UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM ~~10-Q/A~~

~~Amendment No. 1~~10-Q



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

For the quarterly period ended ~~March 31, 2016~~September 30, 2017



o	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.)

3911 Sorrento Valley Boulevard, Suite 110 San Diego, CA	92121 (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)

(858) 550-7500

(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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 o

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 x No o

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



Large Accelerated Filer	x		Accelerated Filer	o
Non-Accelerated Filer	o	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller Reporting Company	o
Emerging Growth Company	o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

As of ~~November 1, 2016~~October 31, 2017, the registrant had ~~20,900,189~~21,105,476 shares of common stock outstanding.

~~EXPLANATORY NOTE~~

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (“the Company”) is filing this Amendment on Form 10-Q/A (“Amended Form 10-Q”) to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 (the “Original Form 10-Q”), which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 9, 2016 (the “Original Filing Date”), to restate the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

The Company is filing this Amended Form 10-Q to amend Item 1 (Financial Statements), Item 1A (Risk Factors), Item 4 (Controls and Procedures) of Part I and Item 6 (Exhibits) of Part II to correct errors relating to the Company's net operating loss (NOL) carryforward benefits in the United States which resulted in an overstatement of deferred tax assets (DTA) at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. In connection with three acquisitions that were completed prior to February 2010, the Company recognized DTAs for a portion of the NOLs, which included capitalized research and development expenses, obtained from the acquired businesses. From the time of the acquisitions until September 2015, there was a full valuation allowance against all of the Company’s NOLs, including those obtained from the entities acquired. In September 2015, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that a substantial portion of its deferred tax assets would be realized through future taxable income. As a result, the Company released the majority of its DTA valuation allowance, including $27.5 million related to NOLs recognized as part of the businesses acquired prior to February of 2010.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the Company concluded that for accounting purposes the approximately $27.5 million of DTAs that were obtained upon acquiring the businesses prior to February of 2010 did not meet the more likely-than-not criterion for recognition in 2015 and that the related valuation allowance should not have been reversed. In reviewing its prior-year accounting as part of the 2016 third quarter close process, the Company re-evaluated its accounting for income taxes with the assistance of additional third-party tax professionals and determined that the Company's income tax benefit and net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 were overstated by $27.5 million each as were the Company's DTAs at March 31, 2016.

The Company also recorded adjustments to the consolidated financial statements as part of this restatement relating to the classification of our 2019 Convertible Senior Notes. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's last reported sale price exceeded the 130% threshold described in Note 6 - "Financing Arrangements" and accordingly the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes of $202.0 million should have been reclassified as a current liability as of December 31, 2015. As a result, the related unamortized discount of $39.6 million previously classified within stockholder’s equity was reclassified as temporary equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The following adjustments have been made to the March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 amounts that were included in the Original Form 10-Q and are reflected in the balances included in this Amended Form 10-Q herein:

~~Decrease in deferred tax assets by $27.5 million as of June, 30 2016 and December 31, 2015~~

~~Increase in accumulated deficit by $27.5 million as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015~~

~~Increase to current 2019 convertible senior notes, net and decrease to non-current 2019 convertible senior notes, net by $202.0 million as of December 31, 2015~~

~~Increase to temporary equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes and a decrease to additional paid-in capital by $39.6 million as of December 31, 2015~~

~~The above mentioned errors and adjustments had no impact on the Company's results of operations or cash flows for the three-months ended March 31, 2016.~~

This Amended Form 10-Q has not modified or updated the information in the Original Form 10-Q, except as necessary to reflect the effects of the restatement, which took into consideration subsequent information about conditions that existed at March 31, 2016. This Amended Form 10-Q continues to speak as of the dates described herein, and the disclosures contained in the Original Form 10-Q do not reflect any events that occurred subsequent to the Original Filing Date.

Information not affected by the restatement is unchanged and reflects the disclosures made as of the Original Filing Date. In particular, forward-looking statements included in this Amended Form 10-Q that have not been affected by the restatement represent management’s v~~iews as~~ of the Original Filing Date. Such forward-looking statements should not be assumed to be accurate as of any future date. Accordingly, this Amended Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with our subsequent filings with the SEC, as information in such filings may update or supersede certain information contained in this Amended Form 10-Q.

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

QUARTERLY REPORT

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	ITEM 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)	4
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets ~~as of March 31, 2016 (restated) and December 31, 2015 (Unaudited)~~	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (Unaudited)~~	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (Unaudited)~~(Loss)	76
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (Unaudited)~~	87
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements ~~(Unaudited)~~	9
	ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	19
	ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	2526
	ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures	2627
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
	ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings	28
	ITEM 1A. Risk Factors	29
	ITEM 6. Exhibits	3637
	SIGNATURE	37



GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Abbreviation	Definition
2019 Convertible Senior Notes	$245.0 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior unsecured notes due 2019
Amgen	Amgen, Inc.
~~AOCI~~	~~Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income~~
ASC	Accounting Standards Codification
ASU	Accounting Standards Update
Aziyo	Aziyo Med, LLC
CEO	Chief Executive Officer
Company	Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, including subsidiaries
CorMatrix	CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc.
CVR	Contingent value right
Crystal	Crystal Bioscience, Inc.
CyDex	CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Amended ESPP	Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended and restated
~~Eisai~~	~~Eisai Incorporated~~
~~EMA~~	~~European Medicines Agency~~
FASB	Financial Accounting Standards Board
FDA	Food and Drug Administration
~~FSGS~~	~~Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis~~
GAAP	Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
~~IPO~~	~~Initial public offering~~
IPR&D	In-Process Research and Development
Ligand	Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, including subsidiaries
LSA	Loan and Security Agreement
Metabasis	Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc.
MLA	Master License Agreement
NOLs	Net Operating Losses
OMT	OMT, Inc. or Open Monoclonal Technology, Inc.
~~Par~~Retrophin	~~Par Pharmaceutical,~~Retrophin Inc.
~~Pfizer~~Q3 2017	~~Pfizer Inc.~~The Company's fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2017
~~Retrophin~~Q3 2016	~~Retrophin Inc.~~The Company's fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016
SEC	Securities and Exchange Commission
Selexis	Selexis, SA
~~TPE~~	~~Third-party evidence~~
~~VIE~~	~~Variable interest entity~~
Viking	Viking Therapeutics
~~Viking IPO~~	~~Viking's initial public offering~~
~~VSOE~~	~~Vendor-specific objective evidence~~


PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION


ITEM 1.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited, in thousands, except share data)


	March 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(unaudited) (restated)			(a) (restated)			September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	31,293		$	97,428		$	32,739		$	18,752
Short-term investments	81,908			102,791			169,520			122,296
Accounts receivable	11,779			6,170			12,816			14,700
Note receivable from Viking Therapeutics	4,767			4,782
Note receivable from Viking							3,007			3,207
Inventory	1,750			1,633			5,007			1,923
Other current assets	1,562			1,908			1,112			2,175
Total current assets	133,059			214,712			224,201			163,053
Deferred income taxes	129,777			189,083			134,939			123,891
Investment in Viking Therapeutics	28,118			29,728
Investment in Viking							5,137			8,345
Intangible assets, net	212,823			48,347			196,578			204,705
Goodwill	72,997			12,238			72,207			72,207
Commercial license rights	8,546			8,554
Commercial license rights, net							23,721			25,821
Property and equipment, net	567			372			3,526			1,819
Other assets	70			27			2,028			1,744
Total assets	$	585,957		$	503,061		$	662,337		$	601,585
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	2,688		$	4,083		$	3,617		$	2,734
Accrued liabilities	3,669			5,397			6,423			6,397
Current contingent liabilities	5,285			10,414			86			5,088
Current lease exit obligations	577			934
2019 convertible senior notes, net	—			201,985
Other current liabilities	21			8
2019 Convertible Senior Notes, net							221,557			212,910
Total current liabilities	12,240			222,821			231,683			227,129
Long-term debt, net	204,653			—
Long-term contingent liabilities	4,022			3,033			5,196			2,916
Other long-term liabilities	446			297			695			687
Total liabilities	221,361			226,151			237,574			230,732
Commitments and Contingencies
Equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes (Note 6)	—			39,628
Equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes (Note 3)							21,597			29,563
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 33,333,333 shares authorized; 20,815,636 and 19,949,012 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	21			20
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 33,333,333 shares authorized; 21,094,836 and 20,909,301 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively							21			21
Additional paid-in capital	783,890			661,850			793,724			769,653
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,568			4,903			3,335			2,743
Accumulated deficit	(422,883		)	(429,491		)	(393,914		)	(431,127		)
Total stockholders' equity attributable to Ligand Pharmaceuticals	364,596			237,282
Total stockholders' equity							403,166			341,290
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	585,957		$	503,061		$	662,337		$	601,585
(a) See restatement discussion in footnote 1

See accompanying notes.

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(in ~~thousands)~~

thousands, except per share amounts)


	Three months ended						Three months ended						Nine months ended
	March 31,						September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2017			2016			2017			2016
Revenues:
Royalties	$	14,390		$	10,287		$	21,931		$	15,698		$	60,372		$	39,842
Material sales	5,341			3,729			7,664			4,219			14,336			13,445
License fees, milestones and other revenues	9,917			586			3,780			1,702			15,930			17,500
Total revenues	29,648			14,602			33,375			21,619			90,638			70,787
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales ⁽¹⁾	955			1,074			2,385			999			3,628			2,674
Amortization of intangibles	2,524			594			2,706			2,706			8,126			7,912
Research and development	4,004			3,368			4,759			5,898			18,254			14,813
General and administrative	6,825			5,994			7,032			6,550			20,904			20,858
Lease exit and termination costs	244			223
Total operating costs and expenses	14,552			11,253			16,882			16,153			50,912			46,257
Income from operations	15,096			3,349			16,493			5,466			39,726			24,530
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense, net	(3,005		)	(2,973		)	(2,822		)	(3,116		)	(8,625		)	(9,172		)
Increase in contingent liabilities	(1,306		)	(3		)	(1,336		)	(958		)	(2,302		)	(2,595		)
Equity in net losses from Viking Therapeutics	(1,605		)	—
Other, net	391			(447		)
Total other (expense) income, net	(5,525		)	(3,423		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	9,571			(74		)
Income tax expense	(3,694		)	(15		)
Income (loss) from operations	5,877			(89		)
Loss from Viking							(1,019		)	(1,396		)	(3,350		)	(14,139		)
Other income, net							755			1,215			1,117			2,107
Total other expense, net							(4,422		)	(4,255		)	(13,160		)	(23,799		)
Income before income taxes							12,071			1,211			26,566			731
Income tax (expense) benefit							(3,645		)	(160		)	(7,000		)	28
Income from operations							8,426			1,051			19,566			759
Discontinued operations:
Gain on sale of Oncology Product Line before income taxes	1,139			—			—			—			—			1,139
Income tax expense on discontinued operations	(408		)	—			—			—			—			(408		)
Income from discontinued operations	731			—			—			—			—			731
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests:	6,608			(89		)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			(843		)
Net income	$	6,608		$	754		$	8,426		$	1,051		$	19,566		$	1,490
Per share amounts attributable to Ligand common shareholders:
Basic earnings per share data
Per share amounts:
Basic earnings per share data⁽²⁾
Income from continuing operations	$	0.28		$	0.04		$	0.40		$	0.05		$	0.93		$	0.04
Income from discontinued operations	0.04			—			—			—			—			0.04
Net income	$	0.32		$	0.04		$	0.40		$	0.05		$	0.93		$	0.07

Diluted earnings per share data⁽²⁾
Income from continuing operations	$	0.26		$	0.04		$	0.36		$	0.05		$	0.84		$	0.03
Income from discontinued operations	0.03			—			—			—			—			0.03
Net income	$	0.30		$	0.04		$	0.36		$	0.05		$	0.84		$	0.07

Shares used for computation (in thousands)
Basic	20,708			19,612			21,071			20,887			21,007			20,806
Diluted	22,284			20,631			23,551			22,997			23,262			22,742

(1) Excludes amortization of intangibles.

(2) The sum of net income per share amounts may not equal the totals due to ~~rounding~~

rounding.

See accompanying notes.

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

Three months ended
March 31,
2016 2015
Net income: $ 6,608
$ 754

Unrealized net (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax (1,098 ) 4,614

Less: Reclassification of net realized (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax (236 ) (234 )
Comprehensive income (loss) $ 5,274
$ 5,134



	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Net income:	$	8,426		$	1,051		$	19,566		$	1,490
Unrealized net gain on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	605			978			628			367
Less: Reclassification of net realized gain included in net income, net of tax	(329		)	(1,071		)	(36		)	(1,670		)
Comprehensive income	$	8,702		$	958		$	20,158		$	187

See accompanying notes.

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICAL INCORPORATED

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited, in thousands)


	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	March 31,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2017			2016
Operating activities
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests	$	6,608		$	(89	)
Less: gain from discontinued operations	731			—
Income (loss) from continuing operations	5,877			(89		)
Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net income							$	19,566		$	1,490
Less: income from discontinued operations							—			731
Income from continuing operations							19,566			759
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Non-cash change in estimated fair value of contingent liabilities	1,306			3			2,302			2,595
Realized (gain) loss on sale of short-term investment	(406		)	447
Realized gain on sale of short-term investment							(371		)	(1,776		)
Gain on disposal of assets							—			183
Depreciation and amortization	2,575			650			7,581			8,322
Amortization of discount on investments, net	320			—
Amortization of premium (discount) on investments, net							88			510
Amortization of debt discount and issuance fees	2,668			2,509			8,647			8,130
Stock-based compensation	4,118			2,914			15,917			13,690
Deferred income taxes	4,101			6			6,855			347
Accretion of note payable	—			14
Change in fair value of the convertible debt receivable from Viking	15			—
Loss on equity investment in Viking Therapeutics, Inc.	1,605			—
Other				(1		)
Change in fair value of the Viking convertible debt receivable and warrants							(426		)	(464		)
Loss from equity method investment							3,350			14,139
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(5,604		)	5,211			1,909			(411		)
Inventory	853			(150		)	(1,985		)	(2,394		)
Other current assets	16			445			399			(9		)
Other long-term assets	(41		)	(291		)	—			(31		)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(4,302		)	(4,667		)	(2,649		)	(3,079		)
Restricted investments	—			661
Deferred revenue	13			(83		)
Other							1,075			1,497
Net cash provided by operating activities	13,114			7,579			62,258			42,008
Investing activities
Purchase of commercial license rights							—			(17,695		)
Payments to CVR holders and other contingency payments	(5,446		)	(3,247		)	(4,998		)	(7,055		)
Purchases of property and equipment	(238		)	(10		)	(220		)	(1,783		)
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired	(92,855		)	—			—			(92,504		)
Purchase of short-term investments	(49,892		)	—			(205,121		)	(73,109		)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	—			1
Purchase of common stock in equity method investment							—			(1,000		)
Purchase of Viking common stock and warrants							—			(700		)
Proceeds received from repayment of Viking note receivable							200			300
Proceeds received from repayment of commercial license rights							2,859			—
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	20,270			459			83,390			23,387
Proceeds from maturity of short-term investments	48,401			—			75,887			113,694
Net cash used in investing activities	(79,760		)	(2,797		)	(48,003		)	(56,465		)
Financing activities
Net proceeds from stock option exercises and ESPP	1,013			781			3,864			4,608
Purchase of common stock for RSU vesting	(502		)	—
Net cash provided by financing activities	511			781
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(66,135		)	5,563
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards							(4,132		)	(999		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities							(268		)	3,609
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents							13,987			(10,848		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	97,428			160,203			18,752			97,428
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	31,293		$	165,766		$	32,739		$	86,580


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Interest paid	$	919		$	903	$	1,838	$	1,838
Taxes paid	1			11		145		36
Supplemental schedule of non-cash activity
Stock issued for acquisition, net of issuance cost	(77,615		)	—		—		(77,330		)
Unsettled repurchase of common stock						—		(1,554		)
Stock and warrant received for repayment of Viking notes receivable						—		1,200
Accrued fixed asset purchases						1,700		—
Accrued inventory purchases	600			2,402		499		—
Unrealized gain (loss) on AFS investments	(1,834		)	4,614		628		(271		)

See accompanying notes

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting ~~Principles~~

~~Business~~

Ligand is a biopharmaceutical company with a business model that is based upon the concept of developing or acquiring royalty revenue generating assets and coupling them with a lean corporate cost structure. We operate in one business segment: development and licensing biopharmaceutical assets.

~~Principles of Consolidation~~

~~The accompanying consolidated financial statements include Ligand and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.~~Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Company’s accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements ~~as of March 31, 2016 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015~~ have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, have been included. ~~Operating~~Interim financial results ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016~~ are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the ~~year ending December 31, 2016.~~full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes therein included in the Company’s ~~annual report~~Annual Report on Form ~~10-K/A~~10-K for the year ended December 31, ~~2015~~2016 filed on ~~November 14, 2016.~~February 28, 2017.

~~Restatement~~The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include Ligand and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation

Significant Accounting Policies

The Company ~~has restated~~describes its significant accounting policies in Note 1 to the financial statements in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 to correct errors relating to the Company's net operating loss (NOL) carryforward benefits in the United States which resulted in an overstatement of deferred tax assets (DTA) at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016. In connection with three acquisitions that were completed prior to February 2010, the Company recognized DTAs for a portion of the NOLs, which included capitalized research and development expenses, obtained from the acquired businesses. From the time of the acquisitions until September 2015, there was a valuation allowance against all of the Company’s NOLs, including those obtained from the entities acquired. In September 2015, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that a substantial portion of it deferred tax assets would be realized through future taxable income. As a result, the Company released the majority of its DTA valuation allowance in full, including $27.5 million related to NOLs recognized as part of the businesses acquired prior to February of 2010.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the Company concluded that for accounting purposes the approximately $27.5 million of DTAs that were obtained upon acquiring the businesses prior to February of 2010 did not meet the more likely-than-not criterion for recognition in 2015 and that the related valuation allowance should not have been reversed. As a result, the Company's income tax benefit and net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 were overstated by $27.5 million each as were the Company's DTAs at March 31, 2016.

Based on the materiality guidelines contained in SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, Materiality, and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements, the Company believes that the income tax adjustment is material to its financial statements for periods subsequent to and including the year ended December 31, 2015. Accordingly, the Company determined that it would restate prior period financial statements and amend its previously filed affected filings, including its March 31, 2016 report on Form 10-Q and December 31, 2015 report on Form 10-K.

