Exhibit 99.1

                                                          Contact: Paul V. Maier
                                                               Senior VP and CFO
                                                                   (858)550-7573



 LIGAND ANNOUNCES ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES TO ACCELERATE OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS

         SAN DIEGO, CA, MAY 15, 2003 - Ligand Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: LGND)
today announced several organizational changes designed to continue improving
ongoing operational effectiveness and efficiency in research and development,
finance and operations. The changes are effective immediately.

         "I am pleased to announce these promotions and organizational changes
as part of our normal review of operational effectiveness and efficiency as an
emerging growth biopharmaceutical company," said David E. Robinson, Ligand's
chairman, president and chief executive officer. "These changes are designed to
continue to translate the lessons of 2002 and the opportunities of 2003 and 2004
into improved operational performance in our pain, oncology and dermatology
businesses."

R&D:  ANDRES NEGRO-VILAR, MD, PHD, PROMOTED TO EXECUTIVE VP, R&D, AND CSO;
PROJECT MANAGEMENT FUNCTION INTEGRATED INTO R&D

         As senior vice president for research and development over the past
four years, Dr. Negro-Vilar has better integrated research and development and
improved overall productivity. In the past year, Ligand and its collaborative
partners have advanced four novel NCEs to human clinical development, a rapid
pace similar to the high productivity of the prior two years. Dr. Negro-Vilar
also has improved the clinical organization's human resource base; made
significant progress in the Targretin(R) (bexarotene) capsules Phase III
registration program in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which is now
two-thirds accrued with full patient accrual targeted by year-end; successfully
completed the Targretin gel hand dermatitis Ph I/II trial; and managed key
oncology trials for ONTAK(R) (denileukin diftitox).





         Integrating Ligand's team of six project management professionals into
the company's overall R&D efforts should further improve efficiency and
effectiveness. Strong project management of Ligand's development teams will
continue to be a centerpiece of the company's product development success, which
has supported the development, registration and commercialization of five
products in the United States and two in Europe. Integrating teams and functions
also is expected to benefit Ligand's large oncology initiatives, such as filing
a Targretin NDA in NSCLC should the Phase III trials prove positive, conducting
ONTAK registration trials in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and conducting Phase
II/III trials of Targretin gel in hand dermatitis.

FINANCE: TOD MERTES PROMOTED TO VP, CONTROLLER; NEW INTERNAL AUDIT POSITION
CREATED

         As director of finance over the past several years, Mertes has
strengthened the finance and accounting functions, kept pace with rapidly
changing accounting and legal requirements, and provided critical financial
analysis to major transactions such as the AVINZA co-promotion agreement and
Ligand's capital financing activities. Before joining Ligand, Mertes had more
than 12 years of experience in public accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

         In addition, Ligand has created a new internal audit function to
further strengthen its capabilities to perform to the company's own high
standards, which are increasingly instituted in new laws and regulations.

OPERATIONS:  TOM SILBERG DEPARTS TO PURSUE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES;

GIAN ALIPRANDI PROMOTED TO SENIOR VP FOR TECHNICAL, SUPPLY AND INTERNATIONAL
OPERATIONS;

VPS OF MARKETING, SALES AND MEDICAL AFFAIRS TO REPORT TO CEO

         Silberg, formerly executive vice president and chief operating officer,
has left Ligand to pursue other opportunities.





         Ligand's operating results can be enhanced through the quality and
timeliness of strategic and operational decision support to marketing, sales and
technical/supply operations. Aliprandi's promotion from vice president and
controller, and his new, direct reporting relationship to the CEO, will further
strengthen Ligand's strategic sourcing and operational cost efficiency programs
through his broad expertise in both finance and operations. Aliprandi has more
than 30 years of experience in positions of increasing responsibility in
operations, supply, materials management, finance and control.

         In addition, Ligand's continued improvement in operating performance
and the benefits of Organon's co-promotion of AVINZA can be further accelerated
by better integrating marketing, sales, and medical and professional services
for both the company's pain and oncology businesses. Streamlining Ligand's
commercial functions into three strong units of marketing, sales, and medical
and professional services, all with direct access to the CEO, should help
integrate these critical functions and improve the company's commercial
performance. These functions are headed by strong, experienced industry
professionals, and have been re-structured with focused resources for both
Ligand's pain and oncology business segments.

ABOUT LIGAND

         Ligand discovers, develops and markets new drugs that address critical
unmet medical needs of patients in the areas of cancer, pain, skin diseases,
men's and women's hormone-related diseases, osteoporosis, metabolic disorders,
and cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. Ligand's proprietary drug
discovery and development programs are based on its leadership position in gene
transcription technology, primarily related to Intracellular Receptors (IRs) and
Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STATs). For more
information, go to www.ligand.com.






CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This news release contains certain forward-looking statements by Ligand
that involve risks and uncertainties and reflect Ligand's judgment as of the
date of this release. These statements include those related to operational
effectiveness and efficiency, and commercial and R&D performance. Actual events
or results may differ from Ligand's expectations. For example, these
organizational changes may not improve our operational, commercial or R&D
results. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors
affecting Ligand's business can be found in prior press releases as well as in
Ligand's public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
available via the company's internet site at www.ligand.com. Ligand disclaims
any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements beyond the
date of this release. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.


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