing problems could be time-consuming and expensive and could adversely affect our business.

Third parties have not directly threatened an action or claim against us, although we do periodically receive other communications or have other conversations with the owners of other patents or other intellectual property. If others obtain patents with conflicting claims, we may be required to obtain licenses to those patents or to develop or obtain alternative technology. We may not be able to obtain any such licenses on acceptable terms, or at all. Any failure to obtain such licenses could delay or prevent us from pursuing the development or commercialization of our potential products.

In general, litigation claims can be expensive and time consuming to bring or defend against and could result in settlements or damages that could significantly impact our results of operations and financial condition. We cannot predict or determine the outcome of these matters or reasonably estimate the amount or range of amounts of any fines or penalties that might result from a settlement or an adverse outcome. However, a settlement or an adverse outcome could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, liquidity and results of operations.

We may not be able to hire and/or retain key employees.

If we are unable to hire and/or retain key employees, we may not have sufficient resources to successfully manage our assets or our business, and we may not be able to perform our obligations under various contracts and commitments. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that we will be able to retain all of Pharmacopeia’s key management and scientific personnel. If we fail to retain such key employees, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of the merger. Either of these could have substantial negative impacts on our business and our stock price.

Our stock price has been volatile and could experience a sudden decline in value.

Our common stock has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations and may continue to experience volatility in the future. As a result, you may not be able to sell your shares quickly or at the latest market price if trading in our stock is not active or the volume is low. Many factors may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock, including, but not limited to, the following factors: results of or delays in our preclinical studies and clinical trials; the success of our collaboration agreements; publicity regarding actual or potential medical results relating to products under development by us or others; announcements of technological innovations or new commercial products by us or others; developments in patent or other proprietary rights by us or others;

 

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comments or opinions by securities analysts or major stockholders; future sales of our common stock by existing stockholders; regulatory developments or changes in regulatory guidance; litigation or threats of litigation; economic and other external factors or other disaster or crises; the departure of any of our officers, directors or key employees; period-to-period fluctuations in financial results; and limited daily trading volume.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, (formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.) and the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, have adopted certain new rules. If we were unable to continue to comply with the new rules, we could be delisted from trading on the NASDAQ Global Market, or Nasdaq, and thereafter trading in our common stock, if any, would be conducted through the over-the-counter market or on the Electronic Bulletin Board of FINRA. As a consequence of such delisting, an investor would likely find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain quotations as to the price of, our common stock. Delisting of our common stock could also result in lower prices per share of our common stock than would otherwise prevail.

We may not be successful in entering into additional out-license agreements on favorable terms, which may adversely affect our liquidity or require us to alter development plans on our products.

We have entered into several out-licensing agreements for the development and commercialization of our products. Although we expend considerable resources on internal research and development for our proprietary programs, we may not be successful in entering into additional out-licensing agreements under favorable terms due to several factors including:

 

   

the difficulty in creating valuable product candidates that target large market opportunities;

 

   

research and spending priorities of potential licensing partners;

 

   

willingness of and the resources available to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to in-license product candidates for their clinical pipelines; or

 

   

differences of opinion with potential partners on the valuation of products we are seeking to out-license.

The inability to enter into out-licensing agreements under favorable terms and to earn milestone payments, license fees and/or upfront fees may adversely affect our liquidity and may force us to curtail or delay development of some or all of our proprietary programs, which in turn may harm our business and the value of our stock.

Our product development involves a number of uncertainties, and we may never generate sufficient collaborative payments and royalties from the development of products to become profitable.

We were founded in 1987. We have incurred significant losses since our inception. As of March 31, 2009, our accumulated deficit was $684.7 million.

Most of our products in development will require extensive additional development, including preclinical testing and human studies, as well as regulatory approvals, before they can be marketed. We cannot predict if or when any of the products we are developing or those being developed with our partners will be approved for marketing. There are many reasons why we or our collaborative partners may fail in our efforts to develop our potential products, including the possibility that: preclinical testing or human studies may show that our potential products are ineffective or cause harmful side effects; the products may fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals from the FDA or foreign authorities in a timely manner, or at all; the products, if approved, may not be produced in commercial quantities or at reasonable costs; the products, if approved, may not achieve commercial acceptance; regulatory or governmental authorities may apply restrictions to our products, which could adversely affect their commercial success; or the proprietary rights of other parties may prevent us or our partners from marketing the products.