The Company also recorded adjustments as part of this restatement related to the classification of our 2019 Convertible Senior Notes. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's last reported sale price exceeded the 130% threshold described in Note 6 - "Financing Arrangements" and accordingly the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes have been reclassified as a current liability as of December 31, 2015. As a result, the related unamortized discount of $39.6 million previously classified within stockholder's equity was reclassified as temporary equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

~~The effects of these prior period corrections are as follows:~~

As of December 31, 2015
As Reported Adjustments As Restated
Deferred income taxes $ 216,564
$ (27,481 ) $ 189,083
Total assets⁽¹⁾
530,542
(27,481 ) 503,061
2019 convertible senior notes, net - current —
201,985
201,985
Total current liabilities 20,836
201,985
222,821
2019 convertible senior notes, net - long term⁽¹⁾
201,985
(201,985 ) —
Equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes (Note 5)

—
39,628
39,628
Additional paid-in capital 701,478
(39,628 ) 661,850
Accumulated deficit (402,010 ) (27,481 ) (429,491 )
Total stockholders' equity 304,391
(67,109 ) 237,282
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity⁽¹⁾
530,542
(27,481 ) 503,061
(1) $3.4 million of unamortized issuance cost was reclassified to debt discount in the concurrently filed 2015 10-K/A form that it is filed after the Company's retrospective adoption of ASU 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs in Q1 2016.

As of March 31, 2016
As Reported Adjustments As Restated
Deferred income taxes $ 157,258
(27,481 ) $ 129,777
Total assets 613,438
(27,481 ) 585,957
Accumulated deficit (395,402 ) (27,481 ) (422,883 )
Total stockholders' equity 392,077
(27,481 ) 364,596
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 613,438
(27,481 ) 585,957

Use of Estimates

The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

~~Reclassifications~~

~~Certain reclassifications have been made~~In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which is intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for stock-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017. As a result of the adoption, the Company recorded a $17.9 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings for the recognition of excess tax benefits generated by the settlement of stock-based awards in prior periods and a discrete income tax benefit of $0.9 million to the ~~previously~~income tax provision for excess tax benefits generated by the settlement, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, of stock-based awards. As allowed by the new guidance, the Company has elected to account for equity award forfeitures as they occur, and recorded a $0.3 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings for this accounting change in prior periods.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ~~balance sheet~~new guidance related to revenue recognition, ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), which outlines a comprehensive revenue recognition model and ~~statement~~supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The new guidance requires a company to recognize revenue upon transfer of ~~operations~~goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the expected consideration to be received in exchange for those goods or services. ASC 606 defines a five-step approach for recognizing revenue, which may require a company to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the ~~three months ended March 31, 2015~~ ~~for comparability purposes. These reclassifications had no~~current guidance. Two methods of adoption are permitted: (a) full retrospective adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all periods presented; or (b) modified retrospective adoption, meaning the cumulative effect onof applying the ~~reported net income, stockholders' equity, and operating cash flows~~new guidance is recognized at the date of initial application as ~~previously reported.~~
an adjustment to the opening retained earnings balance.

~~Income Per Share~~We are undertaking a substantial effort to be ready for adoption of ASC 606. Some of our contracts have distinct terms which will need to be evaluated separately. We anticipate that this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements by accelerating the timing of revenue recognition for revenues related to royalties, and potentially certain contingent milestone based payments. We intend to adopt ASC 606 starting as of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method.

~~Basic income per share~~In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 modifies certain aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 is ~~calculated by dividing net income by~~effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. We do not expect the ~~weighted-average number~~adoption of ~~common shares outstanding during~~this standard to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In August 2016, the ~~period. Diluted income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number~~FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of ~~common shares~~Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and ~~common stock equivalents of all dilutive securities calculated using the treasury stock method~~Cash Payments. This new standard will make eight targeted changes to how cash receipts and ~~the if-converted method. The total number of potentially dilutive securities including stock options~~cash payments are presented and ~~warrants excluded from the computation of diluted income per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive was~~ ~~3.5 million~~ ~~and 4.5 million, as of~~ ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~and 2015, respectively.~~

~~The following table presents the computation of basic and diluted net income per share for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per share amounts):~~

Three months ended
March 31,
2016 2015
Net income from continuing operations $ 5,877
$ 754
Net income from discontinued operations 731
—
Net income $ 6,608
$ 754

Shares used to compute basic income per share 20,707,926
19,611,881
Dilutive potential common shares:
Restricted stock 66,736
61,538
Stock options 759,581
957,369
0.75% Convertible Senior Notes, Due 2019 749,736
—
Shares used to compute diluted income per share 22,283,979
20,630,788

Basic per share amounts:
Income from continuing operations $ 0.28
$ 0.04
Income from discontinued operations 0.04
—
Basic net income per share $ 0.32
$ 0.04

Diluted per share amounts:
Income from continuing operations $ 0.26
$ 0.04
Income from discontinued operations 0.03
—
Diluted net income per share $ 0.30
$ 0.04

~~Cash Equivalents~~

~~Cash equivalents consist of all investments with maturities of three months or less from the date of acquisition.~~

~~Short-term Investments~~

Short-term investments primarily consist of investments in debt securities that have effective maturities greater than three months and less than twelve months from the date of acquisition. The Company classifies its short-term investments as "available-for-sale". Such investments are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses includedclassified in the statement of ~~comprehensive income (loss).~~cash flows. The ~~Company determines~~standard is effective for us in the ~~cost~~first quarter of ~~investments based~~2018. The standard will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply, in which case we would be required to apply the ~~specific identification method.~~amendments prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. We are currently evaluating the impact of our pending adoption of ASU 2016-15 on our consolidated financial statements.

~~Restricted~~

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805), Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which changes the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating when a set of assets acquired or disposed of should be considered a business. The new standard requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets; if so, the set would not be considered a business. The new standard also requires a business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs. We expect that these provisions will reduce the number of transactions that will be considered a business. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2018, and may be adopted earlier. The standard would be applied prospectively to any transaction occurring on or after the adoption date. We are currently evaluating the impact that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Short-term Investments

~~Restricted~~The Company's investments consist of ~~certificates of deposit held with a financial institution as collateral under a facility lease and third-party service provider arrangements.~~

~~The~~the following ~~table summarizes the various investment categories~~ at ~~March 31, 2016~~September 30, 2017 and December 31, ~~2015~~2016 (in thousands):


	Amortized cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Estimated fair value		September 30, 2017									December 31, 2016
March 31, 2016
										Amortized cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Estimated fair value		Amortized cost		Gross unrealized gains		Gross unrealized losses			Estimated fair value

Short-term investments
Bank deposits	$	42,376	$	87	$	—		$	42,463	$	77,307	$	12	$	(5	)	$	77,314	$	40,715	$	19	$	—		$	40,734
Corporate bonds	24,268		84		(2		)	24,350		50,833		3		(34		)	50,802		11,031		—		(5		)	11,026
Commercial paper	8,401		2		—			8,403		23,176		3		(2		)	23,177		33,074		2		(9		)	33,067
Asset backed securities	2,067		1		(1		)	2,067
U.S. Government bonds										8,490		2		(6		)	8,486		7,508		—		(1		)	7,507
Agency bonds										4,977		—		—			4,977		7,294		1		—			7,295
Municipal bonds										2,020		—		(8		)	2,012		19,624		—		(11		)	19,613
Corporate equity securities	1,811		2,814		—			4,625		254		2,498		—			2,752		1,512		1,542		—			3,054
	$	78,923	$	2,988	$	(3	)	$	81,908	$	167,057	$	2,518	$	(55	)	$	169,520	$	120,758	$	1,564	$	(26	)	$	122,296
December 31, 2015
Short-term investments
Bank deposits	$	43,043	$	—	$	(4	)	$	43,039
Corporate bonds	41,238		$	—	(35		)	41,203
Commercial paper	1,747		$	—	—			1,747
Asset backed securities	10,020		$	—	(5		)	10,015
Corporate equity securities	1,843		$	4,944	—			6,787
	$	97,891	$	4,944	$	(44	)	$	102,791

Inventory

Inventory, which consists of finished goods, is stated at the lower of cost or market value. The Company determines cost using the first-in, first-out method. Inventory levels are analyzed periodically and written down to its net realizable value if it has become obsolete, has a cost basis in excess of its expected net realizable value or is in excess of expected requirements. There were no write downs related to obsolete inventory recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

Goodwill and Other Identifiable Intangible Assets

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

March 31, December 31,
2016 2015
Indefinite lived intangible assets
     Acquired IPR&D $ 12,556
$ 12,556
     Goodwill 72,997
12,238
Definite lived intangible assets
     Complete technology 182,267
15,267
          Less: Accumulated amortization (5,883 ) (3,762 )
     Trade name 2,642
2,642
          Less: Accumulated amortization (685 ) (652 )
     Customer relationships 29,600
29,600
          Less: Accumulated amortization (7,674 ) (7,304 )
Total goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets, net $ 285,820
$ 60,585

~~As Discussed in~~ ~~Note 2-Business Combination~~, on January 8, 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of OMT. As a result of the transaction, the Company recorded $167.0 million of intangibles with definite lives and goodwill of $60.8 million. Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset of 20 years. Amortization expense of ~~$2.5 million~~ ~~was recognized for the three months ended~~ ~~March 31, 2016~~ and amortization expense of $0.6 million was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Estimated amortization expense for the year ending December 31, 2016 is $10.6 million and estimated amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2017 through ~~2020~~ is ~~$10.7 million~~ ~~per year. For each of the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, there was no impairment of IPR&D or goodwill.~~



	September 30,			December 31,
	2017			2016
Indefinite lived intangible assets
IPR&D	$	12,246		$	12,246
Goodwill	72,207			72,207
Definite lived intangible assets
Complete technology	182,577			182,577
Less: Accumulated amortization	(19,710		)	(12,792		)
Trade name	2,642			2,642
Less: Accumulated amortization	(883		)	(784		)
Customer relationships	29,600			29,600
Less: Accumulated amortization	(9,894		)	(8,784		)
Total goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets, net	$	268,785		$	276,912

Commercial License Rights

Commercial license rights consist of the following (in thousands):



	September 30,		December 31,
	2017		2016
CorMatrix	$	15,190	$	17,284
Selexis	8,531		8,537
	$	23,721	$	25,821

Commercial license rights represent a portfolio of future milestone and royalty payment rights acquired from Selexis in April 2013 and April ~~2015.~~2015 and CorMatrix in May 2016. Individual commercial license rights acquired ~~under the agreement~~ are carried at allocated cost and approximate fair value.

In May 2017, the Company entered into a Royalty Agreement with Aziyo pursuant to which the Company will receive royalties from certain marketed products that Aziyo acquired from CorMatrix. Pursuant to the Royalty Agreement, the Company received $5 million in June 2017 and is scheduled to receive another $5 million by the end of 2017 from Aziyo to buydown the royalty rates on the products CorMatrix sold to Aziyo. The ~~carrying value~~Royalty Agreement closed on May 31, 2017, in connection with the closing of the asset sale from CorMatrix to Aziyo (the “CorMatrix Asset Sale”). Pursuant to the Royalty Agreement, the Company will receive a 5% royalty on the products Aziyo acquired in the CorMatrix Asset Sale, reduced from the original 20% royalty from CorMatrix pursuant to the previously disclosed Interest Purchase Agreement, dated May 3, 2016 (the “Original Interest Purchase Agreement”) between CorMatrix and the Company. In addition, Aziyo has agreed to pay the Company up to $10 million of additional milestones tied to cumulative net sales of the products Aziyo acquired in the CorMatrix Asset Sale and to extend the term on these royalties by one year. The Royalty Agreement will terminate on May 31, 2027. In addition, in May 2017, the Company entered into an amended and restated interest purchase agreement (the “Amended Interest Purchase Agreement”) with CorMatrix, which supersedes in its entirety the Original Interest Purchase Agreement. Other than removing the commercial products sold to Aziyo in the CorMatrix Sale, the terms of the Amended Interest Purchase Agreement remain unchanged with respect to the CorMatrix developmental pipeline products, including the royalty rate of 5% on such pipeline products. The Amended Interest Purchase Agreement will terminate 10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of such products.

The Company accounts for the CorMatrix commercial license ~~rights will be reduced on~~right as a ~~pro-rata basis as revenue is realized~~financial asset in accordance with ASC 310 and amortizes the commercial license right using the 'effective interest' method whereby the Company forecasts expected cash flows over the term of the ~~agreement. Declines~~arrangement to arrive at an annualized effective interest. The annual effective interest associated with the forecasted cash flows from the Royalty Agreement with Aziyo as of September 30, 2017 is 26%. Revenue is

calculated by multiplying the carrying value of the commercial license right by the effective interest. The royalty payments received for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, including the $5 million received in June 2017, were accordingly allocated between revenue and the amortization of the commercial license rights.

During the financial statement close process for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 the Company identified and corrected an immaterial error related to 2016 and the first quarter of 2017. The adjustment related to an error in the recognition of the income associated with this financial asset. In the second quarter of 2017, the Company determined the 'effective interest' method should have been used to recognize income associated with the financial asset and that the method utilized previously was incorrect. The error had the impact of understating Commercial License Rights, revenue and net income in 2016 and the first quarter of 2017. Management evaluated the effect of the adjustment on previously issued interim and annual consolidated financial statements in accordance with SAB No. 99 and SAB No. 108 and concluded that it was qualitatively and quantitatively immaterial to the historical interim and annual periods. Management also concluded that the correcting the error in the second quarter of 2017 would not have a material impact on the 2017 annual expected financial results. As a result, in accordance with SAB No. 108, we corrected our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2017.

The error resulted in an understatement of 2016 and Q1 2017 revenue of $1.3 million and $0.4 million respectively, and an understatement of 2016 and Q1 2017 net income of $0.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, and net income of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, respectively. The correction of the error in Q2 2017 does not have any impact for the three months ended September 30, 2017, however it resulted in an overstatement of revenue of $1.3 million, and $0.8 million or $0.04 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

Equity-Method Investment

The Company has approximately 22.1% equity ownership in Viking as of September 30, 2017. The Company records its investment in Viking under the equity method of accounting. The investment is subsequently adjusted for the Company’s share of Viking's operating results, and if applicable, cash contributions and distributions. The market value of the Company's equity investment in Viking was $12.0 million as of September 30, 2017. The Company also has outstanding warrants to purchase 1.5 million shares of Viking's common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share at September 30, 2017. The Company recorded the warrants at the fair value of ~~individual license rights below their carrying value that are deemed to be other than temporary are reflected in earnings in the period such determination is made. As of~~$1.1 million and $0.7 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. See ~~March 31, 2016~~Note 2 Fair Value Measurement~~, management does not believe there have been any events or circumstances indicating that the carrying amount of its commercial license rights may not be recoverable.~~ for details.

~~Property~~In addition, the Company currently has an active MLA with Viking, under which the Company licensed to Viking the rights to five programs. The Company is entitled to receive contingent event-based payments and ~~Equipment~~royalties from Viking based on the progression and eventual sale of any products being developed by Viking under the MLA. No such payment was earned or recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

~~Property and equipment is stated at cost and consists~~The Company also has a convertible note receivable from Viking under the LSA. Under the terms of the ~~following (in thousands):~~

March 31, December 31,
2016 2015
Lab and office equipment $ 2,482
$ 2,248
Leasehold improvements 273
273
Computer equipment and software 636
632
3,391
3,153
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (2,824 ) (2,781 )
Total property and equipment, net $ 567
$ 372

~~Depreciation~~LSA, the principal amount outstanding accrues interest at a fixed rate of ~~equipment is computed using~~2.5%. On May 8, 2017, the ~~straight-line method over~~Company entered into an amendment to the ~~estimated useful lives~~LSA, which amends to, among other things, (i) extend the maturity date of the ~~assets,~~outstanding convertible notes receivable under the LSA from May 21, 2017 to May 21, 2018 and (ii) caused Viking to pay the Company $0.2 million, which ~~range from three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using~~reduced first the ~~straight-line method over~~accrued and unpaid interest and second the ~~shorter of~~unpaid principal amount on the ~~estimated useful lives or the related lease term. Depreciation expense of $0.1 million was recognized~~Viking Note by $0.50 for each $1.00 of value. The Company elected to record the ~~three months ended March~~convertible notes at fair value, which was $3.0 million and $3.2 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, ~~and 2015, respectively, which is included in operating expenses.~~respectively. See Note 2 Fair Value Measurement for details.

~~Other Current Assets~~

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

March 31, December 31,
2016 2015
Prepaid expenses $ 1,087
$ 1,177
Other receivables 475
731
Total other current assets $ 1,562
$ 1,908

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

March 31, December 31,
2016 2015
Compensation $ 854
$ 1,711
Professional fees 754
726
Amounts owed to former licensees 695
915
Royalties owed to third parties 937
823
Other 429
1,222
Total accrued liabilities $ 3,669
$ 5,397

~~Other Long-Term Liabilities~~

~~Other long-term liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):~~

March 31, December 31,
2016 2015
Deposits $ 298
$ 268
Deferred rent 107
—
Other 41
29
Total other long-term liabilities $ 446
$ 297

~~Contingent Liabilities~~

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of CyDex in January 2011, the Company recorded a contingent liability, for amounts potentially due to holders of the CyDex CVRs and former license holders. The liability is periodically assessed based on events and circumstances related to the underlying milestones, royalties and material sales. Any change in fair value is recorded in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The carrying amount of the liability may fluctuate significantly and actual amounts paid under the CVR agreements may be materially different than the carrying amount of the liability. The fair value of the liability at ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~and December 31, 2015 was~~ ~~$6.9 million~~ ~~and~~ ~~$9.5 million~~, respectively. The Company recorded a fair-value adjustment to increase the liability by $0.2 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. There was a revenue-sharing payment of $2.8 million and $3.2 million to CyDex CVR holders during the three months ended ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~and 2015, respectively.~~

~~In connection with the Company’s acquisition of Metabasis in~~ ~~January 2010, the Company issued to Metabasis stockholders~~ ~~four~~ tradable CVRs, one CVR from each of four respective series of CVR, for each Metabasis share. The CVRs will entitle Metabasis stockholders to cash payments as frequently as every six months as cash is received by the Company from proceeds from the sale or partnering of any of the Metabasis drug development programs, among other triggering events. The fair values of the CVRs are remeasured at each reporting date through the term of the related agreement. Any change in fair value is recorded in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The carrying amount of the liability may fluctuate significantly based upon quoted market prices and actual amounts paid under the agreements may be materially different than the carrying amount of the liability. The fair value of the liability was estimated to be ~~$2.4 million~~ ~~and~~ ~~$4.0 million~~ ~~as of~~ ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~and December 31, 2015, respectively. The Company recorded an increase in the liability for Metabasis-related CVRs of~~ ~~$1.1 million~~ and an decrease of $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company paid Metabasis CVR holders $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. No payments were made to Metabasis CVR holders for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

~~Revenue Recognition~~

Royalties on sales of products commercialized by the Company’s partners are recognized in the quarter reported to Ligand by the respective partner. Generally, the Company receives royalty reports from its licensees approximately one quarter in arrears due to the fact that its agreements require partners to report product sales between 30 and 60 days after the end of the quarter. The Company recognizes royalty revenues when it can reliably estimate such amounts and collectability is reasonably assured. Under this accounting policy, the royalty revenues reported are not based upon estimates and such royalty revenues are typically reported to the Company by its partners in the same period in which payment is received.

