FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * KNOTT DAVID M   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC [LGND] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 485 UNDERHILL BLVD, STE 205 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 08/12/2015 (Street) SYOSSET, NY 11791-3419 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 08/12/2015   S   800 D $ 96.4543 971,300 I By Knott Partners, L.P. (1) (3) Common Stock 08/12/2015   S   9,875 D $ 96.4543 223,486 I By Shoshone Partners, L.P. (1) (3) Common Stock 08/12/2015   S   2,600 D $ 96.4543 37,996 I By Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P. (1) (3) Common Stock 08/13/2015   S   2,000 D $ 96.1957 969,300 I By Knott Partners, L.P. (1) (3) Common Stock 08/13/2015   S   27,300 D $ 96.1957 196,186 I By Shoshone Partners, L.P. (1) (3) Common Stock 08/13/2015   S   7,225 D $ 96.1957 30,771 I By Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P. (1) (3) Common Stock               1,666 I By Managed Account C (2) (3) Common Stock               70,152 D   Common Stock               1,843 I By immediate family member (2) (3)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
KNOTT DAVID M 485 UNDERHILL BLVD STE 205 SYOSSET, NY 11791-3419	X

Signatures

/s/ David M. Knott		08/14/2015
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	The Reporting Person is the managing member of Knott Partners Management, LLC, which is (a) the sole general partner of Shoshone Partners, L.P., and Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P. and (b) the managing general partner of Knott Partners, L.P. The Reporting Person is also a general partner of Knott Partners, L.P.
(2)	The Reporting Person is the sole director and the president of Dorset Management Corporation, which provides investment management services to separate institutional managed accounts (each, a "Managed Account"), and (b) the spouse of the immediate family member (the "Spouse").
(3)	As a result of the Reporting Person's interests in Knott Partners Management, LLC and in Dorset Management Corporation, the Reporting Person has investment discretion and control over the securities in this entry. Except with respect to those securities held by the Spouse, the Reporting Person may be deemed indirectly to beneficially own the securities in this entry as a result of a performance related fee. Except with respect to the Reporting Person's beneficial interest in Knott Partners, L.P., Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P., and Shoshone Partners, L.P., the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities beneficially owned by the Managed Account, except to the extent ultimately realized. Each of Knott Partners, L.P., Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P., Shoshone Partners, L.P., the Managed Account and the Spouse disclaims beneficial ownership of securities reported as owned by any other party.

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