Any product development failures for these or other reasons, whether with our products or our partners’ products, may reduce our expected revenues, profits, and stock price.

The past restatement of our consolidated financial statements increased the possibility of legal or administrative proceedings. Any future material weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting could harm stockholder and business confidence on our financial reporting, our ability to obtain financing and other aspects of our business.*

We determined that our consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, and for the first three quarters of 2004, as described in more detail in our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, should be restated. As a result of the restatement, we became subject to a number of additional risks and uncertainties. While no material weaknesses were identified as of March 31, 2009, we cannot assure you that material weaknesses will

 

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not be identified in future periods. The existence of one or more material weakness or significant deficiency could result in errors in our consolidated financial statements. Substantial costs and resources may be required to rectify any internal control deficiencies. If we fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal controls in accordance with applicable standards, we may be unable to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting. If we cannot produce reliable financial reports, our business and financial condition could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, or the market price of our stock could decline significantly. In addition, our ability to obtain additional financing to operate and expand our business, or obtain additional financing on favorable terms, could be materially and adversely affected, which, in turn, could materially and adversely affect our business, our financial condition and the market value of our securities. Moreover, our reputation with customers, lenders, investors, securities analysts and others may be adversely affected.

Challenges to or failure to secure patents and other proprietary rights may significantly hurt our business.

Our success will depend on our ability and the ability of our licensors to obtain and maintain patents and proprietary rights for our potential products both in the United States and in foreign countries. Patents may not be issued from any of these applications currently on file, or, if issued, may not provide sufficient protection. Our patent position, like that of many biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, is uncertain and involves complex legal and technical questions for which important legal principles are unresolved. We may not develop or obtain rights to products or processes that are patentable. Even if we do obtain patents, such patents may not adequately protect the technology we own or have licensed. In addition, others may challenge, seek to invalidate, infringe or circumvent any patents we own or license and rights we receive under those patents may not provide competitive advantages to us.

Any conflicts resulting from the patent rights of others could significantly reduce the coverage of our patents and limit our ability to obtain meaningful patent protection. We have had and will continue to have discussions with our current and potential collaborative partners regarding the scope and validity of our patents and other proprietary rights. If a collaborative partner or other party successfully establishes that our patent rights are invalid, we may not be able to continue our existing collaborations beyond their expiration. Any determination that our patent rights are invalid also could encourage our collaborative partners to seek early termination of our agreements. Such invalidation could adversely affect our ability to enter into new collaborations.

We may also need to initiate litigation, which could be time-consuming and expensive, to enforce our proprietary rights or to determine the scope and validity of others’ rights. If litigation occurs, a court may find our patents or those of our licensors invalid or may find that we have infringed on a competitor’s rights. In addition, if any of our competitors have filed patent applications in the United States which claim technology we also have invented, the United States Patent and Trademark Office may require us to participate in expensive interference proceedings to determine who has the right to a patent for the technology.

We also rely on unpatented trade secrets and know-how to protect and maintain our competitive position. We require our employees, consultants, collaborative partners and others to sign confidentiality agreements when they begin their relationship with us. These agreements may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our competitors may independently discover our trade secrets.

We will have continuing obligations to indemnify the buyers of our commercial product lines, and may be subject to other liabilities related to the sale of our commercial product lines.

In connection with the sale of our AVINZA product line, we have agreed to indemnify King in certain cases for a period of 30 months after the closing of the sale of the AVINZA product line in February 2007, including any breach of certain representations, warranties or covenants contained in the asset purchase agreement. In addition, we have agreed to indemnify Eisai, the purchaser of our Oncology product line, for damages suffered by Eisai arising from any breach of our representations, warranties, covenants or obligations in the asset purchase agreement. Our obligation to indemnify Eisai extends beyond the closing of the sale of our Oncology product line in October 2006 up to, in some cases, 36 months and, in other cases, until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. In a few instances, our obligation to indemnify Eisai survives in perpetuity.