Revenue from material sales of Captisol is recognized upon transfer of title, which normally passes upon shipment to the customer, provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. All product returns are subject to the Company's credit and exchange policy, approval by the Company and a 20% restocking fee. To date, product returns by customers have not been material to net material sales in any related period. The Company records revenue net of product returns, if any, and sales tax collected and remitted to government authorities during the period.

The Company analyzes its revenue arrangements and other agreements to determine whether there are multiple elements that should be separated and accounted for individually or as a single unit of accounting. For multiple element contracts, arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement toall deliverables on the basis of relative selling price, using a hierarchy to determine selling price. Management first considers VSOE, then TPE and if neither VSOE nor TPE exist, the Company uses its best estimate of selling price.

Many of the Company's revenue arrangements for Captisol involve a license agreement with the supply of manufactured Captisol product. Licenses may be granted to pharmaceutical companies for the use of Captisol product in the development of pharmaceutical compounds. The supply of the Captisol product may be for all phases of clinical trials and through commercial availability of the host drug or may be limited to certain phases of the clinical trial process. Management believes that the Company's licenses have stand-alone value at the outset of an arrangement because the customer obtains the right to use Captisol in its formulations without any additional input by the Company.

Other nonrefundable, upfront license fees are recognized as revenue upon delivery of the license, if the license is determined to have standalone value that is not dependent on any future performance by the Company under the applicable collaboration agreement. Nonrefundable contingent event-based payments are recognized as revenue when the contingent event is met, which is usually the earlier of when payments are received or collections are assured, provided that it does not require future performance by the Company. The Company occasionally has sub-license obligations related to arrangements for which it receives license fees, milestones and royalties. The Company evaluates the determination of gross versus net reporting based on each individual agreement.

Sales-based contingent payments from partners are accounted for similarly to royalties, with revenue recognized upon achievement of the sales targets assuming all other revenue recognition criteria for milestones are met. Revenue from development and regulatory milestones is recognized when earned, as evidenced by written acknowledgement from the collaborator, provided that (1) 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 (2) collectability 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.

Revenue from research funding under our 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.



	September 30,		December 31,
	2017		2016
Compensation	$	2,479	$	2,603
Professional fees	634		829
Amounts owed to former licensees	457		899
Royalties owed to third parties	1,000		942
Deferred revenue	1,075		—
Other	778		1,124
Total accrued liabilities	$	6,423	$	6,397

Stock-Based Compensation

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. The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense recorded as components of research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses for the periods indicated (in thousands):


	Three months ended				Three months ended				Nine months ended
	March 31,				September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2017		2016		2017		2016
Stock-based compensation expense as a component of:
Research and development expenses	$	1,585	$	920	$	2,394	$	2,845	$	8,260	$	6,112
General and administrative expenses	2,533		1,994		2,854		2,486		7,657		7,578
	$	4,118	$	2,914	$	5,248	$	5,331	$	15,917	$	13,690

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		Three months ended		Nine months ended
	March 31,		September 30,		September 30,
	2016	2015	2017	2016	2017	2016
Risk-free interest rate	1.5%	1.8%	2.0%	1.3%	2.1%	1.5%
Dividend yield	—	—	—	—	—	—
Expected volatility	50%	58%	47%	49%	47%	50%
Expected term	6.6	6.6	6.5	6.7	6.8	6.6
Forfeiture rate	5.0%	8.5%

~~Income Taxes~~Lease Obligations

~~Income taxes are accounted for under~~The Company describes its operating lease obligations in Note 5 to the ~~liability method. This approach requires the recognition~~financial statements in Item 8 of ~~deferred tax assets and liabilities~~its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the ~~expected future tax consequences of differences between the tax basis of assets or liabilities and their carrying amounts~~year ended December 31, 2016. There were no significant changes in the consolidated financial statements. The Company provides a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that these items will expire before we are able to realize their benefit. The Company calculatesCompany's operating lease commitments during the ~~valuation allowance in accordance with the authoritative guidance relating to income taxes under ASC 740,~~ ~~Income Taxes,~~ ~~which requires an assessment~~first nine months of both positive and negative evidence that is available regarding the reliability of these deferred tax assets, when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. Developing the provision for income taxes requires significant judgment and expertise in federal and state income tax laws, regulations and strategies, including the determination of deferred tax assets and liabilities and, if necessary, any valuation allowances that may be required for deferred tax assets. The Company's judgments and tax strategies are subject to audit by various taxing authorities. While management believes the Company has provided adequately for its income tax liabilities in its consolidated financial statements, adverse determinations by these taxing authorities could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition and results of operations. 2017.

~~Variable Interest Entities~~

The Company identifies an entity as a VIE if either: (1) the entity does not have sufficient equity investment at risk to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support, or (2) the entity's equity investors lack the essential characteristics of a controlling financial interest. The Company performs ongoing qualitative assessments of its VIEs to determine whether the Company has a controlling financial interest in any VIE and therefore is the primary beneficiary. If the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, it consolidates the VIE under applicable accounting guidance. If the Company is no longer the primary of a VIE or the entity is no longer considered as a VIE as facts and circumstances changed, it deconsolidates the entity under the applicable accounting guidance. Beginning May 2015, the Company deconsolidated Viking, a previously reported VIE, and elected to record its investment in Viking under the equity method of accounting as Viking is no longer considered a VIE and the Company does not have voting control or other elements of control that would require consolidation. The investment is subsequently adjusted for the Company’s share of Viking's operating results, and if applicable, cash contributions and distributions, which is reported on a separate line in our condensed consolidated statement of operations called “Equity in net losses of Viking Therapeutics”. On the condensed consolidated balance sheet, the Company reports its investment in Viking on a separate line in the non-current assets section called “Investment in Viking Therapeutics”. See ~~Note 3, Investment in Viking Therapeutics,~~ ~~for additional details.~~

Convertible Debt

In August 2014, the Company completed a $245.0 million offering of 2019 Convertible Senior Notes, which bear interest at 0.75%. The Company ~~accounts~~accounted for the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes by separating the liability and equity components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the Company's nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. As a result, the Company assigned a value to the debt component of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes equal to the estimated fair value of similar debt instruments without the conversion feature, which resulted in the Company recording the debt instrument at a discount. The Company is amortizing the debt discount over the life of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes as additional non-cash interest expense utilizing the effective interest method.

~~Recent Accounting Pronouncements~~

~~In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09,~~ ~~Revenue~~Upon the occurrence of certain circumstances, holders of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes may redeem all or a portion of their notes, which may require the use of a substantial amount of cash. At September 30, 2017, we had a working capital deficit of $7.5 million, which includes the 2019 Convertible Senior notes that are currently redeemable as of September 30, 2017 but excludes another $21.6 million that is classified as mezzanine equity. As noted in Note 3, the debt may change from ~~Contracts with Customers.~~ ~~ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. The revenue standard’s core principle is built on the contract between~~current to non-current period over period, primarily as a ~~vendor and a customer for the provision~~result of ~~goods and services. It attempts to depict the exchange of rights and obligations between the parties~~changes in the ~~pattern of revenue recognition based on the consideration to which the vendor~~Company’s stock price. Management believes that it is entitled. To accomplish this objective, the standard requires five basic steps: (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. Management is currently evaluating the effect the adoption of this standard will have on the Company's financial statements.

~~In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03,~~ ~~Interest-Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs.~~ This update was issued to simplify the presentation for debt issuance costs. Upon adoption, such costs shall be presented on our consolidated balance sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amountremote that holders of the related debt liability and not as a deferred charge presented in Other assets on our consolidated balance sheets. This amendment will be effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2016, and is requirednotes would choose to ~~be retrospectively adopted. During~~convert their notes early because the ~~three-month period ended March 31, 2016, management adopted the change in the presentation on our consolidated balance sheets accordingly (see Note 6 for details).~~

~~In January 2016, the FASB issued~~ ~~ASU 2016-01 Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities~~ that amends the accounting and disclosures of financial instruments, including a provision that requires equity investments (except for investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in current earnings. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2018. We are currently evaluating the impact that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that amends the guidance for the accounting and disclosure of leases. This new standard requires that lessees recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases on the balance sheet and disclose qualitative and quantitative information about their leasing arrangements. The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on January 1, 2019. We are currently evaluating the impact that this new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

~~In March 2016, the FASB issued~~ ~~ASU 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation~~, which identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for stock-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-09 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 31, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently assessing the potential impact that the adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 will have in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

~~2. Business Combination~~

On January 8, 2016, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of OMT. OMT is a biotechnology company engaged in the genetic engineering of animals for the generation of human therapeutic antibodies through its OmniAb® technology, which currently offers three transgenic animal platforms for license, including OmniRat®, OmniMouse® and OmniFlic®. The transaction, which was accounted for as a business combination, added 16 partnered programs to the Company's portfolio and provides the Company with opportunities for further licensing and collaborations in the area.

~~The aggregate acquisition consideration was $174.0 million, consisting of (in thousands):~~

Cash consideration $ 96,359
Total share consideration:
Actual number of shares issued 793
Multiplied by: Ligand closing share price on January 8, 2016 $ 97.92
Total share consideration 77,658
Total consideration $ 174,017

~~The acquisition consideration is subject to certain customary post-closing adjustments up to 15~~ ~~months from January 8, 2016, in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Merger Agreement between the Company and OMT.~~
~~The acquisition consideration was preliminarily allocated to the acquisition date fair values of acquired assets and assumed liabilities as follows (in thousands):~~

     Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,504
     Accounts receivable 5
     Income tax receivable 140
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets 2
     Deferred tax liabilities, net (56,114 )
     Intangible asset with finite life - core technology 167,000
     Liabilities assumed (1,279 )
     Goodwill 60,759
Total consideration $ 174,017

~~The~~ fair value of the ~~core technology,~~security that a noteholder can currently realize in an active market is greater than the conversion value the noteholder would realize upon early conversion. In the unlikely event that all the debt was converted, we have three business days following a 50 trading day observation period from the convert date to pay the principal in cash. We have positive operating income and positive cash flow from operations since December 31, 2013 and, accordingly, while there can be no assurance, we believe we have the ability to raise additional capital through an S-3 registration or ~~OMT's OmniAb technology, was~~via alternative financing arrangements such as convertible or straight debt.

Income Per Share

Basic income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share is computed based on the ~~discounted cash flow method that estimated the present value of a hypothetical royalty stream derived from the licensing~~sum of the ~~OmniAb technology. These projected cash flows were discounted to present value using~~weighted average number of common shares and potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period.

Potentially dilutive common shares consist of shares issuable under 2019 Convertible Senior Notes and the associated warrants, stock options and restricted stock. The 2019 Convertible Senior Notes have a ~~discount rate of 15.5%. The fair value~~dilutive impact when the average market price of the ~~core technology is being amortized on a straight-line bases over~~Company’s common stock exceeds the ~~estimated useful life of 20 years.~~

~~The excess~~applicable conversion price of the ~~acquisition date consideration over the fair values assigned~~notes. The warrants have a dilutive effect to the ~~assets acquired~~extent the market price per share of common stock exceeds the applicable exercise price of the warrants. Potentially dilutive common shares from stock options and restricted stock are determined using the average share price for each period under the treasury stock method. In addition, proceeds from exercise of stock options and the ~~liabilities~~average amount of unrecognized compensation expense for restricted stock are assumed ~~of $60.8 million was recorded as goodwill, which is not deductible for tax purposes~~to be used to repurchase shares. In loss periods, basic net loss per share and ~~is primarily attributable to~~

~~OMT’s revenue growth from combining~~diluted net loss per share are identical because the ~~OMT and Ligand businesses and workforce, as well as the benefits of access to different markets and customers.~~

~~The purchase price allocations were prepared on a preliminary basis~~otherwise dilutive potential common shares become anti-dilutive and are subject to change as additional information becomes available concerning the fair value and tax basis of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Any measurement period adjustments to the OMT purchase price allocation will be made as soon as practicable but no later than one year from the date of acquisition.therefore excluded.

The following table presents ~~supplemental pro forma information for~~ the ~~three months ended March 31, 2016~~calculation of weighted average shares used to calculate basic and ~~March 31, 2015, as if the acquisition of OMT had occurred on January 1, 2015 (in thousands except for EPS):~~

diluted earnings per share:

March 31, March 31,
2016 2015
Revenue $ 32,124
$ 17,152
Net income $ 8,877
$ (474 )

Basic earnings per share: $ 0.43
$ (0.02 )
Diluted earnings per share: $ 0.40
$ (0.02 )

The unaudited pro forma consolidated results include pro forma adjustments that assume the acquisition occurred on January 1, 2015. The primary adjustments include: (i) the $0.3 million share based compensation expenses related to the stock awards issued to the retained OMT employees after the acquisition, and (ii) additional intangible amortization expense of $0.2 million and $2.1 million was included in the quarter ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The adjustments also include $2.5 million license revenue recognized by OMT from January 1, 2016 to the acquisition date. The unaudited pro forma consolidated results are not necessarily indicative of what our consolidated results of operations actually would have been had we completed the acquisition on January 1, 2015. In addition, the unaudited pro forma consolidated results do not purport to project the future results of operations of the combined company nor do they reflect the expected realization of any cost savings associated with the acquisition.



	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30,		September 30,
	2017	2016	2017	2016
Weighted average shares outstanding:	21,070,678	20,886,705	21,006,718	20,805,604
Dilutive potential common shares:
Restricted stock	79,222	134,008	140,340	102,282
Stock options	1,019,342	792,474	980,461	788,106
2019 Convertible Senior Notes	1,334,357	1,184,092	1,118,456	1,046,257
Warrants	47,646	—	15,882	—
Shares used to compute diluted income per share	23,551,245	22,997,279	23,261,857	22,742,249
Potentially dilutive shares excluded from calculation due to anti-dilutive effect	255,101	3,540,806	2,531,219	3,522,063

3.2. Fair Value Measurements

The ~~Company measures certain financial~~following table presents the Company's hierarchy for assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined using assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. The Company establishes a three-level hierarchy to prioritize the inputs used in measuring fair value. The levels are described below with level 1 having the highest level input that is significant to the measurement and level 3 having the lowest:

~~Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets;~~

~~Level 2 - Inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly; and~~

~~Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions.~~

~~The following table provides a summary of the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are~~ measured at fair ~~value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2016 (in thousands). There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 securities during the three months ended March 31, 2016:~~

value.

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:
Cash equivalents⁽¹⁾
$ 5,316
$ —
$ 5,316
$ —
Short-term investments⁽²⁾
81,908
4,625
77,283
—
Note receivable Viking ⁽³⁾
4,767
—
—
4,767
Total assets $ 91,991
$ 4,625
$ 82,599
$ 4,767
Liabilities:
Current contingent liabilities-CyDex⁽⁴⁾
$ 5,285
$ —
$ —
$ 5,285
Long-term contingent liabilities-CyDex ⁽⁴⁾
1,578
—
—
1,578
Long-term contingent liabilities-Metabasis⁽⁵⁾
2,444
—
2,444
—
Liability for amounts owed to former licensees⁽⁶⁾
534
534
—
—
Total liabilities $ 9,841
$ 534
$ 2,444
$ 6,863

~~The following table provides a summary of the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015 (in thousands):~~


Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
			Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs *		Significant Unobservable Inputs		September 30, 2017								December 31, 2016
	Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Assets:
Cash equivalents ⁽¹⁾	$	3,015	$	—	$	3,015	$	—
Short-term investments ⁽²⁾	92,775		6,786		85,989		—
Viking note receivable ⁽³⁾	4,782		—		—		4,782
Short-term investments⁽¹⁾									$	2,753	$	166,767	$	—	$	169,520	$	3,054	$	119,242	$	—	$	122,296
Note receivable Viking ⁽²⁾									—		—		3,007		3,007		—		—		3,207		3,207
Investment in warrants⁽³⁾									1,110		—		—		1,110		684		—		—		684
Total assets	$	100,572	$	6,786	$	89,004	$	4,782	$	3,863	$	166,767	$	3,007	$	173,637	$	3,738	$	119,242	$	3,207	$	126,187
Liabilities:
Current contingent liabilities-CyDex⁽⁴⁾	$	7,812	$	—	$	—	$	7,812	$	—	$	—	$	86	$	86	$	—	$	—	$	101	$	101
Current contingent liabilities-Metabasis ⁽⁵⁾	$	2,602	—		2,602		—
Long-term contingent liabilities-CyDex ⁽⁴⁾									—		—		1,503		1,503		—		—		1,503		1,503
Long-term contingent liabilities-Metabasis⁽⁵⁾	1,355		—		1,355		—		—		3,693		—		3,693		—		1,413		—		1,413
Long-term contingent liabilities-CyDex ⁽⁴⁾	1,678		—		—		1,678
Liability for amounts owed to former licensees⁽⁶⁾	794		794		—		—		413		—		—		413		371		—		—		371
Total liabilities	$	14,241	$	794	$	3,957	$	9,490	$	413	$	3,693	$	1,589	$	5,695	$	371	$	1,413	$	1,604	$	3,388

(1)

Highly liquid investments with maturities less than 90 days from the purchase date are recorded as cash equivalents that are classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, as these investment securities are valued based upon quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

~~(2)~~

Investments in equity securities, which the Company received as a result of event-based and upfront payments from licensees, are classified as level 1 as the fair value is determined using quoted market prices in active markets for the same securities. Short-term investments in marketable securities with maturities greater than 90 days are classified as level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, as these investment securities are valued based upon quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

~~similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.~~

~~(3)~~(2)

The fair value of the convertible note receivable from Viking was determined using a probability weighted option pricing model using a lattice methodology. The fair value is subjective and is affected by certain significant input to the valuation model such as the estimated volatility of the common stock, which was estimated to be ~~50%~~75% at ~~March 31, 2016.~~September 30, 2017. Changes in these assumptions may materially affect the fair value estimate.

(3)

Investment in warrants, which the Company received as a result of Viking’s partial repayment of the Viking note receivable and the Company’s purchase of Viking common stock and warrants in April 2016, are classified as level 1 as the fair value is determined using quoted market prices in active markets for the same securities. The change of the fair value is recorded in the other income or expenses in the Company's condensed consolidated statement of operations.

(4)

The fair value of the liabilities for CyDex contingent liabilities were determined based on the income ~~approach using~~approach. To the extent the estimated future income may vary significantly given the long-term nature of the estimate, the Company utilizes a Monte Carlo ~~analysis.~~model. The fair value is subjective and is affected by changes in inputs to the valuation model including management’s ~~assumptions regarding revenue volatility, probability of commercialization of products,~~ estimates of timing and probability of achievement of certain revenue thresholds and developmental and regulatory milestones which may be achieved and affect amounts owed to former license ~~holders and CVR~~ holders. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate.


(5)	The liability for CVRs for Metabasis are determined using quoted ~~market~~ prices in ~~an inactive~~a market that is not active for the underlying CVR.


(6)	The liability for amounts owed to former licensees are determined using quoted market prices in active markets for the underlying investment received from a partner, a portion of which is owed to former licensees.


~~(7)~~	The co-promote termination payments receivable represents a receivable for future payments to be made by Pfizer related to product sales and is recorded at its fair value. The receivable and liability will remain equal. The fair value is determined based on a valuation model using an income approach.

