Exhibit 99.8

                Director Fee Election--2002 Stock Incentive Plan







                       LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

                              DIRECTOR FEE ELECTION


               Pursuant to the Director Fee Option Grant Program in effect under
the Corporation's 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), I hereby elect to
apply a percentage of my fee for Board Service for calendar year 200_ to the
acquisition of a special option grant to purchase shares of the Corporation's
common stock (the "Common Stock"). The percentage of my Board Service fee to be
so applied is as follows:

                      ________%* of the Board Service fee.

               I hereby acknowledge and agree that this election shall be
irrevocable and that the option to be granted pursuant to such election will be
subject to the following terms:

               1. The option will be granted on January _____, 20___.

               2. The exercise price per share will be equal to one-third of the
fair market value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date (the
closing selling price per share on the Nasdaq National Market as published in
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL).

               3. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to the option
will be determined by dividing (i) the percentage of the Board Service fee I
have elected to apply to the acquisition of the option by (ii) two-thirds of the
fair market value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date.

               4. The option will become exercisable in twelve (12) successive
equal monthly installments upon my completion of each calendar month of service
on the Board during calendar year 20__, with the first such installment to
become exercisable upon my continuation in Board service through January 31,
20___.

               5. The remaining terms of the option will be as set forth in the
Director Fee Option Grant Program in effect under the Plan.



                          Signature:
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                          Dated:
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* The maximum dollar amount which may be applied to the Director Fee Option
Grant Program may not exceed the amount obtained by multiplying the number of
regularly-scheduled Board meetings for calendar year 200_ by the per Board
meeting fee in effect for such year.