Under certain circumstances, the asset purchase agreement for the AVINZA product line also allows King to set off indemnification claims against the royalty payments payable to us, including AVINZA royalty payments. Under the asset purchase agreements, our exposure for any indemnification claim brought by King or Eisai is limited to $40.0 million and $30.0 million, respectively. However, in certain matters, our indemnification obligation is not subject to the foregoing limits on liability. For example, we are obligated to indemnify King, without limitation, for

 

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all liabilities arising under certain agreements with Catalent Pharma Solutions related to the manufacture of AVINZA. Similarly, we are obligated to indemnify Eisai, without limitation, for all liabilities related to certain claims regarding promotional materials for the ONTAK and Targretin drug products. We cannot predict the liabilities that may arise as a result of these matters. Any claims related to our indemnification obligations to King or Eisai could materially and adversely affect our financial condition.

As previously disclosed, in connection with the AVINZA sale transaction, King assumed our obligation to make payments to Organon based on net sales of AVINZA (the fair value of which was $58.0 million as of March 31, 2009). As Organon did not consent to the legal assignment of the co-promote termination obligation from us to King, we remain liable to Organon in the event King defaults on this obligation. Any requirement to pay a material amount to Organon, could adversely affect our business and the price of our securities.

The sale of our commercial product lines also exposes us to product liability risks on products we sold prior to divesting these product lines. For example, such products may need to be recalled to address regulatory issues. A successful product liability claim or series of claims brought against us could result in payment of significant amounts of money and divert management’s attention from running our business.

We believe that we carry reasonably adequate insurance for product liability claims. However, we may not be able to maintain our insurance on commercially reasonable terms, or our insurance may not provide adequate protection in the case of a product liability claim. To the extent that product liability insurance, if available, does not cover potential claims, we will be required to self-insure the risks associated with such claims.

If our partners do not reach the market with our alliance products before our competitors offer products for the same or similar uses, or if our partners are not effective in marketing our alliance products, our revenues from product sales, if any, will be reduced.

We face intense competition in our development activities. Our competitors might succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for competitive products more rapidly than our partners can for our products. In addition, competitors might develop technologies and products that are less expensive and perceived to be safer or more effective than those being developed by us or our partners, which could impair our product development and render our technology obsolete.

We use hazardous materials, which may expose us to significant liability.

In connection with our research and development activities, we handle hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive compounds. To properly dispose of these hazardous materials in compliance with environmental regulations, we are required to contract with third parties. We believe that we carry reasonably adequate insurance for toxic tort claims. However, we cannot eliminate the risk or predict the exposure of accidental contamination or injury from the handling and disposing of hazardous materials, whether by us or our third-party contractors. Any accident in the handling and disposing of hazardous materials may expose us to significant liability.

Our shareholder rights plan and charter documents may hinder or prevent change of control transactions.

Our shareholder rights plan and provisions contained in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage transactions involving an actual or potential change in our ownership. In addition, our Board of Directors may issue shares of preferred stock without any further action by the stockholders. Such restrictions and issuances may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our ownership. If changes in our ownership are discouraged, delayed or prevented, it would be more difficult for our current Board of Directors to be removed and replaced, even if you or our other stockholders believe that such actions are in the best interests of us and our stockholders.

We may lose some or all of the value of some of our short-term investments.

We engage one or more third parties to manage some of our cash consistent with an investment policy that allows a range of investments and maturities. The investments are intended to maintain safety of principal while providing liquidity adequate to meet projected cash requirements. Risks of principal loss are to be minimized through diversified short and medium term investments of high quality, but the investments are not in every case guaranteed or fully insured. As a result of changes in the credit market, one of our short-term investments in commercial paper is in default. We intend to pursue collection efforts, but we might not recoup some or all of our investment in the commercial paper. In addition, from time to time we may suffer other losses on our short-term investment portfolio.

 

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We may require additional money to run our business and may be required to raise this money on terms which are not favorable to us or which reduce our stock price.

We may need to complete additional equity or debt financings to fund our operations. Our inability to obtain additional financing could adversely affect our business. Financings may not be available at all or on terms favorable to us. In addition, these financings, if completed, may not meet our capital needs and could result in substantial dilution to our stockholders.

If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to delay, reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our research or drug development programs. We may also be required to liquidate our business or file for bankruptcy protection. Alternatively, we may be forced to attempt to continue development by entering into arrangements with collaborative partners or others that require us to relinquish some or all of our rights to technologies or drug candidates that we would not otherwise relinquish.

Our drug development programs will require substantial additional future funding which could hurt our operational and financial condition.