The following table represents significant unobservable inputs used in determining the fair value of contingent liabilities assumed in the acquisition of CyDex:


	March 31, 2016	December 31, 2015	September 30, 2017	December 31, 2016
Range of annual revenue subject to revenue sharing ⁽¹⁾	$23.5 million	$22.5 million
Revenue volatility	25%	25%	25%	25%
Average probability of commercialization	78%	73%	12.5%	12.5%
Sales beta	0.30	0.40
Market price of risk			0.03	0.03
Credit rating	BB	BB	BB	BB
Equity risk premium	6%	6%	6%	6%


~~(1)~~	Revenue subject to revenue sharing represent management’s estimate of the range of total annual revenue subject to revenue sharing (i.e. annual revenues in excess of $15 million) through December 31, 2016, which is the term of the CVR agreement.

~~A reconciliation~~We received a $0.2 million repayment on the Viking note in Q3 2017. There was no other significant change in estimated fair value of the ~~level 3 financial instruments as of~~Viking note receivable and contingent consideration during the nine months ended ~~March 31, 2016~~September 30, 2017 ~~is as follows (in thousands):~~.

Assets:
Fair value of level 3 financial instrument assets as of December 31, 2015 $ 4,782
Viking note receivable fair market value adjustment (15 )
Fair value of level 3 financial instrument assets as of March 31, 2016 $ 4,767

Liabilities:
Fair value of level 3 financial instrument liabilities as of December 31, 2015 $ 9,490
Payments to CVR and other former license holders (2,828 )
Fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities 201
Fair value of level 3 financial instrument liabilities as of March 31, 2016 $ 6,863

Other Fair Value Measurements

2019 Convertible Senior Notes

In August 2014, the Company issued $245.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 2019 Convertible Senior Notes. The Company uses a quoted ~~market~~ rate in ~~an inactive~~a market that is not active, which is classified as a Level 2 input, to estimate the current fair value of its 2019 Convertible Senior Notes. The estimated fair value of the 2019 Senior Convertible Notes was ~~$373.5~~$447.0 million as of ~~March 31, 2016.~~September 30, 2017. The carrying value of the notes does not reflect the market rate. Additionally, at the time of the convertible notes issuance, the Company entered into convertible bond hedges, which is not required to be measured or disclosed at fair value, to offset the impact of potential dilution to the Company's common stock upon the conversion of the notes. See Note 73 ~~Financing Arrangements~~Convertible Senior Notes for additional ~~information.~~information about the convertible notes and the bond hedges.

Viking ~~Therapeutics~~

The Company records its investment in Viking under the equity method of accounting. ~~The investment is subsequently adjusted for the Company’s share of Viking's operating results, and if applicable, cash contributions and distributions.~~ See Note ~~3 Investment in Viking Therapeutics~~1 Significant Accounting Policies for ~~additional information. The market value of the Company's investment in Viking was $6.8 million as of March 31, 2016. The carrying value of the investment in Viking does not reflect the market value.~~

~~4. Investment in Viking Therapeutics~~

~~In 2014, the Company entered into a MLA with Viking to license the rights to~~ ~~five~~ of the Company's programs to Viking. Under the terms of the MLA, no consideration was exchanged upon execution, but rather Viking agreed to issue shares of Viking common stock with an aggregate value of approximately $29.2 million upon consummation of Viking's IPO. As part of this transaction, the Company also extended a $2.5 million convertible loan to Viking under a LSA. As a result of these transactions, the Company determined it held a variable interest in Viking. The Company considered certain criteria in the accounting guidance for VIEs, and determined that Viking was a VIE and Ligand was the primary beneficiary of Viking. As a result, the Company consolidated Viking on its financial statements from May 2014 through May 2015, the effective date of Viking's IPO. The Company recorded 100% of the losses incurred as net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest because it was the primary beneficiary with no equity interest in the VIE.

In May 2015, Viking completed the Viking IPO and issued the Company approximately 3.7 million shares of Viking common stock with an aggregate value of $29.2 million based on the IPO price of $8.00 per share. In connection with the Viking IPO, the Company purchased 1.1 million shares of Viking common stock for an aggregate price of $9.0 million at the initial public offering price. Upon completion of Viking’s IPO, the Company determined that Viking was no longer a VIE and the Company did not have any other element of control that would require consolidation of Viking. In May 2015, the Company deconsolidated Viking and began to account for its equity investment in Viking under the equity method. The Company owned an aggregate of 49.4% of the outstanding common stock of Viking at March 31, 2016.

In January 2016, the Company entered into an amendment to the LSA with Viking to extend the maturity of the convertible loan to May 2017, reduce the interest rate from 5.0% to 2.5%, and extend the lock up period by one year such that the Company may not sell, transfer, or dispose of any Viking securities prior to January 2017. Additionally, upon the consummation of a subsequent capital financing transaction, Viking will be required to repay $1.5 million of the Viking Note obligation to the Company, with at least $0.3 million to be paid in cash and the remaining amount to be paid in the form and at the price of the Viking equity securities sold in the financing transaction. Upon maturity or further payments, the Company may elect to receive equity of Viking common stock or cash equal to 200% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Company has opted to account for the Viking convertible note receivable at fair value. As of March 31, 2016, the aggregate fair market value of the note receivable was $4.8 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded a $15,000 decrease in the fair value of the ~~Viking convertible note.~~ Company's equity investment in Viking.~~See Note 2, Fair Value Measurements~~ ~~for additional details.~~

~~5. Lease Obligations~~

~~The Company leases office and laboratory facilities in California, Kansas and New Jersey. These leases expire between 2016 and~~ ~~2023, some of which are subject to annual rent increases which range from~~ ~~3.0%~~ to ~~3.5%~~. The Company currently subleases office and laboratory space in California and New Jersey. The following table provides a summary of operating lease obligations and payments expected to be received from sublease agreements as of ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~(in thousands):~~

Operating lease obligations:
Lease
Termination
Date

Less than 1
year
1-2 years 3-4 years Thereafter Total
Corporate headquarters-
La Jolla, CA
June 2019 $ 704
$ 1,465
$ 187
$ —
$ 2,356
Corporate headquarters-San Diego, CA April 2023 52
261
277
306
896
Bioscience and Technology Business Center-
Lawrence, KS
December 2017 54
41
—
—
95
Vacated office and research facility-
Cranbury, NJ
August 2016 1,089
—
—
—
1,089
Total operating lease obligations $ 1,899
$ 1,767
$ 464
$ 306
$ 4,436

Sublease payments expected to be received:
Corporate headquarters-
La Jolla, CA June 2019 $ 443
$ 920
$ 116
$ —
$ 1,479
Office and research facility-
Cranbury, NJ
August 2016 88
—
—
—
88
Net operating lease obligations $ 1,368
$ 847
$ 348
$ 306
$ 2,869

3. Convertible Senior Notes

As of ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~and December 31, 2015,~~September 30, 2017, the Company had ~~lease exit obligations~~outstanding $245.0 million principal amount of 0.75% Convertible Senior Notes due August 15, 2019.~~$0.6 million~~ ~~and~~ ~~$0.9 million, respectively. For the three months ended~~ ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~and 2015, the Company made cash payments, net of sublease payments received of~~ ~~$0.6 million~~ ~~and $0.9 million, respectively. The Company recognized adjustments for accretion and changes in leasing assumptions of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.~~

~~6. Financing Arrangements~~

0.75% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019

In August 2014, the Company issued $245.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 2019 Convertible Senior Notes, resulting in net proceeds of $239.3 million. The 2019 Convertible Senior Notes are convertible into common stock at an initial conversion rate of 13.3251 shares per $1,000 principal amount of convertible notes, subject to adjustment upon certain events, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $75.05 per share of common stock. The notes bear cash interest at a rate of 0.75% per year, payable semi-annually.

Holders of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes may convert the notes at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding May 15, 2019, under any of the following circumstances:

(1) during any fiscal quarter (and only during such fiscal quarter) commencing after December 31, 2014, if, for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the 30 consecutive trading day period ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, the last reported sale price of the Company's common stock on such trading day is greater than 130% of the conversion price on such trading day;

(2) during the five business day period immediately following any ~~ten~~10 consecutive trading day period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of notes was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company's common stock on such trading day and the conversion rate on each such trading day; or

(3) upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate events as specified in the indenture governing the notes.

As of September 30, 2017, the Company's last reported sale price has exceeded the 130% threshold described above and accordingly the Convertible Notes have been classified as a current liability as of September 30, 2017. As a result, the related unamortized discount of $21.6 million was classified as temporary equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes on the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The determination of whether or not the Convertible Notes are convertible as described above is made each quarter until maturity, conversion or repurchase. It is possible that the Convertible Notes may not be convertible in future periods, in which case the Convertible Notes would be classified as long-term debt, unless one of the other conversion events described above were to occur.

On or after May 15, 2019 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding August 15, 2019, holders of the notes may convert all or a portion of their notes at any time, regardless of the foregoing circumstances. Upon conversion, ~~Ligand~~the Company must deliver cash to settle the principal and may deliver cash or shares of common stock, at ~~the~~its option, ~~of the Company,~~ to settle any premium due upon conversion.

~~In accordance with accounting guidance for debt related to conversion and other options, the Company separately accounted for the debt and equity components of the~~The 2019 Convertible Senior Notes by allocating the $245.0 million total proceeds between the debt component and the embedded conversion option, or equity component, due to Ligand's ability to settle the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes in cash for the principal portion and to settle any premium in cash or common stock, at the Company's election. The debt allocation was performed in a manner that reflected the Company's non-convertible borrowing rate for similar debt of 5.83% derived from independent valuation analysis. The initial debt value of $192.5 million accretes at 5.83% to reach $245.0 million at the maturity date. The equity component of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes was recognized as a debt discount and represents the difference between the $245.0 million proceeds at issuance of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes and the fair value of the debt allocation on their respective issuance dates. The debt discount is amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the expected life of a similar liability without an equity component. The notes will have a dilutive effect to the extent the average market price per share of the Company's common stock for a given reporting period exceeds the conversion price of ~~$75.05.~~$75.05 per share. As of ~~March 31, 2016,~~September 30, 2017, the “if-converted value” exceeded the principal amount of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes by ~~$104.6~~$199.5 million.

In connection with the issuance of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes, the Company incurred $5.7 million of issuance costs, which primarily consisted of underwriting, legal and other professional fees. The portions of these costs allocated to the equity components totaling $1.2 million were recorded as a reduction to additional paid-in capital. The portions of these costs allocated to the liability components totaling $4.5 million are recorded net of the liability component on the balance sheet beginning in 2016 in accordance with ASU 2015-03, ~~Interest-Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. The portions allocated to the liability components are amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the expected life of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes.~~

The Company determined the expected life of the debt discount for the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes to be equal to the original five-year term of the notes. The carrying value of the equity component related to the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, net of issuance costs, was $51.3 million.

Convertible Bond Hedge and Warrant Transactions

In August 2014, ~~in connection with~~ the ~~issuance~~Company entered into convertible bond hedges and sold warrants covering 3,264,643 shares of ~~the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes,~~its common stock to minimize the impact of potential dilution to the Company's common stock upon conversion of ~~such notes,~~ the ~~Company entered into convertible bond hedges and sold warrants covering approximately 3,264,643 shares of its common stock.~~2019 Convertible Senior Notes. The convertible bond hedges have an exercise price of $75.05 per share and are exercisable when and if the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes are converted. If upon conversion of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes, the price of the Company's common stock is above the exercise price of the convertible bond hedges, the counterparties will deliver shares of common stock and/or cash with an aggregate value approximately equal to the difference between the price of common stock at the conversion date and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares of common stock related to the convertible bond hedge transaction being exercised. The convertible bond hedges and warrants described below are separate transactions entered into by the Company and are not part of the terms of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes. Holders of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes and warrants will not have any rights with respect to the convertible bond hedges. The Company paid $48.1 million for these convertible bond hedges and recorded the amount as a reduction to additional paid-in capital.

Concurrently with the convertible bond hedge transactions, the Company entered into warrant transactions whereby it sold warrants to acquire approximately 3,264,643 shares of common stock with an exercise price of approximately $125.08 per share, subject to certain adjustments. The warrants have various expiration dates ranging from November 13, 2019 to April 22, 2020. The warrants will have a dilutive effect to the extent the market price per share of common stock exceeds the applicable exercise price of the warrants, as measured under the terms of the warrant transactions. The Company received $11.6 million for these warrants and recorded this amount to additional paid-in capital. The common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants will be in unregistered shares, and the Company does not have the obligation and does not intend to file any registration statement with the ~~SEC~~Securities and Exchange Commission registering the issuance of the shares under the warrants.

The ~~carrying values~~following table summarizes information about the equity and ~~the fixed contractual coupon rates~~liability components of the ~~Company's financing arrangements as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows~~2019 Convertible Senior Notes (in thousands):.

March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015
2019 Convertible Senior Notes
     Principal amount outstanding $ 245,000
$ 245,000
     Unamortized discount (37,169 ) (39,628 )
          Net carrying amount 207,831
205,372
Less: Unamortized deferred financing costs 3,178
3,387
Total notes payable $ 204,653
$ 201,985



	September 30, 2017			December 31, 2016
2019 Convertible Senior Notes
Principal amount outstanding	$	245,000		$	245,000
Unamortized discount (including unamortized debt issuance cost)	(23,443		)	(32,090		)
Total current portion of notes payable	$	221,557		$	212,910

4. Income Tax

The Company's income tax provision from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $3.7 million. The Company's income tax provision from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $0.4 million. The Company's income tax provision from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $15,000.

~~The Company estimates its annual~~Company’s effective ~~income~~ tax rate ~~for continuing operations to be approximately 39.4% for 2016, compared~~may vary from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate due to the ~~1.9% effective~~change in the mix of earnings in various state jurisdictions with different statutory rates, benefits related to tax credits, and the tax impact of non-deductible expenses, stock award activities and other permanent differences between income ~~tax rate for 2015.~~before income taxes and taxable income. The ~~estimated~~ effective tax rate for ~~2016 is different~~the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was 30% and 26%. The variance from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35% was primarily attributable to tax deductions related to stock award activities which were recorded as discrete items in the quarter. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the variance from the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% was primarily as a result of significant permanent book-to-tax differences and state taxes. The permanent differences include non-taxable contingent consideration income (expense) recorded related to the change in market value of contingent liabilities. Any significant contingent consideration expense or income will result in a significantly higher or lower effective tax rate because contingent consideration expense is largely not deductible for tax purposes and contingent consideration income is not taxable. Other permanent differences between financial statement income and taxable income relate to items such as stock compensation, meals and entertainment charges, and compensation of officers. The primary difference in the estimated effective tax rate in 2016 compared to 2015 relates to the release of the Company’s valuation allowance in 2015. Our estimated annual effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is primarily attributable to an increase in our deferred tax liability associated with the tax amortization of acquired indefinite lived IPR&D intangible assets.

The Company maintains a valuation allowance in the amount of $8.9 million against certain U.S. state NOLs, federal NOLs arising from Pre-ASC 718 excess stock compensation benefits and federal research and development tax credits. Each reporting period, the Company evaluates the need for a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets by jurisdiction and adjusts our estimates as more information becomes available. The Company will reassess the ability to realize the deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. If it is more likely than not that it will not realize the recognized deferred tax assets, then all or a portion of the valuation allowance may need to be re-established, which would result in a charge to tax expense. Conversely if new events indicate that it is more likely than not that we will realize additional deferred tax assets, then all or a portion of the remaining valuation allowance may be released, which would result in a tax benefit.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $33.6 million related to uncertain tax positions that, if recognized, would result in adjustments to the related deferred tax assets and reduce our annual effective tax rate, subject to the remaining valuation allowance.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. and in various state jurisdictions with varying statutes of limitations. The Company is no longer subject to income tax examination by tax authorities for years prior to 2011; however, its net operating loss and research credit carry-forwards arising prior to that year are subject to adjustment. It is the Company's policy to recognize interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters as a component of income tax expense. As of March 31, 2016, there was no material accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions.

8.5. Stockholders’ Equity

The Company grants options and awards to employees and non-employee directors pursuant to a stockholder approved stock incentive plan, which is described in further detail in Note 8, Stockholders' Equity, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in ~~our~~the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, ~~2015.~~2016.

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

Stock Options Restricted Stock Award
Shares
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Shares
Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2015 1,683,341
$ 34.23
130,749
$ 60.36
Granted 241,015
88.84
229,847
94.76
Exercised (44,029 ) 23.00
(34,649 ) 52.18
Balance as of March 31, 2016 1,880,327
41.50
325,947
72.88

~~Net cash received from options exercised during the three months ended~~ ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~and 2015 was approximately~~ ~~$1.0 million~~ ~~and~~ ~~$0.8 million~~, respectively. Tax deductions for stock options and restricted stock which have exceeded stock based compensation expense in previous years have not been recognized by the Company. The Company will monitor the utilization of the net operating losses and recognize the excess tax deduction when that deduction reduces taxes payable.



	Stock Options				Restricted Stock Awards
	Shares		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Shares		Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2016	1,754,275		$	42.12	308,700		$	86.61
Granted	202,553		102.43		69,064		101.97
Options exercised/RSUs vested	(120,823	)	31.85		(102,810	)	81.74
Forfeited	(3,044	)	79.74		(966	)	89.01
Balance as of September 30, 2017	1,832,961		$	49.41	273,988		$	92.30

As of ~~March 31, 2016, 42,000~~September 30, 2017, outstanding options to purchase 1.4 million shares were ~~available for future option grants or direct issuance under the Company's 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.~~exercisable with a weighted average exercise price per share of $37.49.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

The ~~Company's~~price at which common stock is purchased under the Amended ESPP ~~allows participating employees~~is equal to ~~purchase up to~~ ~~1,250~~ ~~shares~~85% of ~~Ligand~~the fair market value of the common stock ~~during each~~on the first or last day of the offering period, ~~but in no event may a participant purchase more than~~ ~~1,250~~whichever is lower. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, approximately 2,232 shares of common stock during any calendar year. The length of each offering period is six months, and employees are eligible to participate in the first offering period beginning after their hire date. This plan is described in further detail in Note 8, Stockholders' Equity, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.

~~There~~ were ~~no shares of common stock~~ issued under the ~~amended ESPP during the three months ended~~ ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~and 2015, respectively.~~Amended ESPP. As of ~~March 31, 2016~~September 30, 2017, ~~72,367~~68,065 shares were available for future purchases under the Amended ESPP.

~~Issuance of common stock~~

In conjunction with the acquisition of OMT, the Company issued 793,070 shares of its common stock based on a 20-day volume-weighted average price of $107.66 of its common stock calculated three days prior to closing.

9.6. Litigation

The Company records an estimate of a loss when the loss is considered probable and estimable. Where a liability is probable and there is a range of estimated loss and no amount in the range is more likely than any other number in the range, ~~The~~the Company records the minimum estimated liability related to the claim in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 450 Contingencies. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to its pending litigation and revises its estimates. Revisions in the Company's estimates of potential liability could materially impact its results of operations.