Our drug development programs require substantial additional capital to successfully complete them, arising from costs to: conduct research, preclinical testing and human studies; establish pilot scale and commercial scale manufacturing processes and facilities; and establish and develop quality control, regulatory, marketing, sales and administrative capabilities to support these programs.

Our future operating and capital needs will depend on many factors, including: the pace of scientific progress in our research and development programs and the magnitude of these programs; the scope and results of preclinical testing and human studies; the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals; the time and costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims; competing technological and market developments; our ability to establish additional collaborations; changes in our existing collaborations; the cost of manufacturing scale-up; and the effectiveness of our commercialization activities.

We expect our research and development expenditures over the next three years to continue to be significant. However, we base our outlook regarding the need for funds on many uncertain variables. Such uncertainties include regulatory approvals, the timing of events outside our direct control such as product launches by partners and the success of such product launches, negotiations with potential strategic partners, possible sale of assets or other transactions and other factors. Any of these uncertain events can significantly change our cash requirements.

While we expect to fund our research and development activities from cash generated from AVINZA and PROMACTA royalties and royalties and milestones from our partners in various past and future collaborations to the extent possible, if we are unable to do so, we may need to complete additional equity or debt financings or seek other external means of financing. These financings could depress our stock price. If additional funds are required to support our operations and we are unable to obtain them on terms favorable to us, we may be required to cease or reduce further development or commercialization of our products, to sell some or all of our technology or assets or to merge with another entity.

Significant returns of products we sold prior to selling our commercial businesses could harm our operating results.

Under our agreements to sell our commercial businesses, we remain financially responsible for returns of our products sold before those businesses were transferred to their respective buyers. Consequently, if returns of those products are higher than expected, we could incur substantial expenses for processing and issuing refunds for those returns which, in turn, could negatively impact our financial results. The amount of returns could be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, ongoing product demand, product rotation at distributors and wholesalers, and product stability issues.

Our results of operations and liquidity needs could be materially negatively affected by market fluctuations and economic downturn.

Our results of operations could be materially negatively affected by economic conditions generally, both in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world. Continuing concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, the U.S. mortgage market and a declining residential real estate market in the U.S. have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and the markets going

 

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forward. These factors, combined with volatile oil prices, declining business and consumer confidence and increased unemployment, have precipitated an economic recession and fears of a possible depression. Domestic and international equity markets continue to experience heightened volatility and turmoil. These events and the continuing market upheavals may have an adverse effect on us. In the event of a continuing market downturn, our results of operations could be adversely affected by those factors in many ways, including making it more difficult for us to raise funds if necessary, and our stock price may further decline.

Our investment securities consist primarily of money market funds, corporate debt obligations and U.S. government agency securities. We do not have any auction rate securities. Recently, there has been concern in the credit markets regarding the value of a variety of mortgage-backed securities and the resultant effects on various securities markets. We cannot provide assurance that our investments are not subject to adverse changes in market value. If our investments experience adverse changes in market value, we may have less capital to fund our operations.

We may be unable to successfully integrate the business of Pharmacopeia and realize the anticipated benefits of the merger.

In December 2008, we completed our merger with Pharmacopeia. The success of the merger will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated synergies, growth opportunities and cost savings from integrating Pharmacopeia’s business with our business. Our success in realizing these benefits and the timing of this realization depend upon the successful integration of the operations of Pharmacopeia. The integration of two independent companies is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, diversion of each company’s management’s attention, the disruption or interruption of, or the loss of momentum in, each company’s ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies, any of which could adversely affect either company’s ability to maintain relationships with licensors, collaborators, partners, suppliers and employees or our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the merger, or could reduce our earnings or otherwise adversely affect the business and financial results of the combined company and, as a result, adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We expect to incur significant costs and commit significant management time integrating Pharmacopeia’s business operations, technology, development programs, products and personnel with those of ours. If we do not successfully integrate the business of Pharmacopeia, the expenditure of these costs will reduce our cash position

Impairment charges pertaining to goodwill, identifiable intangible assets or other long-lived assets from the merger with Pharmacopeia could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and the market value of our common stock.

The total purchase price pertaining to our merger with Pharmacopeia has been allocated to Pharmacopeia’s net tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets, in process research and development and goodwill. To the extent the value of goodwill or identifiable intangible assets or other long-lived assets become impaired, we will be required to incur material charges relating to the impairment. Any impairment charges could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and the market value of our common stock.