Securities Litigation

In 2012, a federal securities class action and shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania alleging that the Company and its CEO assisted various breaches of fiduciary duties based on the Company’s purchase of a licensing interest in a development-stage pharmaceutical program from the Genaera Liquidating Trust in 2010 and the Company’s subsequent sale of half of its interest in the transaction to Biotechnology Value Fund, Inc. Plaintiff filed a second amended complaint in February 2015, which the Company moved to dismiss in March 2015. The district court granted the motion to dismiss on November 11, 2015. The plaintiff has appealed that ruling to the Third Circuit. The Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the claims against the Company and its CEO. The outcome of the matter is not presently determinable.

~~Paragraph IV Certification by Par Pharmaceuticals~~Class Action Lawsuit

~~On January 7,~~In November 2016, ~~the Company received~~ a ~~paragraph IV certification from Par Sterile Products, LLC, a subsidiary of Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Par, advising us that it had~~putative shareholder class action lawsuit was filed an ANDA with the FDA seeking approval to market a generic version of Merck’s NOXAFIL-IV product. The paragraph IV certification states it is Par’s position that Merck’s U.S. Patent No. 9,023,790 related to NOXAFIL-IV and our U.S. Patent No. 8,410,077 related to Captisol are invalid and/or will not be infringed by Par’s manufacture, use or sale of the product for which the ANDA was submitted. On February 19, 2016, Merck filed an action against Par in the United States District Court for the Southern District of ~~New Jersey, asserting that Par’s manufacture, use or sale of the product for which the ANDA was submitted would infringe Merck’s U.S. Patent No. 9,023,790. The case~~California against ~~Par is captioned Merck Sharpe & Dohme Corp. v. Par Sterile Products, LLC, Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc., and Par Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc., No.16-cv-00948.~~

~~10. Subsequent events~~

~~Viking~~

On April 13, 2016, Viking closed its underwritten public offering of 7.5 million shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to 7.5 million shares of its common stock at a price of $1.25 per share of its common stock and related warrants. The warrant has an exercise price of $1.50 per share, immediately exercisable and will expire on April 13, 2021. As part of this public offering, the Company, ~~purchased 560,000 shares of common stock~~its chief executive officer and ~~warrants to purchase 560,000 shares of Viking's common stock for a total purchase price of $0.7 million.~~chief financial officer. The ~~purchased shares of common stock and warrants are subject to the same terms as the shares issued in this offering. In addition,~~complaint was voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on April 13, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the amendment to the LSA that was entered in January 2016 between Ligand and Viking (see details in Note 4), Viking repaid $0.3 million of the convertible notes in cash, and issued the Company 960,000 shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase 960,000 shares of its common stock as repayment of $1.2 million of the convertible notes. The shares received as part of the repayment are subject to a lock-up period that ends on January 23, 2017 in accordance with the amended LSA. Our equity ownership of Viking decreased to approximately 38% after this public offering and the repayment of the convertible notes.May 15, 2017.

~~Sublease~~ 7. Subsequent Event

Acquisition of Crystal

In ~~April 2016,~~October 2017, the Company ~~executed~~acquired Crystal, a ~~sublease agreement for our current corporate headquarters facility~~biotech company focused in ~~La Jolla, California. The sublease term will commence in May 2016~~avian genetics and ~~expire in June 2019. The sublesee is obligated to pay a base rent~~the generation of ~~approximately $51,000 per month~~fully-human therapeutic engineering of animals for the ~~first twelve months~~generation of fully-human therapeutic antibodies. Crystal is specialized in the area of antibody research with its HuMab technology. The acquisition is expected to provide additional transgenic antibody discovery platform complementary to Ligand’s OmniAb technology and ~~is subject~~with an in-house antibody discovery laboratory to ~~3% annual increases~~service R&D needs through ~~the sublease term.~~contracted service.

~~CorMatrix~~

~~On May 3, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire certain economic rights of CorMatrix~~^®. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company paid $17.5 million in cash to acquire a portion of revenues (“synthetic royalties”) from CorMatrix’s existing marketed products and will have the right to receive potential future synthetic royalties from future marketed products, if any. Ligand is entitled to a minimum of $2.75 million of synthetic royalty annually. The synthetic royalty rate on the pipeline assets is a mid-single digit royalty. The agreement will terminate with respect to each of CorMatrix’s products upon the later of (i) May 3, 2026 and (ii) 10 years from the date of the first commercial sale of such product.

~~Relationships between the Parties~~

As previously disclosed in Ligand’s filings, Jason Aryeh is a director of both Ligand and CorMatrix. Mr. Aryeh beneficially owns equity of CorMatrix representing approximately .56% of CorMatrix’s outstanding equity. Mr. Aryeh recused himself from all of the board’s consideration of the Purchase Agreement, including any financial analysis,Under the terms of the ~~Purchase Agreement~~agreement, Ligand paid Crystal shareholders $25 million in cash and up to an additional $10.5 million based on Crystal’s achievement of certain research and business milestones prior to December 31, 2019. In addition, Crystal’s shareholders will receive ten percent (10%) of revenues above $15 million generated between the closing date and December 31, 2022 by three existing collaboration agreements between Crystal and three of its collaborators, and Crystal’s shareholders will receive twenty percent (20%) of revenues above $1.5 million generated between the closing date and December 31, 2022 pursuant to a fourth existing collaboration agreement with a large pharmaceutical company.

Due to the close proximity of the acquisition date and the ~~vote~~Company’s filing of its interim report on Form 10-Q for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, the initial accounting for the business combination is incomplete, and therefore the Company is unable to ~~approve~~disclose the ~~Purchase Agreement and~~information required by ASC 805, Business Combinations. Such information will be included in the ~~related transactions. In addition, prior to~~Company’s subsequent annual report on Form 10-K for the board’s consideration of the Purchase Agreement, Mr. David Knott, a member of Ligand’s board, disclosed to the board that he beneficially owns equity of CorMatrix representing approximately .47% of CorMatrix’s outstanding equity. All of the disinterested directors of Ligand approved the Purchase Agreement and related transactions with CorMatrix.year ending December 31, 2017.


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 Part II, Item 1A:"Risk Factors." This outlook represents our current judgment on the future direction of our business. These statements include those related to our Captisol-related revenues, our Promacta, Kyprolis, and other product 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 Promacta, Kyprolis, Captisol and other product revenues 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 make 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, or the Exchange Act.

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 Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and our wholly owned subsidiaries.

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and acquiring technologies that help pharmaceutical companies discover and develop medicines. Over our 30 year history, we have employed research technologies such as nuclear receptor assays, high throughput computer screening, formulation science, liver targeted pro-drug technologies and antibody discovery technologies to assist companies in their work toward securing prescription drug approvals. We currently have partnerships and license agreements with over 95 pharmaceutical and biotechnology ~~company~~companies, and over 160 different programs under license with aus are currently in various stages of commercialization and development. We have contributed novel research and technologies for approved medicines that treat cancer, osteoporosis, fungal infections and low blood platelets, among others. Our partners have programs currently in clinical development targeting seizure, coma, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, muscle wasting, liver disease, and kidney disease, among others. We have over 800 issued patents worldwide and over 200 currently pending patent applications.

We have assembled our large portfolio of fully-funded programs either by licensing our own proprietary drug development programs, licensing our platform technologies such as Captisol or OmniAb to partners for use with their proprietary programs, or acquiring existing partnered programs from other companies. Fully-funded programs are those for which our partners pay all of the development and commercialization costs. For our internal programs, we generally plan to advance drug candidates through early-stage drug development or clinical proof-of-concept. Our business model ~~based on developing or acquiring assets which generate royalty, milestone or other passive~~creates value for stockholders by providing a diversified portfolio of biotech and pharmaceutical product revenue ~~for Ligand~~streams that are supported by an efficient and ~~using a lean~~low corporate cost structure. ~~By diversifying our portfolio of assets across numerous technology types, therapeutic areas, drug targets, and industry partners, we~~Our goal is to offer investors an opportunity ~~for broad exposure~~ to ~~multiple~~participate in the promise of the biotech industry in a profitable, diversified and lower-risk business than a typical biotech company.

Our business model is based on doing what we do best: drug discovery, early-stage drug development, product reformulation and partnering. We partner with other pharmaceutical companies to leverage what they do best (late-stage development, regulatory management and ~~biotechnology assets without the risk associated with developing only one or~~commercialization) to ultimately generate our revenue. We believe that focusing on discovery and early-stage drug development while benefiting from our partners’ development and commercialization expertise will reduce our internal expenses and allow us to have a ~~limited~~larger number of ~~drugs. These therapies address the unmet medical needs~~drug candidates progress to later stages of ~~patients for a broad spectrum~~drug development. Our revenue consists of diseases including thrombocytopenia, multiple myeloma, hepatitis, ventricular fibrilation, muscle wasting, Alzheimer’s disease, dyslipidemia, diabetes, anemia, asthma, FSGS, menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis. Our partners include several of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, Amgen, Merck, Pfizer, Baxter, and Eli Lilly.

~~Significant Developments~~

~~Recent Acquisitions~~

In May 2016, Ligand acquired the economic rights to multiple programs owned by CorMatrix. Ligand paid $17.5 million and in return will receive a portion of revenue (synthetic royalty) from CorMatrix’s existing marketed products and will have the right to receive future syntheticthree primary elements: royalties from commercialized products, license and milestone payments and sale of Captisol material. In addition to discovering and developing our own proprietary drugs, we selectively pursue acquisitions to bring in new assets, pipelines, and technologies to aid in generating additional potential future products. CorMatrix’s products are medical devices that are designed to permit the development and regrowth of human tissue. This transaction will be immediately accretive to Ligand and represents Ligand’s entry into the field of medical devices.

In January 2016, Ligand acquired OMT, Inc. and its OmniAb™ platform for consideration valued at the time of the acquisition at approximately $178 million. OmniAb license agreements existing at the time of acquisition initially added 16 shots on goal, with the potential for additional compounds to be generated from these partnerships. Partners at the time of acquisition included Amgen, Celgene, Genmab, Janssen, Merck KGaA, Pfizer, Seattle Genetics, Five Prime, Symphogen and various other biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.new revenue streams.

Portfolio Program ~~Progress~~Updates

Promacta^®/Revolade^®

•

~~The European Commission approved Revolade~~^® (eltrombopag), a Novartis product, for the treatment of pediatric (age 1 and above) chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients who are refractory to other treatments (e.g., corticosteroids, immunoglobulins). The approval includes the use of tablets as well as a new oral suspension formulation of Revolade^®~~, which is designed for younger children who may not be able to swallow tablets.~~

Novartis reported third quarter 2017 net sales of Promacta/Revolade (eltrombopag) of $227 million, a $59 million or 35% increase over the same period in 2016.

Novartis announced long-term study results supporting the positive safety and efficacy of Revolade (eltrombopag) in adults with chronic/persistent (6 or more months from diagnosis) immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenia (ITP) were published online in Blood. The EXTEND study found that a majority of patients maintained a substantial clinical response and many no longer needed concomitant ITP medications.

Novartis highlighted the product in abstracts for the upcoming 59th American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting.

Kyprolis^®(carfilzomib), an Amgen Product Utilizing Captisol

•

~~On January 21, 2016, Amgen announced that FDA approved Kyprolis~~^®(carfilzomib) in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three lines of therapy. The FDA also approved Kyprolis^® as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one or more lines of therapy, converting to full approval the initial accelerated approval Kyprolis^® ~~received in July 2012 as a single agent.~~

On October 25, 2017, Amgen reported third quarter net sales of Kyprolis (carfilzomib) of $207 million, a $24 million or 13% increase over the same period in 2016. On November 6, 2017, Ono Pharmaceutical Company reported Kyprolis sales in Japan of approximately $13.1 million for the most recent quarter.

On October 23, 2017, Amgen announced top-line results of the Phase 3 ARROW trial, which showed Kyprolis administered once-weekly at the 70 mg/m2 dose with dexamethasone allowed relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients to live 3.6 months longer without their disease worsening than Kyprolis administered twice-weekly at the 27 mg/m2 dose with dexamethasone.

On August 30, 2017, Amgen announced that the FDA accepted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) based on the overall survival (OS) data from the Phase 3 head-to-head ENDEAVOR trial demonstrating that Kyprolis and dexamethasone (Kd) reduced the risk of death by 21 percent and increased OS by 7.6 months versus Velcade® (bortezomib)

and dexamethasone (Vd) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (median OS 47.6 months for Kd versus 40.0 months for Vd, HR=0.79; p=0.01). The FDA has set an action date of April 30, 2018.

On July 12, 2017, Amgen announced positive results from final analysis of the Phase 3 ASPIRE trial, showing the study met the key secondary endpoint of OS, demonstrating that Kyprolis, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (KRd) reduced the risk of death by 21% over lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone.


•	~~On January 28, 2016, Amgen announced Health Canada approval of Kyprolis~~^® ~~(carfilzomib) in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma who have received one to three lines of therapy.~~

Additional Pipeline and Partner Developments

~~Spectrum Pharmaceuticals received~~Sage Therapeutics announced positive top-line results from two Phase 3 trials of brexanolone in severe postpartum depression (PPD) and in moderate PPD. Sage plans to file a New Drug Application (NDA) with the FDA ~~approval of EVOMELA™ (melphalan) for use as a high-dose conditioning treatment prior to hematopoietic progenitor (stem) cell transplantation~~ in ~~patients with multiple myeloma, and for the palliative treatment of patients with multiple myeloma for whom oral therapy is not appropriate.~~2018.

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals reported third quarter 2017 net sales of EVOMELA of $10.5 million.

CASI Pharmaceuticals announced that China’s Food and Drug Administration granted priority review for CASI’s import drug registration clinical trial application for EVOMELA.

Melinta Therapeutics announced a merger with NASDAQ-listed Cempra, Inc. to form a company focused on developing and commercializing important anti-infective therapies including recently-approved Baxdela.

Melinta Therapeutics announced that its commercialization and distribution agreement with Eurofarma Laboratórios for delafloxacin (Baxdela in the ~~FDA granted seven years of Orphan Drug Exclusivity for EVOMELA™ for use as a high-dose conditioning treatment prior~~U.S.) had been expanded to ~~hematopoietic progenitor (stem) cell transplantation~~include 19 countries in ~~patients with multiple myeloma.~~


•	~~Duavive~~^® ~~received EU pricing~~South and Central America and ~~was launched in Italy by Merck Sharp & Dohme, under license from Pfizer.~~

~~Alvogen Inc. received approval from~~ the ~~FDA for Captisol-enabled IV voriconazole.~~Caribbean.

Zydus Cadila announced that it received approval to market its bevacizumab biosimilar in India and subsequently launched the ~~launch~~drug, which is marketed as Bryxta.

Exelixis announced that Daiichi Sankyo reported positive top-line results from a phase 3 pivotal trial of ~~Vivitra™,~~esaxerenone in patients with essential hypertension in Japan and that a ~~biosimilar of trastuzumab, in India. Ligand gained rights~~Japanese regulatory application is expected to ~~royalties on sales of Vivitra~~be submitted in the ~~March 2013 Selexis royalty acquisition.~~

~~Lundbeck announced the FDA accepted the resubmission~~first quarter of ~~the NDA for IV carbamazepine. An action letter is anticipated before the end of 2016.~~2018.

Retrophin announced ~~completion~~that it presented new data from the open label extension portion of ~~enrollment in~~ the Phase 2 DUET study of ~~Sparsentan~~sparsentan for the treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)~~. The DUET study exceeded~~ at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2017.

Aldeyra Therapeutics announced positive results from a Phase 2a clinical trial of topical ocular ADX-102 in patients with dry eye disease.

Aldeyra Therapeutics announced it will present data from its Phase 2 clinical trial in noninfectious anterior uveitis at the American Uveitis Society Fall Meeting.

Viking Therapeutics announced enrollment ~~target of 100 patients, and top-line results are expected~~completion in the ~~third quarter~~ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of ~~2016.~~VK5211 in patients who recently suffered a hip fracture.


•	~~Sage Therapeutics presented data that expanded scientific, clinical~~ Viking Therapeutics announced results of gene expression analysis from its in vivo study of VK2809 in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and ~~burden-of-illness data for SAGE-547 at the 68~~^th ~~American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.~~

•

~~Coherus BioSciences and Baxalta announced that CHS-0214, a proposed biosimilar of Enbrel~~^® (etanercept) to which Ligand gained royalty rights in the March 2013 Selexis royalty acquisition, met its primary endpoint in a confirmatory, double-blind, randomized, controlled, two-part clinical study. This ongoing study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of CHS-0214 compared with Enbrel^® ~~in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis that is inadequately controlled with methotrexate.~~


•	~~Viking Therapeutics highlighted positive data from a Phase 1b trial of VK2809 (TR Beta) in subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia at the 65~~^th ~~Annual Scientific Session and Expo of the American College of Cardiology.~~

~~Merrimack Pharmaceuticals~~ presented data ~~on MM-302, MM-141 and MM-151~~ at the ~~2016~~Annual Meeting of the American Association for ~~Cancer Research~~the Study of Liver Diseases.

Viking Therapeutics announced presentation of data from an in vivo proof-of-concept study of VK2809 in Glycogen Storage Disease Ia at the 13th International Congress of Inborn Errors of Metabolism.

Viking Therapeutics announced positive top-line results from a 25-week proof-of-concept study of VK0214 in an in vivo model of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and presented data at the 87th Annual ~~Meeting.~~Meeting of the American Thyroid Association.

~~Opthea Limited~~Sermonix Pharmaceuticals announced ~~that the primary objective~~completion of ~~safety in the dose-escalation phase of its ongoing first-in-human~~a financing round to fund a Phase 2 clinical trial of lasofoxifene in Estrogen Receptor Positive (ER+) Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Opthea announced further positive results from its Phase 1/2a clinical trial of OPT-302 ~~a novel VEGF-C/D 'Trap' therapy~~ for wet age-related macular degeneration ~~had been met.~~(wet AMD).

~~Marinus~~CStone Pharmaceuticals announced that it received Clinical Trial Application approval from the ~~FDA granted Orphan~~China Food and Drug ~~designation~~Administration to conduct clinical trials in China with CS1001, an OmniAb-derived full-length anti-PDL1 monoclonal antibody.

Aptevo Therapeutics announced that it had presented new preclinical data on OmniAb-derived APVO436 at the World Bispecific Summit and also at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics 2017 annual meeting.

HanAll Biopharma, an OmniAb partner, announced entering into a strategic collaboration with Harbour BioMed to develop novel biologic therapies in greater China.

ARMO BioSciences, an OmniAb partner, announced a $67 million Series C-1 financing to fund their immunotherapy pipeline.

Immunoprecise Antibodies, an OmniAb Contract Research Organization (CRO), announced recent success in conducting OmniAb antibody-generation projects for ~~ganaxolone IV for the treatment of status epilepticus.~~ Aptevo Therapeutics and Tizona Therapeutics.

A ~~Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of ganaxolone IV is expected to initiate~~paper was published by Ligand scientists in the ~~first half of 2016.~~


•	~~Marinus Pharmaceuticals presented preclinical data of ganaxolone IV, which showed robust activity in the model. The data were presented during an oral and poster presentations at the 68~~^th ~~American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting.~~

~~AVEO Oncology announced granting CANbridge Life Sciences worldwide rights, excluding the United States, Canada~~journal MAbs, entitled "Chickens with humanized immunoglobulin genes generate antibodies with high affinity and ~~Mexico,~~broad epitope coverage to ~~AV-203, AVEO’s clinical-stage ErbB3 (HER3) inhibitory antibody candidate.~~

~~The journal~~ ~~Nature~~ ~~published an article~~conserved targets", highlighting the ~~efficacy~~use of ~~Gilead’s GS-5734 against the Ebola virus~~OmniChicken in ~~rhesus monkeys.~~

~~New Licensing Deals~~

Ligand announced a worldwide license agreement with Emergent BioSolutions that allows Emergent to use the OmniAb platform to discover fully human mono- and bispecific antibodies. Ligand is eligible to receive annual access payments, fees on patent filings, milestone payments and royalties on future net sales of any antibodies discovered under the license.

Ligand announced a worldwide license agreement with Tizona Therapeutics that allows Tizona to use the OmniAb platform to discover fully human mono- and bispecific antibodies. Ligand is eligible to receive annual access payments, fees on patent filings, milestone payments and royalties on future net sales of any antibodies discovered under the license.

Ligand announced a worldwide license agreement with ABBA Therapeutics that allows ABBA to use the OmniAb platform to discover fully human mono- and bispecific antibodies. Ligand is eligible to receive milestone payments and royalties on future net sales of any antibodies discovered under the license.

~~Ligand entered into a Clinical Use Agreement with XTL Biopharmaceuticals to supply Captisol for use in the formulation of its lead~~antibody drug ~~hCDR1, for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Under the terms of the agreement, Ligand is eligible to receive milestones and revenue from clinical Captisol sales.~~discovery.

Internal Glucagon Receptor Antagonist (GRA) Program

In September 2017, Ligand ~~scientists gave~~presented positive top-line results from its Phase 2 clinical study evaluating the efficacy and safety of LGD-6972, as an ~~oral presentation on GRA at ENDO 2016~~adjunct to diet and ~~presented a poster at the Levine-Riggs Diabetes Research Symposium, which highlighted data from the Phase 1b trial demonstrating that GRA significantly reduced fasting and post-prandial glucose~~exercise, in subjects with type 2 ~~diabetes.~~diabetes mellitus (T2DM) inadequately controlled on metformin monotherapy. The study achieved statistical significance (p < 0.0001) in the primary endpoint of change from baseline in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) after 12 weeks of treatment at all doses tested, demonstrating a robust, dose-dependent reduction in HbA1c of 0.90%, 0.92% and 1.20% with 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg of LGD-6972, respectively, compared to a 0.15% reduction with placebo. LGD-6972 was safe and well tolerated, with no drug-related serious adverse events and no dose dependent changes in lipids (including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides), body weight or blood pressure after 12 weeks of treatment.

~~The information~~New Licensing Deals

Ligand announced receipt of a $2 million payment from WuXi Biologics subsequent to their licensing of exclusive rights to the anti-PD-1 antibody GLS-010 to Arcus Biosciences in ~~this report regarding~~North America, Europe, Japan and certain ~~third-party products and programs, including Promacta, a Novartis product and Kyprolis, an Amgen product, comes from information publicly released by the owners of such products and programs.~~other territories. Ligand is ~~not responsible for,~~also entitled to future milestones and ~~has no role~~royalties from this antibody.

Ligand announced a commercial license and supply agreement with Amgen granting rights to use Captisol in the ~~development~~formulation of ~~such products or programs.~~AMG 330, an anti-CD33 x anti-CD3 (BiTE®) bispecific antibody construct. Ligand is eligible to receive milestone payments, royalties and revenue from Captisol material sales related to AMG 330.

Ligand entered into Captisol Clinical Use Agreements with both Syros Pharmaceuticals and Vaxxas Inc.

Recent Acquisition

In October 2017, Ligand acquired Crystal Bioscience and its OmniChicken antibody discovery technology for $25 million cash at closing, up to $10.5 million of success-based milestones and revenue sharing from existing licensees for a defined period. The acquisition initially added four Shots on Goal to Ligand’s portfolio, and the OmniChicken technology may be utilized by multiple current OmniAb partners as they seek to develop antibodies for difficult-to-address epitopes.

Results of Operations

~~Three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015~~Revenue



(Dollars in thousands)	Q3 2017		Q3 2016		Change		% Change		YTD 2017		YTD 2016		Change			% Change
Royalties	$	21,931	$	15,698	$	6,233	40	%	$	60,372	$	39,842	$	20,530		52	%
Material sales	7,664		4,219		3,445		82	%	14,336		13,445		891			7	%
License fees, milestones and other revenue	3,780		1,702		2,078		122	%	15,930		17,500		(1,570		)	(9	)%
Total revenue	$	33,375	$	21,619	$	11,756	54	%	$	90,638	$	70,787	$	19,851		28	%

~~Total revenues for the three months ended March 31,~~Q3 2017 vs. Q3 2016 ~~were~~ ~~$29.6 million~~ ~~compared to~~ ~~$14.6 million~~ ~~for the same period in 2015. We reported net income of $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $0.8 million for the same period in 2015.~~

~~Royalty Revenue~~

~~Royalty revenues were~~ ~~$14.4~~Total revenue increased $11.8 million, ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016~~ or 54%, to $33.4 million in Q3 2017 compared to ~~$10.3~~$21.6 million ~~for the same period~~ in ~~2015. The increase in royalty~~Q3 2016. Royalty revenue isincreased $6.2 million, or 40%, primarily due to an increase in Promacta, Kyprolis and ~~Kyprolis~~Evomela royalties.

Material ~~Sales~~

~~We recorded material~~ sales of ~~$5.3 million~~ ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to~~ ~~$3.7 million~~ ~~for the same period in 2015. The increase in material sales of $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is~~increased due to ~~an increase in~~timing of customer purchases of Captisol ~~purchases~~ for use in clinical trials and in commercialized products.

~~License fees, milestones and other revenue~~

~~We recorded~~ The increase in license fees, milestones and other revenue is due primarily to the timing of ~~$9.9 million~~recognition for individual milestones.

YTD 2017 vs YTD 2016

Total revenue increased $19.9 million, or 28%, to $90.6 million in the ~~three~~first nine months ~~ended March 31, 2016~~of 2017 compared to ~~$0.6~~$70.8 million ~~for~~ in the ~~same period in 2015. The increase~~first nine months of ~~$9.3~~2016. Royalty revenue increased $20.5 million, ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is primarily due to timing of significant milestones and upfront fees earned and the addition of the newly acquired OMT.~~

~~Cost of Sales~~

~~Cost of sales were~~ ~~$1.0 million~~ ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to~~ ~~$1.1 million~~ ~~for the same period in 2015.~~

~~Amortization of intangibles~~

Amortization of intangible assets was $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $0.6 million for the same period in 2015. The increase of $1.9 million is due to the acquisition of OMT and the related amortization of definite lived intangible assets.

~~Research and Development Expenses~~

~~Research and development expenses were~~ ~~$4.0 million~~ ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to~~ ~~$3.4 million~~ ~~for the same period in 2015. The increase of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is primarily due to stock based compensation expense.~~

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 EMA, 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, 2016 compared to~~ ~~$6.0 million~~ ~~for the same period in 2015. The increase of $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is~~52%, primarily due to an increase in ~~stock-based compensation expense~~Promacta, Kyprolis and Evomela royalties. Material sales increased due to timing of customer purchases of Captisol for use in clinical trials and in commercialized products. License fees, milestones and other revenue decreased primarily due to the timing of recognition for individual milestones.

Operating Costs and Expenses



(Dollars in thousands)	Q3 2017		% of Revenue	Q3 2016		% of Revenue	YTD 2017		% of Revenue	YTD 2016		% of Revenue
Costs of sales	$	2,385		$	999		$	3,628		$	2,674
Amortization of intangibles	2,706			2,706			8,126			7,912
Research and development	4,759			5,898			18,254			14,813
General and administrative	7,032			6,550			20,904			20,858
Total operating costs and expenses	$	16,882	51%	$	16,153	75%	$	50,912	56%	$	46,257	65%

Q3 2017 vs. Q3 2016

Total operating costs and expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased in Q3 2017 compared to Q3 2016. Total revenue for Q3 2017 increased $11.8 million or 54% while total operating costs and expenses for that quarter decreased $0.7 million. Research and development expenses decreased due to timing of internal development costs offset by an increase in headcount related expenses including stock-based compensation. General and administrative expenses increased primarily due to an increase in legal expenses.

YTD 2017 vs. YTD 2016

~~Lease Exit~~Total operating costs and ~~Termination Costs~~

~~In September 2010, we ceased use~~expenses as a percentage of ~~our facility located~~total revenue decreased in ~~Cranbury, New Jersey. As a result, during~~ the ~~three~~first nine months ~~ended September 30, 2010, we recorded lease exit costs~~ of $9.7 million for costs related to the difference between the remaining lease obligations of the abandoned operating leases, which run through August 2016, and management’s estimate of potential future sublease income, discounted to present value. Actual future sublease income may differ materially from our estimate, which would result in us recording additional expense or reductions in expense. In addition, we wrote-off approximately $5.4 million of property and equipment related to the facility closure and recorded approximately $1.8 million of severance related costs. Lease exit and termination costs were ~~$0.2 million~~ ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016~~2017 compared to ~~$0.2 million for~~ the same period in ~~2015.~~2016. Total revenue for the first nine months of 2017 increased $19.9 million or 28% while operating costs and expenses for that period increased $4.7 million. Research and development expenses increased due to timing of internal development costs as well as an increase in stock based compensation.

Other Income (Expense)



(Dollars in thousands)	Q3 2017			Q3 2016			Change			YTD 2017			YTD 2016			Change
Interest expense, net	$	(2,822	)	$	(3,116	)	$	294		$	(8,625	)	$	(9,172	)	$	547
Increase in contingent liabilities	(1,336		)	(958		)	(378		)	(2,302		)	(2,595		)	293
Loss from Viking	(1,019		)	(1,396		)	377			(3,350		)	(14,139		)	10,789
Other income, net	755			1,215			(460		)	1,117			2,107			(990		)
Total other expense, net	$	(4,422	)	$	(4,255	)	$	(167	)	$	(13,160	)	$	(23,799	)	$	10,639

Interest ~~Expense, net~~

~~Interest~~ expense, net ~~was $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to~~ ~~$3.0 million~~ ~~for the same period in 2015. The majority~~consisted primarily of ~~interest expense and non-cash debt related costs are related to~~accretion of discount on our 2019 Convertible Senior Notes.

Increase ~~in Contingent Liabilities~~

~~We recorded an increase~~ in contingent liabilities of ~~$1.3 million~~ ~~for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to an increase of~~ ~~$3,000~~ ~~for the same period in 2015. The increase for the three months ended March 31, 2016~~ primarily relates to anthe increase in fair value of ~~$1.1 million in the liability for amounts potentially due to holders of~~certain CVRs associated with our Metabasis ~~acquisition~~acquisition. Loss from Viking is a result of the Company's ownership interest in Viking's operating results accounted for under the equity method and ~~is further impacted by an increase~~the decrease in the book value of ~~$0.2~~the Company's investment in Viking of $10.0 million in Q2 2016 as a result of the ~~liability for amounts potentially due to holders~~Company's decreased ownership percentage in Viking after Viking's financing. Other income, net consists primarily of ~~CVRs related to our CyDex acquisition.~~short term investment transactions and the change in fair market value of Viking warrants.

Income Tax Expense



(Dollars in thousands)	Q3 2017			Q3 2016			Change			YTD 2017			YTD 2016			Change
Income before income taxes	$	12,071		$	1,211		$	10,860		$	26,566		$	731		$	25,835
Income tax expense	(3,645		)	(160		)	(3,485		)	(7,000		)	28			(7,028		)
Income from operations	$	8,426		$	1,051		$	7,375		$	19,566		$	759		$	18,807
Effective tax rate	30.2		%	13.2		%				26.3		%	(3.8		)%

We ~~recorded~~compute our income tax expense from continuing operations of $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to income tax expense of $15,000 for the same period in 2015. The income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2016 is based onprovision by applying the estimated annual effective tax rate to income or loss from recurring operations and adding the effects of ~~39.7%.~~any discrete income tax items specific to the period.

~~Discontinued Operations~~

~~Oncology Product Line~~

In ~~2006,~~Q1 2017, we ~~entered into~~adopted ASU 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share Based Payment Accounting. This new standard requires excess tax benefits recognized on stock-based compensation expense to be reflected in the statement of operations as a purchase agreement with Eisai pursuant to which Eisai agreed to acquire our Oncology product line which included four marketed oncology drugs: ONTAK, Targretin capsules, Targretin gel and Panretin gel. Certain liabilities were recorded associated with the disposalcomponent of the ~~product line. During the three months ended March 31, 2016 we recognized a $1.1 million gain due to subsequent changes in certain estimates and liabilities previously recorded.~~

~~Income Taxes from Discontinued Operations~~

~~We recorded a~~ provision for income taxes on a prospective basis. See Note 1 to the financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report for more information.

Our effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 was approximately 30%. Excluding discrete tax items primarily related to ~~discontinued operations~~stock-based compensation tax benefits resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-09, our effective tax rate for the ~~three months ended March 31, 2016~~period was 38% and did not differ significantly from the federal statutory rate of ~~$0.4 million related to the gain recognized.~~35%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have financed our operations through offerings of our equity securities, ~~borrowings from long-term debt,~~ issuance of convertible notes, product sales and the subsequent sales of our commercial assets, royalties, collaborative research and development and other revenue, and ~~capital and~~ operating lease transactions.

We had net income of ~~$6.6~~$8.4 million for the quarter ended ~~March 31, 2016.~~September 30, 2017. As of ~~March 31, 2016~~September 30, 2017, our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled ~~$113.2~~$202.3 million, and we had a working capital deficit of $~~120.8~~7.5 million ~~with net long-term convertible debt of $204.7 million.~~. We believe that our currently available funds, cash generated from operations as well as existing sources of and access to financing will be sufficient to fund our anticipated operating, capital requirements and debt service requirement. We expect to build cash in future months as we continue to generate significant cash flow from royalty, license and milestone revenue and Captisol material sales primarily driven by continued increases in Promacta and Kyprolis sales, recent product approvals and regulatory developments, as well as revenue from anticipated new licenses and milestones. In addition, we anticipate that our liquidity needs can be met through other sources, including sales of marketable securities,

borrowings through commercial paper and/or syndicated credit facilities and access to other domestic and foreign debt ~~markets~~ and equity markets.

While we believe in the viability of our strategy to generate sufficient operating cash flow and in our ability to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances to that effect.

Investments

We invest our excess cash principally in U.S. government debt securities, municipal debt securities, investment-grade corporate debt securities and certificates of deposit. We have established guidelines relative to diversification and maturities that maintain safety and liquidity. These guidelines are periodically reviewed and modified to take advantage of trends in yields and interest rates. Additionally, we own certain equity securities as a result of milestones and license fees received from ~~licensees.~~licensees as well as warrants to purchase Viking common stock.

Borrowings and Other Liabilities

2019 Convertible Senior Notes

We have convertible debt outstanding as of ~~March 31, 2016~~September 30, 2017 related to our 2019 Convertible Senior Notes. In August 2014, we issued $245.0 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior unsecured notes. The 2019

Convertible Senior Notes are convertible into common stock upon satisfaction of certain conditions. Interest of 0.75% per year is payable semi-annually on August 15th and February 15th through the maturity of the notes in August 2019.

Repurchases of Common Stock

In September 2015, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to $200.0 million of our common stock from time to time over a period of up to three years. ~~There were no repurchases~~We did not repurchase any shares of common stock during Q3 2017. As of September 30, 2017, $195.6 million remains available for repurchase under the ~~three-month period ended March 31, 2016.~~authorized program.

Contingent Liabilities

~~CyDex~~

In connection with the acquisition of CyDex in January 2011, we issued a series of CVRs and also assumed certain contingent liabilities. We may be required to make additional payments upon achievement of certain clinical and regulatory milestones to the CyDex shareholders and former license holders. In addition, we will pay CyDex shareholders, for each respective year through 2016, 20% of all CyDex-related revenue, but only to the extent that, and beginning only when, CyDex-related revenue for such year exceeds $15.0 million; plus an additional 10% of all CyDex-related revenue recognized during such year, but only to the extent that, and beginning only when aggregate CyDex-related revenue for such year exceeds $35.0 million. We have paid $23.4 million to the CyDex shareholders for revenue sharing payments under the terms of the CVR agreement. The estimated fair value of the contingent liabilities recorded as part of the CyDex acquisition at ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~was~~ ~~$6.9 million, and as of December 31, 2015 was~~ ~~$9.5 million~~.

Metabasis

In connection with the acquisition of Metabasis in January 2010, we entered into four CVR agreements with Metabasis shareholders. The CVRs entitle the holders to cash payments upon the sale or licensing of certain assets and upon the achievement of specified milestones. ~~We have paid $2.6 million to the CyDex shareholders for revenue sharing payments under the terms of the CVR agreement.~~ The fair value of the liability at ~~March 31, 2016~~September 30, 2017 was ~~$2.4~~3.7 million, and as of December 31, ~~2015~~2016 was $~~4.0~~1.4 million.

Leases and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We lease our office ~~and research~~ facilities under operating lease arrangements with varying terms through ~~November 2019.~~April 2023. The agreements provide for increases in annual rents based on changes in the Consumer Price Index or fixed percentage increases ~~ranging from~~of 3.0% ~~to 3.5%~~. ~~We also sublease a portion of our facilities through leases which expire between 2015 and 2023. The sublease agreements provide for a 3% increase in annual rents.~~ We had no off-balance sheet arrangements at ~~March 31, 2016~~September 30, 2017 and December 31, ~~2015.~~2016.

Cash Flows

~~Operating Activities~~



(Dollars in thousands)	YTD 2017			YTD 2016
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$	62,258		$	42,008
Investing activities	(48,003		)	(56,465		)
Financing activities	(268		)	3,609
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	$	13,987		$	(10,848	)

~~Operating activities~~During the first nine months of 2017, we generated cash from operations, from issuance of ~~$13.1 million~~ ~~for~~common stock under employee stock plans and from net proceeds from the ~~nine months ended~~ ~~March 31, 2016, compared to~~ ~~$7.6 million~~ ~~for~~sale and maturity of short term investments. During the same period ~~in 2015.~~we used cash for investing activities, including payments to CVR holders. We also used cash to pay taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards.