We may undertake strategic acquisitions in the future and any difficulties from integrating such acquisitions could adversely affect our stock price, operating results and results of operations.

We may acquire companies, businesses and products that complement or augment our existing business. We may not be able to integrate any acquired business successfully or operate any acquired business profitably. Integrating any newly acquired business could be expensive and time-consuming. Integration efforts often take a significant amount of time, place a significant strain on managerial, operational and financial resources and could prove to be more difficult or expensive than we predict. The diversion of our management’s attention and any delay or difficulties encountered in connection with any future acquisitions we may consummate could result in the disruption of our on-going business or inconsistencies in standards and controls that could negatively affect our ability to maintain third-party relationships. Moreover, we may need to raise additional funds through public or private debt or equity financing, or issue additional shares, to acquire any businesses or products, which may result in dilution for stockholders or the incurrence of indebtedness.

As part of our efforts to acquire companies, business or product candidates or to enter into other significant transactions, we conduct business, legal and financial due diligence with the goal of identifying and evaluating material risks involved in the transaction. Despite our efforts, we ultimately may be unsuccessful in ascertaining or evaluating all such risks and, as a result, might not realize the intended advantages of the transaction. If we fail to

 

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realize the expected benefits from acquisitions we may consummate in the future, whether as a result of unidentified risks, integration difficulties, regulatory setbacks and other events, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. If we acquire product candidates, we will also need to make certain assumptions about, among other things, development costs, the likelihood of receiving regulatory approval and the market for such product candidates. Our assumptions may prove to be incorrect, which could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of these transactions.

In addition, we will likely experience significant charges to earnings in connection with our efforts, if any, to consummate acquisitions. For transactions that are ultimately not consummated, these charges may include fees and expenses for investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors in connection with our efforts. Even if our efforts are successful, we may incur, as part of a transaction, substantial charges for closure costs associated with elimination of duplicate operations and facilities and acquired in-process research and development charges. In either case, the incurrence of these charges could adversely affect our results of operations for particular quarterly or annual periods.

The drug research and development industry is highly competitive and subject to technological change, and we may not have the resources necessary to compete successfully.

Many of our competitors have access to greater financial, technical, research, marketing, sales, distribution, service and other resources than we do. Moreover, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are characterized by continuous technological innovation. We anticipate that we will face increased competition in the future as new companies enter the market and our competitors make advanced technologies available. Technological advances or entirely different approaches that we or one or more of our competitors develop may render our products, services and expertise obsolete or uneconomical. Additionally, the existing approaches of our competitors or new approaches or technologies that our competitors develop may be more effective than those we develop. We may not be able to compete successfully with existing or future competitors.

We have excess space available for sublease at our facilities and we may not be able to find qualified sublease tenants.

We have entered into long-term, non-cancellable real estate arrangements for space which, as a result of reductions in our workforce and our acquisition of Pharmacopeia, are considered to be in excess of our current requirements. We currently have a tenant who is subleasing one of our facilities and we are actively looking for additional sublease tenants to sublease up to approximately 80,000 square feet of vacant space or space that could be made available through changes in the current layout of our operations. We will continue to be responsible for all carrying costs of these facilities until such time as we can sublease these facilities or terminate the applicable leases based on the contractual terms of the lease agreements. However, the commercial real estate market conditions in the United States have resulted in a surplus of business facilities making it difficult to sublease properties. If we are unable to find additional sublease tenants we may not meet our expected estimated levels of sublease income or we may be required to terminate these leases at a substantial cost, and, accordingly, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