~~The~~During the first nine months of 2016, we generated cash ~~generated for~~from operations, from issuance of common stock under employee stock plans and from net proceeds from the ~~three months ended~~ ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~reflects net income~~sale and maturity of ~~$6.6 million, adjusted by~~ ~~$16.3 million~~ ~~of non-cash items to reconcile net income to net cash generated from operations. These reconciling items primarily reflect stock-based compensation of~~ ~~$4.1 million, amortization of debt discount and issuance fees of $2.7 million, depreciation and amortization of~~ ~~$2.6 million, loss on equity investment in Viking of $1.6 million~~, realized gain on investments of $0.4 million, $1.3 million increase in the estimated fair value of contingent liabilities and deferred income taxes of $4.1 million. The cash generated during the three months ended ~~March 31, 2016~~ ~~is further impacted by changes in operating assets and liabilities due primarily to an increase in accounts receivable of~~ ~~$5.6 million~~, a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $4.3 million and an increase in inventory of $0.9 million. Partially offsetting, cash generated for the period was impacted by a decrease in other current assets of $16,000.

The cash generated for the three months ended March 31, 2015 reflects net loss of $0.1 million, adjusted by $6.5 million of non-cash items to reconcile net income to net cash generated from operations. These reconciling items primarily reflect stock-based compensation of $2.9 million, amortization of debt discount and issuance fees of $2.5 million, depreciation and amortization of $0.7 million, and a realized loss on investments of $0.4 million. The cash generated during the three months ended March 31, 2015 is further impacted by changes in operating assets and liabilities due primarily to a decrease in accounts receivable of $5.2 million, a decrease in restricted cash of $0.7 million, a decrease in other current assets of $0.4 million, offset by a decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $4.7 million, an increase in other long-term assets of $0.3 million, and an increase in inventory of $0.2 million (excluding $2.4 million inventory purchased but not paid for at the period end).

~~Investing Activities~~

~~Investing activities used cash of $79.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to $2.8 million for~~short term investments. During the same period ~~in 2015.~~

~~Cash~~we used bycash for investing activities, ~~during the three months ended March 31, 2016 primarily reflects the purchase of short-term investments of $49.9 million,~~including payments made to acquire OMT and commercial license rights from CorMatrix, payments to CVR holders and other contingency payments of $5.4 million, and cash paid to acquire OMT (net of cash acquired) of $92.9 million, partially offset by proceeds from sales and maturity of short-term investments of $20.3 million and $48.4 million respectively.

Cash used by investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2015 primarily reflects payments to CVR holders and other contingency payments of $3.2 million, partially offset by proceeds from short-term investments of $0.5 million.

~~Financing Activities~~

~~Financing activities provided cash of $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and $0.8 million for the same period in 2014.~~

Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2016 reflects $1.0 million of proceeds received from stock option exercises and our employee stock purchase plan, partially offset by $0.5 million purchase of common stock for net settlement of RSUs vested and released during the quarter.

~~Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 reflects $0.8 million of proceeds received from stock option exercises and our employee stock purchase plan.~~

capital expenditures.

Critical Accounting Policies

Certain of our policies require the application of management judgment in making estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and the disclosures made in the accompanying notes. Those estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors deemed applicable and reasonable under the circumstances. The use of judgment in determining such estimates and assumptions is by nature, subject to a degree of uncertainty. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially from the estimates made.


ITEM 3.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk from interest rates and equity prices which could affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. We manage our exposure to these market risks through our regular operating and financing activities.

Investment Portfolio Risk

At ~~March 31, 2016,~~September 30, 2017, our investment portfolio included investments in available-for-sale equity securities of ~~$81.9~~$169.5 million. These securities are subject to market risk and may decline in value based on market conditions. Due to the short-term duration of our investment portfolio and low risk profile of our investments, a 10% increase in interest rates would not have material effect on the fair value of our portfolio.

Equity Price Risk

Our 2019 Convertible Senior Notes include conversion and settlement provisions that are based on the price of our common stock at conversion or maturity of the notes, as applicable. The minimum amount of cash we may be required to pay is $245.0 million, but will ultimately be determined by the price of our common stock. The fair values of our 2019 Convertible Senior Notes are dependent on the price and volatility of our common stock and will generally increase or decrease as the market price of our common stock changes. In order to minimize the impact of potential dilution to our common stock upon the conversion of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes, we entered into convertible bond hedges covering 3,264,643 shares of our common stock. Concurrently with entering into the convertible bond hedge transactions, we entered into warrant transactions whereby we sold warrants with an exercise price of approximately $125.08 per share, subject to adjustment. Throughout the term of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes, the notes may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share to the extent the stock price exceeds the conversion price of the notes. Additionally, the warrants may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share to the extent the stock price exceeds the strike price of the warrants.

Foreign currency risk

Through our licensing and business operations, we are exposed to foreign currency risk. Foreign currency exposures arise from transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency and from foreign denominated revenues and profit translated into U.S. dollars. Our collaborative partners sell our products worldwide in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Because of this, our revenues from royalty payments are subject to risk from changes in exchange rates.

We purchase Captisol from Hovione, located in Lisbon, Portugal. Payments to Hovione are denominated and paid in U.S. dollars, however the unit price of Captisol contains an adjustment factor which is based on the sharing of foreign currency risk between the two parties. The effect of an immediate 10% change in foreign exchange rates would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We do not currently hedge our exposures to foreign currency fluctuations.

Interest rate risk

We are exposed to market risk involving rising interest rates. To the extent interest rates rise, our interest costs could increase. An increase in interest costs of 10% would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.


ITEM 4.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, ofwe evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange ~~Act.~~Act, as of September 30, 2017. Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit pursuant to the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. This conclusion was based on the unremediated material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting at September 30, 2017 as further described below.

As described in Item 9A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting with respect to the design of our internal control over the tax accounting for complex transactions that have a significant tax impact, specifically, management did not have adequate supervision and review of certain technical tax accounting performed by third party tax specialists. We concluded that this material weakness was not remediated at December 31, 2016.

To remediate the material weakness described above and to prevent similar deficiencies in the future, we have been implementing additional controls and procedures including:

engagement of additional independent third party tax experts to assist or review in the tax accounting for non-routine, complex transactions or provide any acceptable alternative practice on the same transaction

additional training for staff involved in the tax accounting for non-routine, complex transactions

While we continue to strive to improve the respective process and controls over management supervision and review of certain technical tax accounting prepared by third parties, we do not believe the new controls have been functioning for sufficient time for management to conclude the material weakness has been remediated at September 30, 2017.

Our disclosure controls were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the controls and procedures would meet their objectives. Our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, ~~does not expect~~cannot guarantee that our disclosure controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the designed control objectives and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusions of two or more people, or by management override of the control. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective, maturing control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

As described in Item 9A of Amendment No.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting related to:

(1) the design of our internal control over the tax accounting for complex transactions that have a significant tax impact, specifically, management did not have adequate supervision and review of certain technical tax accounting performed by third party tax specialists.

(2) the design of our internal control over the presentation and disclosure of our 2019 convertible senior notes, specifically, management review control is not precise and adequate to capture the appropriate presentation and disclosure of our 2019 convertible senior notes that is triggered by certain specific contractual conditions.

To remediate the material weakness described in bullet point (1) above and to prevent similar deficiencies in the future, we are currently evaluating additional controls and procedures, which may include:

•~~engagement of additional independent third party tax specialists to assist or review in the tax accounting for non-routine, complex transactions~~

•~~additional training for staff involved in the tax accounting for non-routine, complex transactions~~

With regards to the material weakness described in bullet point (2) above, subsequent to December 31, 2015, management has implemented additional controls and procedures related to management review of the presentation and disclosures of our 2019 convertible senior notes, which include:

•~~developed and refined certain spreadsheet tools to review various inputs including our stock price, which would trigger the early conversion conditions under the debt indenture agreement~~

•~~additional management review of the presentation including the classification of our 2019 convertible senior notes~~

Management will continue to strive to improve the respective process and controls over the presentation and disclosure of our convertible debt. However, the material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until the applicable remedial controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively.

Except for the changes mentioned above, there have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting ~~(as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act)~~ during the third quarter ~~of the fiscal year to which this report relates~~ that ~~have~~ materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

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.

Securities Litigation

In 2012, a federal securities class action and shareholder derivative lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania alleging that the Company and its CEO assisted various breaches of fiduciary duties based on our purchase of a licensing interest in a development-stage pharmaceutical program from the Genaera Liquidating Trust in 2010 and our subsequent sale of half of our interest in the transaction to Biotechnology Value Fund, Inc. Plaintiff filed a second amended complaint in February 2015, which we moved to dismiss in March 2015. The district court granted the motion to dismiss on November 11, 2015. The plaintiff has appealed that ruling to the Third Circuit. The Company intends to continue to vigorously defend against the claims against the Company and its CEO. The outcome of the matter is not presently determinable.

~~Paragraph IV Certification by Par Pharmaceuticals~~Class Action Lawsuit

~~On January 7,~~In November 2016, ~~we received~~ a ~~paragraph IV certification from Par Sterile Products, LLC, a subsidiary of Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Par, advising us that it had~~putative shareholder class action lawsuit was filed an ANDA with the FDA seeking approval to market a generic version of Merck’s NOXAFIL-IV product. The paragraph IV certification states it is Par’s position that Merck’s U.S. Patent No. 9,023,790 related to NOXAFIL-IV and our U.S. Patent No. 8,410,077 related to Captisol are invalid and/or will not be infringed by Par’s manufacture, use or sale of the product for which the ANDA was submitted. On February 19, 2016, Merck filed an action against Par in the United States District Court for the Southern District of ~~New Jersey, asserting that Par’s manufacture, use or sale of~~California against the ~~product for which the ANDA~~Company, its chief executive officer and chief financial officer. The complaint was submitted would infringe Merck’s U.S. Patent No. 9,023,790. The case against Par is captioned Merck Sharpe & Dohme Corp. v. Par Sterile Products, LLC, Par Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc., and Par Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc., No.16-cv-00948.voluntarily dismissed without prejudice on May 15, 2017.


ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS

The following is a summary description of some of the many risks we face in our business. 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. The risk factors set forth below with an asterisk (*) next to the title are new risk factors or risk factors containing material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, ~~2015,~~2016, as filed with the SEC on February 26, 2016:

Future revenue based on Promacta, Kyprolis and ~~Kyprolis,~~Evomela, as well as sales of our other products, may be lower than expected.

Novartis is obligated to pay us royalties on its sales of Promacta, and we receive revenue from Amgen based on both sales of Kyprolis and purchases of Captisol material for clinical and commercial uses. These payments are expected to be a substantial portion of our ongoing revenues for some time. In addition, we receive revenues based on sales of ~~Duavee, Conbriza, Noxafil IV~~Evomela and ~~Nexterone.~~other products. Any setback that may occur with respect to any of our partners' products, and in particular Promacta or Kyprolis, could significantly impair our operating results and/or reduce our revenue and the market price of our stock. Setbacks for the products could include problems with shipping, distribution, manufacturing, product safety, marketing, government regulation or reimbursement, 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, discounts, or unfavorable exchange rates. These products also are or may become subject to generic competition. ~~Any such setback could reduce our revenue.~~

Future revenue from sales of Captisol material to our ~~collaborative~~license partners may be lower than expected.

Revenues from sales of Captisol material to our collaborative partners represent a significant portion of our current revenues. Any setback that may occur with respect to Captisol could significantly impair our operating results and/or reduce the market price of our stock. Setbacks for Captisol could include problems with shipping, distribution, manufacturing, product safety, marketing, government regulation or reimbursement, licenses and approvals, intellectual property rights, competition with existing or new products and physician or patient acceptance of the products using ~~Captisol, as well as higher than expected total rebates, returns or discounts for such products.~~Captisol.

If products or product candidates incorporating Captisol ~~technology~~material were to cause any unexpected adverse events, the perception of Captisol safety could be seriously harmed. If this were to occur, we may not be able to ~~market~~sell Captisol ~~products~~ unless and until we are able to demonstrate that the adverse event was unrelated to Captisol, which we may not be able to do. Further, ~~whether or not the adverse event was a result of Captisol, we could be required by~~ the FDA could require us to submit to additional information for regulatory ~~reviews~~review or ~~approvals,~~approval, including data from extensive safety testing or clinical testing of products using ~~Captisol, which~~Captisol. This would be expensive and ~~even if we were to demonstrate that the adverse event was unrelated to Captisol, would~~it may delay the marketing of Captisol-enabled products and receipt of revenue related to those products, which could significantly impair our operating results and/or reduce the market price of our stock.

We obtain Captisol from a sole source supplier, and if this supplier were to cease to be able, for any reason, to supply Captisol to us in the amounts we require, or decline to supply Captisol to us, we would be required to seek an alternative source, which could potentially take a considerable length of time and impact our revenue and customer relationships. We maintain inventory of Captisol, which has a five year shelf life, at three geographically dispersed storage locations in the United States and Europe. If we were to encounter problems maintaining our inventory, such as natural disasters, at one or more of these locations, it could lead to supply interruptions.

We currently depend on our arrangements with our ~~outlicensees~~partners and licensees to sell products using our Captisol technology. These agreements generally provide that ~~outlicensees~~our partners may terminate the agreements at will. If our ~~outlicensees~~partners discontinue sales of products using ~~our~~ Captisol, ~~technology,~~ fail to obtain regulatory approval for products using ~~our~~ Captisol, ~~technology,~~ fail to satisfy their obligations under their agreements with us, or choose to utilize a generic form of Captisol should it become available, or if we are unable to establish new licensing and marketing relationships, our financial results and growth prospects would be materially affected. Furthermore, we maintain significant accounts receivable balances with certain customers purchasing Captisol materials, which may result in the concentration of credit risk. We generally do not require any collateral from our customers to secure payment of these accounts receivable. If any of our major customers were to default in the payment of their obligations to us, our business, ~~financial condition,~~ operating results and cash flows could be adversely affected.

Further, under most of our Captisol outlicenses, the amount of royalties we receive will be reduced or will cease when the relevant patent expires. Our low-chloride patents and foreign equivalents are not expected to expire until 2033, our high purity patents and foreign equivalents, are not expected to expire until 2029 and our morphology patents and foreign

equivalents, are not expected to expire until 2025, but the initially filed patents relating to Captisol expired starting in 2010 in the United States and ~~will expire by~~in 2016 in most countries outside the United States. If our other intellectual property rights are not sufficient to prevent a generic form of Captisol from coming to market and if in such case our ~~outlicensees~~partners choose to terminate their agreements with us, our Captisol revenue may decrease significantly.

Third party intellectual property may prevent us or our partners from developing our potential products; our and our partners’ intellectual property may not prevent competition; and any intellectual property issues may be expensive and time consuming to resolve.

The manufacture, use or sale of our potential products or our ~~collaborative partners'~~licensees' products or potential products may infringe the patent rights of others. 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.

Generally, our success will depend on our ability and the ability of ~~us and~~ our partners to obtain and maintain patents and other intellectual property rights for our and their potential ~~products both in the United States and in foreign countries.~~products. 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. Even if we or our partners do obtain patents, such patents may not adequately protect the technology we own or have licensed. For example, in ~~January 2016,~~June 2017, we received a paragraph IV certification from ~~a subsidiary of Par~~Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories advising us that it had filed an ANDA with the FDA seeking approval to market a generic version of ~~Merck’s NOXAFIL-IV~~Amgen’s Kyprolis product. The paragraph IV certification alleges that ~~Merck’s U.S. Patent No. 9,023,790 related to NOXAFIL-IV and~~ our U.S. Patent No. ~~8,410,077~~9,493,582 related to Captisol ~~which we refer to as the ‘077 Patent, are~~is invalid and/or will not be infringed by ~~Par’s~~the manufacture, use or sale of the product for which the ANDA was submitted. ~~If Par succeeds~~Amgen has disclosed that it has filed a lawsuit against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, as well as other companies, related to ANDAs seeking marketing approval of a generic version of Kyrpolis. Also, in ~~receiving~~October 2017, we received a paragraph IV certification from Aurobindo Pharma USA Inc. advising us that it had filed an ANDA with the FDA seeking approval to market a generic version of Amgen’s Kyprolis product. The Aurobindo paragraph IV certification similarly alleges that our U.S. Patent No. 9,493,582 related to Captisol is invalid and/or will not be infringed by the manufacture, use or sale of the product for which the ANDA was submitted. In addition, we ~~could lose the revenues~~have received paragraph IV certifications previously, including Par Pharmaceutical’s certification related to Merck’s NOXAFIL-IV product which Merck has settled. If any existing or ~~the~~future paragraph IV certification or other challenge related to our patent position is successful, it could result in lost revenues or limit our ability to enter into new licenses using ~~our ‘077 Patent. For additional information, see “Item 1. Legal Proceedings.”~~the challenged patent.

Any conflicts with the patent rights of others could significantly reduce the coverage of our patents or limit our ability to obtain meaningful patent protection. For example, our European patent related to Agglomerated forms of Captisol was limited during an opposition proceeding, and the rejection of our European patent application related to High Purity Captisol is currently being appealed. In addition, any determination that our patent rights are invalid may result in early termination of our agreements with our ~~collaborative~~license partners and could adversely affect our ability to enter into new ~~collaborations.~~license agreements. We also rely on unpatented trade secrets and know-how to protect and maintain our competitive position. We require our employees, consultants, ~~collaborative partners~~licensees 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 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 this 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.

The occurrence of any of the foregoing problems could be time-consuming and expensive and could adversely affect our financial position, liquidity and results of operations.

We rely heavily on ~~collaborative~~licensee 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 existing collaborations may not continue or be successful, and we may be unable to enter into future collaborative arrangements to develop and commercialize our unpartnered assets. Generally, our current collaborative partners also have the

right to terminate their collaborations at will or 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 (for example, by not making required payments when due, or at all), our product development under these agreements will be delayed or terminated.

Disputes or litigation may also arise with our collaborators (with us and/or with one or more third parties), including those over ownership rights to intellectual property, know-how or technologies developed with our collaborators. For example, we are asserting our rights to receive payment against one of our collaborative partners which could harm our relationship with such partner. Such disputes or litigation could adversely affect our rights to one or more of our product candidates and 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. In addition, a significant downturn or deterioration in the business or financial condition of our collaborators or partners could result in a loss of expected revenue and our expected returns on investment. The occurrence of any of these problems could be time-consuming and expensive and could adversely affect our business.

Our product candidates, and the product candidates of our partners, face significant development and regulatory hurdles prior to partnering and/or marketing which could delay or prevent licensing, sales-based royalties and/or milestone revenue.

Before we or our partners obtain the approvals necessary to sell any of our unpartnered assets or partnered programs, we must show through preclinical studies and human testing that each potential product is safe and effective. We and/or our partners have a number of partnered programs and unpartnered assets moving toward or currently awaiting regulatory action. 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 drug development and 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. 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 speed at which we and our partners complete our scientific studies and 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, the eligibility criteria for the trial and other potential drug candidates being studied. Delays in patient enrollment for our or our partners’ 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 our 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.

Our drug development programs may require substantial additional capital to complete successfully, 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. While we expect to fund our research and development activities from cash generated from ~~royalties and milestones from our partners in various past and future collaborations~~operations 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.