2.1(1)   Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among the Company, Pharmacopeia, Inc., Margaux Acquisition Corp. and Latour Acquisition, LLC, dated as of September 24, 2008.
3.1(2)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.1).
3.2(2)   Bylaws of the Company, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 3.3).
3.3(3)   Amended Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock of the Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.3).
3.4(4)   Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated June 14, 2000 (Filed as Exhibit 3.5).
3.5(5)   Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated June 30, 2004 (Filed as Exhibit 3.6).
3.6(6)   Amendment of the Bylaws of the Company dated November 8, 2005 (Filed as Exhibit 3.1).
3.7(7)   Amendment of Bylaws of the Company dated December 4, 2007 (Filed as Exhibit 3.1).
4.1(8)   Specimen stock certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Company.
4.2(9)   Pledge Agreement dated November 26, 2002, between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (Filed as Exhibit 4.5).
4.3(9)   Control Agreement dated November 26, 2002, among the Company, J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association and JP Morgan Chase Bank (Filed as Exhibit 4.6).
  4.4(10)   2006 Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, by and between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC, dated as of October 13, 2006 (Filed as Exhibit 4.1).
10.318 †   Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, by and between the Company and The Rockefeller University, dated as of February 11, 2009, filed herewith.
10.319 †   Research and License Agreement, by and between the Company and Trevena, Inc., dated as of February 5, 2009, filed herewith.
10.320     Separation Agreement by and between the Company and Zofia Dziewanowska, by and between the Company and Dr. Dziewanowska, dated as of March 27, 2009, filed herewith.
31.1         Certification by Principal Executive Officer, Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2         Certification by Principal Financial Officer, Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1         Certification by Principal Executive Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2         Certification by Principal Financial Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Confidential treatment has been requested for portions of this exhibit. These portions have been omitted from this quarterly report and submitted separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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(1) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2008.

 

(2) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-58823) filed on July 9, 1998.

 

(3) This exhibit was previously filed as part of and is hereby incorporated by reference to same numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1999.

 

(4) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and are hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000.

 

(5) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004.

 

(6) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is being incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 14, 2005.

 

(7) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 6, 2007.

 

(8) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-47257) filed on April 16, 1992 as amended.

 

(9) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-102483) filed on January 13, 2003, as amended.

 

(10) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is being incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2006.

 

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LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 11, 2009     By:   /s/ John P. Sharp
        John P. Sharp
        Vice President , Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

2.1(1)   Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among the Company, Pharmacopeia, Inc., Margaux Acquisition Corp. and Latour Acquisition, LLC, dated as of September 24, 2008.
3.1(2)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.1).
3.2(2)   Bylaws of the Company, as amended (Filed as Exhibit 3.3).
3.3(3)   Amended Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock of the Company (Filed as Exhibit 3.3).
3.4(4)   Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated June 14, 2000 (Filed as Exhibit 3.5).
3.5(5)   Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated September 30, 2004 (Filed as Exhibit 3.6).
3.6(6)   Amendment of the Bylaws of the Company dated November 8, 2005 (Filed as Exhibit 3.1).
3.7(7)   Amendment of Bylaws of the Company dated December 4, 2007 (Filed as Exhibit 3.1).
4.1(8)   Specimen stock certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Company.
4.2(9)   Pledge Agreement dated November 26, 2002, between the Company and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association (Filed as Exhibit 4.5).
4.3(9)   Control Agreement dated November 26, 2002, among the Company, J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association and JP Morgan Chase Bank (Filed as Exhibit 4.6).
  4.4(10)   2006 Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, by and between the Company and Mellon Investor Services LLC, dated as of October 13, 2006 (Filed as Exhibit 4.1).
10.318 †   Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, by and between the Company and The Rockefeller University, dated as of February 11, 2009, filed herewith.
10.319 †   Research and License Agreement, by and between the Company and Trevena, Inc., dated as of February 5, 2009, filed herewith.
10.320     Separation Agreement by and between the Company and Zofia Dziewanowska, by and between the Company and Dr. Dziewanowska, dated as of March 27, 2009, filed herewith.
31.1         Certification by Principal Executive Officer, Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2         Certification by Principal Financial Officer, Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1         Certification by Principal Executive Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2         Certification by Principal Financial Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Confidential treatment has been requested for portions of this exhibit. These portions have been omitted from this quarterly report and submitted separately to the Securities and Exchange Commission

 

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(1) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2008.

 

(2) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (No. 333-58823) filed on July 9, 1998.

 

(3) This exhibit was previously filed as part of and is hereby incorporated by reference to same numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1999.

 

(4) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and are hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000.

 

(5) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004.

 

(6) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is being incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 14, 2005.

 

(7) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 6, 2007.

 

(8) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the same numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-47257) filed on April 16, 1992 as amended.

 

(9) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is hereby incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-102483) filed on January 13, 2003, as amended.

 

(10) This exhibit was previously filed as part of, and is being incorporated by reference to the numbered exhibit filed with the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2006.

 

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