Our OmniAb antibody platform faces specific risks, including the fact that no drug using antibodies from the platform has ~~been tested in~~yet advanced to late stage clinical trials.

None of our collaboration partners using our OmniAb antibody platform have tested drugs based on the platform in late stage clinical trials and, therefore, none of our OmniAb collaboration partners’ drugs have received FDA approval. If one of our OmniAb collaboration partners’ drug candidates fails during preclinical studies or clinical trials, our other OmniAb collaboration partners may decide to abandon drugs using antibodies generated from the OmniAb platform, whether or not attributable to the platform. All of our OmniAb collaboration partners may terminate their programs at any time without penalty. In addition, our OmniRat and OmniFlic platforms, which we consider the most promising, are covered by two patents within the U.S. and two patents in the European Union and are subject to the same risks as our patent portfolio discussed above, including the risk that our patents may infringe on third party patent rights or that our patents may be invalidated. Further, we face significant competition from other companies selling human antibody-generating rodents, especially mice which compete

with our OmniMouse platform, including the VelocImmune mouse, the AlivaMab mouse, the Trianni mouse and the ~~Trianni mouse.~~Kymouse. Many of our competitors have greater financial, technical and human resources than we do and may be better equipped to develop, manufacture and market competing antibody platforms.

If plaintiffs bring product liability lawsuits against us or our partners, we or our partners may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our approved products and product candidates.

As is common in our industry, our partners and we face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our product candidates in clinical trials and face an even greater risk for commercialized products. Although we are not currently a party to product liability litigation, if we are sued, we may be held liable if any product or product candidate we develop causes injury or is found otherwise unsuitable during product testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in decreased demand for any product candidates or products that we may develop, injury to our reputation, discontinuation of clinical trials, costs to defend litigation, substantial monetary awards to clinical trial participants or patients, loss of revenue and the inability to commercialize any products that we develop. We have product liability insurance that covers our clinical trials up to a $10.0 million annual limit. If we are sued for any injury caused by our product candidates or any future products, our liability could exceed our total assets.

Any difficulties from strategic 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 realize the expected benefits from acquisitions we may consummate in the future or have consummated in the past, whether as a result of unidentified risks, integration difficulties, regulatory setbacks, litigation with current or former employees 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 IPR&D charges. In either case, the incurrence of these charges could adversely affect our results of operations for particular quarterly or annual periods.

We ~~may be subject to prosecution for violation of federal law due to our agreement with Vireo Health, which is developing drugs using cannabis.~~

In November 2015, we entered into a license agreement and supply agreement with Vireo Health granting Vireo Health an exclusive right in certain states within the United States and certain global territories to use Captisol in Vireo’s development and commercialization of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid-based products. However, state laws legalizing medical cannabis use are in conflict with the Federal Controlled Substances Act, which classifies cannabis as a schedule-I controlled substance and makes cannabis use and possession illegal on a national level. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that it is the Federal government that has the right to regulate and criminalize cannabis, even for medical purposes, and thus Federal law criminalizing the use of cannabis preempts state laws that legalize its use. The Obama administration has effectively stated that it is not an efficient use of resources to direct Federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those lawfully abiding by state-designated laws allowing the use and distribution of medical and recreational cannabis. Yet, there is no guarantee that the current policy and practice will not change regarding the low-priority enforcement of Federal laws in states where cannabis has been legalized. Any such change in the Federal government’s enforcement of Federal laws could result in Ligand, as the

~~supplier of Captisol, to be charged with violations of Federal laws which may result in significant legal expenses and substantial penalties and fines.~~

We have restated prior consolidated financial statements, which may lead to possible additional risks and uncertainties, including possible loss of investor confidence.

We have restated our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2015 (including the third quarter within that year) and for the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2016 in order to correct certain accounting ~~errors as described in~~ ~~Restated Financials~~ ~~in "Note 1 Summary of significant accounting policies" to the condensed consolidated financial statements (the Restatement).~~errors. For a description of the material ~~weaknesses~~weakness in our internal control over financial reporting identified by management in connection with the Restatement and management’s plan to remediate ~~those~~the material ~~weaknesses,~~weakness, see “Part I, Item 4 - Controls and Procedures.”

As a result of the Restatement, we have become subject to possible additional costs and risks, including (a) accounting and legal fees incurred in connection with the Restatement and (b) a possible loss of investor confidence. Further, we were subject to a shareholder lawsuit related to the Restatement which, if ratified, may be costly to defend and divert our management's attention from other operating matters. See "Part II, Item 1 - Legal Proceedings".

We have identified material ~~weaknesses~~weakness in our internal control over financial reporting that, if not remediated, could result in additional material misstatements in our financial statements.

As described in ~~“Part II, Item~~“Item 9A - Controls and ~~Procedures.”~~Procedures” of ~~amended Annual Report~~the Form 10-K filed with SEC on ~~Form 10-K/A for the year ended~~February 28, 2017, management concluded a control deficiency that represents a material weakness was not remediated at December 31, ~~2015, management identified control deficiencies that represent material weaknesses.~~2016. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. As a result of the ~~identified~~unremediated material weaknesses, management has concluded that we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, ~~2015.~~2016. Although management has since implemented new controls and process to remediate the material weakness, we do not believe these new controls have been in place for sufficient time for management to conclude the material weakness has been fully remediated at June 30, 2017. See “Part ~~II,~~I, Item 9A4 - Controls and Procedures.” ~~of our amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2015.~~

We ~~are developing~~continue to refine and ~~implementing a~~implement our remediation plan to address the material ~~weaknesses.~~weakness. If our remediation efforts are insufficient or if additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting are discovered or occur in the future, our consolidated financial statements may contain material misstatements and we could be required to restate our financial results, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, restrict our ability to access the capital markets, require us to expend significant resources to correct the material weakness, subject us to fines, penalties or judgments, harm our reputation or otherwise cause a decline in investor confidence.

Changes or modifications in financial accounting standards, including those related to revenue recognition, may harm our results of operations.

From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, either alone or jointly with other organizations, promulgates new accounting principles that could have an adverse impact on our results of operations. For example, in May 2014, FASB issued a new accounting standard for revenue recognition-Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, or ASC 606-that supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance. The new guidance requires a company to recognize revenue upon transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount that reflects the expected consideration to be received in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance becomes effective in fiscal 2018.

We anticipate this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements by accelerating the timing of revenue recognition for revenues related to royalties, and potentially certain contingent milestone based payments. Our ~~shareholder rights plan, concentration~~practice has been to book royalties one quarter after our partners report sales of ~~ownership~~the underlying product. Now, under ASC 606, Ligand will estimate and ~~charter documents~~book royalties in the same quarter that our partners report the sale of the underlying product. As a result, we will book royalties one quarter earlier compared to our past practice. We will rely on our partners’ earning releases and other information from our partners to determine the sales of our partners’ products and to estimate the related royalty revenues. If our partners report incorrect sales, or if our partners delay reporting of their earnings release, our royalty estimates may ~~hinder~~ need to be revised and/or ~~prevent~~our financial reporting may be delayed.

Any difficulties in implementing this guidance could cause us to fail to meet our financial reporting obligations, which could result in regulatory discipline and harm investors’ confidence in us. Finally, if we were to change our critical accounting estimates, including those related to the recognition of ~~control transactions.~~license revenue and other revenue sources, our operating results could be significantly affected.

Our ~~shareholder rights plan~~ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and ~~provisions contained~~certain other tax attributes to offset future taxable income may be subject to certain limitations.

As of December 31, 2016 we had U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) of approximately $446.3 million and $140.5 million, respectively, which expire through 2036, if not utilized. As of December 31, 2016, we had federal and California research and development tax credit carryforwards of approximately $21.9 million and $19.4 million, respectively. The federal research and development tax credit carryforwards expire in ~~our certificate~~various years through 2036, if not utilized. The California research and development credit will carry forward indefinitely. Under Sections 382 and 383 of ~~incorporation~~Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code) if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOLs and ~~bylaws~~other pre-change tax attributes, such as research tax credits, to offset its future post-change income and taxes may ~~discourage transactions involving~~be limited. In general, an ~~actual or potential~~“ownership change” occurs if there is a cumulative change in our ~~ownership.~~ownership by “5% shareholders” that exceeds 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. Similar rules may apply under state tax laws. We believe we have experienced certain ownership changes in the past and have reduced our deferred tax assets related to

NOLs and research and development tax credit carryforwards accordingly. In ~~addition, our Board of Directors may issue shares of common or preferred stock without any further action by~~ the ~~stockholders. Our directors and certain of our institutional investors, collectively beneficially own a significant portion of our outstanding common stock. We~~event that it is determined that we have in the past ~~granted waivers to investors allowing them to increase their~~experienced additional ownership ~~level above the limit set forth~~changes, or if we experience one or more ownership changes as a result future transactions in our ~~shareholder rights agreement. Such restrictions, circumstances and issuances~~stock, then we may ~~have the effect of delaying or preventing a change~~be further limited in our ~~ownership. If changes in~~ability to use our ~~ownership are discouraged, delayed or prevented, it would be more difficult for our current Board of Directors~~NOLs and other tax assets to ~~be removed and replaced, even if you or our other stockholders believe~~reduce taxes owed on the net taxable income that ~~such actions are~~we earn in the ~~best interests of us~~event that we attain profitability. Any such limitations on the ability to use our NOLs and other tax assets could adversely impact our ~~stockholders.~~business, financial condition and operating results.

We rely on information technology and any failure, inadequacy, interruption or security lapse of that technology, including any cyber security incidents, could harm our ability to operate our business effectively.

Our business is increasingly dependent on critical, complex and interdependent information technology systems, including internet-based systems, to support business processes as well as internal and external communications. Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of our ~~collaborative~~ partners are vulnerable to damage from cyber-attacks, computer viruses, security breaches, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. System failures, accidents or security breaches could cause interruptions in our operations, could lead to the loss of trade secrets or other intellectual property, could lead to the public exposure of personal information of our employees and others, and could result in a material disruption of our clinical and commercialization

activities and business operations, in addition to possibly requiring substantial expenditures to remedy. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and our business and financial condition could be harmed.

The occurrence of a catastrophic disaster could damage our facilities beyond insurance limits or we could lose key data which could cause us to curtail or cease operations.

We are vulnerable to damage and/or loss of vital data from natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, power loss, fire, floods and similar events, as well as from accidental loss or destruction. If any disaster were to occur, our ability to operate our business could be seriously impaired. We have property, liability, and business interruption insurance which may not be adequate to cover our losses resulting from disasters or other similar significant business interruptions, and we do not plan to purchase additional insurance to cover such losses due to the cost of obtaining such coverage. Any significant losses that are not recoverable under our insurance policies could seriously impair our business, financial condition and prospects.

We sold the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes, which may impact our financial results, result in the dilution of existing stockholders, and restrict our ability to take advantage of future opportunities.

In August of 2014, we sold $245.0 million aggregate principal amount of 0.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019, or the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes. We will be required to pay interest on the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes until they come due or are converted, and the payment of that interest will reduce our net income. The sale of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes may also affect our earnings per share figures, as accounting procedures require that we include in our calculation of earnings per share the number of shares of our common stock into which the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes are convertible. The 2019 Convertible Senior Notes may be converted, under the conditions and at the premium specified in the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes, into cash and shares of our common stock, if any (subject to our right to pay cash in lieu of all or a portion of such shares). If shares of our common stock are issued to the holders of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes upon conversion, there will be dilution to our shareholders equity. Upon the occurrence of certain circumstances, holders of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes may require us to purchase all or a portion of their notes for cash, which may require the use of a substantial amount of cash. If such cash is not available, we may be required to sell other assets or enter into alternate financing arrangements at terms that may or may not be desirable. The existence of the 2019 Convertible Senior Notes and the obligations that we incurred by issuing them may restrict our ability to take advantage of certain future opportunities, such as engaging in future debt or equity financing activities.

Impairment charges pertaining to goodwill, ~~identifiable~~ intangible assets, commercial license rights, equity method investments or other long-lived assets ~~from our mergers and acquisitions~~ 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 acquisitions in recent years of CyDex, Metabasis, Pharmacopeia, Neurogen and ~~Neurogen~~OMT have been allocated to 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, including commercial license rights or equity method investments, 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.

Our charter documents and concentration of ownership may hinder or prevent change of control transactions.

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 common or preferred stock without any further action by the stockholders. Our directors and certain of our institutional investors collectively beneficially own a significant portion of our outstanding common stock. Such provisions 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 be subject to prosecution for violation of federal law due to our agreement with Vireo Health, which is developing drugs using cannabis.

In November 2015, we entered into a license agreement and supply agreement with Vireo Health granting Vireo Health an exclusive right in certain states within the United States and certain global territories to use Captisol in Vireo’s development and commercialization of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid-based products. However, state laws legalizing medical cannabis use are in conflict with the Federal Controlled Substances Act, which classifies cannabis as a schedule-I controlled substance and makes cannabis use and possession illegal on a national level. The United States Supreme Court has ruled that it is the Federal government that has the right to regulate and criminalize cannabis, even for medical purposes, and thus Federal law criminalizing the use of cannabis preempts state laws that legalize its use. While the Obama administration effectively stated that it is not an efficient use of resources to direct Federal law enforcement agencies to prosecute those lawfully abiding by state-designated laws allowing the use and distribution of medical and recreational cannabis, the Trump administration has indicated that it will reconsider such policy and practice, especially with respect to recreational cannabis. Further, even if the Trump administration affirms the same approach with respect to medical or recreational cannabis initially, there is no guarantee that such policy and practice will not change regarding the low-priority enforcement of Federal laws in states where cannabis has been legalized. Any such change in the Federal government’s enforcement of Federal laws could result in Ligand, as the supplier of Captisol, to be charged with violations of Federal laws which may result in significant legal expenses and substantial penalties and fines.

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

The market prices for securities of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have historically been highly volatile, and the market has recently experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. Continued volatility in the overall capital markets could reduce the market price of our common stock in spite of our operating performance. Further, high stock price volatility could result in higher stock-based compensation expense.

Our common stock has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations and may continue to experience volatility in the future. 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; 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 price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market.

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 United States and elsewhere around the world. Continuing concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, and the U.S. financial markets have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and the markets going forward. Domestic and international equity markets periodically experience heightened volatility and turmoil. These events may have an adverse effect on us. In the event of a 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. 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.

ITEM 5. Other Information


ITEM 6.	EXHIBITS

The Exhibit Index to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURES

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:	November ~~14, 2016~~9, 2017	By:	/s/ Matthew Korenberg
			Matthew Korenberg
			Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
			Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number	Description

~~10.1~~	~~Second Amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement, dated January 22, 2016 by and among the Company and Viking Therapeutics, Inc.~~31.1
~~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	Certifications by Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document



	As of December 31, 2015
	As Reported			Adjustments			As Restated
Deferred income taxes	$	216,564		$	(27,481	)	$	189,083
Total assets⁽¹⁾	530,542			(27,481		)	503,061
2019 convertible senior notes, net - current	—			201,985			201,985
Total current liabilities	20,836			201,985			222,821
2019 convertible senior notes, net - long term⁽¹⁾	201,985			(201,985		)	—
Equity component of currently redeemable convertible notes (Note 5)	—			39,628			39,628
Additional paid-in capital	701,478			(39,628		)	661,850
Accumulated deficit	(402,010		)	(27,481		)	(429,491		)
Total stockholders' equity	304,391			(67,109		)	237,282
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity⁽¹⁾	530,542			(27,481		)	503,061
(1) $3.4 million of unamortized issuance cost was reclassified to debt discount in the concurrently filed 2015 10-K/A form that it is filed after the Company's retrospective adoption of ASU 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs in Q1 2016.



	As of March 31, 2016
	As Reported			Adjustments		As Restated
Deferred income taxes	$	157,258		(27,481	)	$	129,777
Total assets	613,438			(27,481	)	585,957
Accumulated deficit	(395,402		)	(27,481	)	(422,883		)
Total stockholders' equity	392,077			(27,481	)	364,596
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	613,438			(27,481	)	585,957



Cash consideration	$	96,359
Total share consideration:
Actual number of shares issued	793
Multiplied by: Ligand closing share price on January 8, 2016	$	97.92
Total share consideration	77,658
Total consideration	$	174,017



Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,504
Accounts receivable	5
Income tax receivable	140
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2
Deferred tax liabilities, net	(56,114		)
Intangible asset with finite life - core technology	167,000
Liabilities assumed	(1,279		)
Goodwill	60,759
Total consideration	$	174,017



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:
Cash equivalents⁽¹⁾	$	5,316	$	—	$	5,316	$	—
Short-term investments⁽²⁾	81,908		4,625		77,283		—
Note receivable Viking ⁽³⁾	4,767		—		—		4,767
Total assets	$	91,991	$	4,625	$	82,599	$	4,767
Liabilities:
Current contingent liabilities-CyDex⁽⁴⁾	$	5,285	$	—	$	—	$	5,285
Long-term contingent liabilities-CyDex ⁽⁴⁾	1,578		—		—		1,578
Long-term contingent liabilities-Metabasis⁽⁵⁾	2,444		—		2,444		—
Liability for amounts owed to former licensees⁽⁶⁾	534		534		—		—
Total liabilities	$	9,841	$	534	$	2,444	$	6,863



Assets:
Fair value of level 3 financial instrument assets as of December 31, 2015	$	4,782
Viking note receivable fair market value adjustment	(15		)
Fair value of level 3 financial instrument assets as of March 31, 2016	$	4,767

Liabilities:
Fair value of level 3 financial instrument liabilities as of December 31, 2015	$	9,490
Payments to CVR and other former license holders	(2,828		)
Fair value adjustments to contingent liabilities	201
Fair value of level 3 financial instrument liabilities as of March 31, 2016	$	6,863



Operating lease obligations:	Lease Termination Date	Less than 1 year		1-2 years		3-4 years		Thereafter		Total
Corporate headquarters- La Jolla, CA	June 2019	$	704	$	1,465	$	187	$	—	$	2,356
Corporate headquarters-San Diego, CA	April 2023	52		261		277		306		896
Bioscience and Technology Business Center- Lawrence, KS	December 2017	54		41		—		—		95
Vacated office and research facility- Cranbury, NJ	August 2016	1,089		—		—		—		1,089
Total operating lease obligations		$	1,899	$	1,767	$	464	$	306	$	4,436

Sublease payments expected to be received:
Corporate headquarters- La Jolla, CA	June 2019	$	443	$	920	$	116	$	—	$	1,479
Office and research facility- Cranbury, NJ	August 2016	88		—		—		—		88
Net operating lease obligations		$	1,368	$	847	$	348	$	306	$	2,869



	Stock Options				Restricted Stock Award
	Shares		Weighted- Average Exercise Price		Shares		Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance as of December 31, 2015	1,683,341		$	34.23	130,749		$	60.36
Granted	241,015		88.84		229,847		94.76
Exercised	(44,029	)	23.00		(34,649	)	52.18
Balance as of March 31, 2016	1,880,327		41.50		325,947		72.88