Ligand Pharmaceuticals Profile
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Ligand) operates as a biopharmaceutical company. The company is enabling scientific advancement through supporting the clinical development of high-value medicines. The company's business model seeks to generate value for stockholders by creating a diversified portfolio of biopharmaceutical product revenue streams.
The company's business model focuses on funding programs in mid- to late-stage drug development in return for economic rights, purchasing royalty rights in development stage or commercial biopharmaceutical products and licensing its technology to help partners discover and develop medicines. The company partners with other pharmaceutical companies to leverage what they do best (late-stage development, regulatory management and commercialization) in order to generate its revenue. The company's Captisol platform technology is a chemically modified cyclodextrin with a structure designed to optimize the solubility and stability of drugs. The company has established multiple alliances, licenses and other business relationships with the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies, including Amgen, Merck, Pfizer, Jazz, Takeda, Gilead Sciences and Baxter International.
The company's revenue consists of three primary elements: royalties from commercialized products, sales of its Captisol material to partners, and contract revenue from license fees and milestones payments.
Strategy
The company is a biopharmaceutical royalty aggregator. The company focuses on investing in differentiated late-stage assets and operating royalty-generating, infrastructure-light platform technologies. The company's strategy is to continue to expand its pipeline by aggregating royalty rights in mid- to late-stage development and commercial biopharma products.
The company enables development over a broad range of therapeutic areas and can be strategic and balanced about the size of its investments to achieve a highly diversified portfolio. The company's business model mitigates the high volatility associated with building a business around a single or small number of assets. The company can target the size of its investments to achieve appropriate risk management across the portfolio.
From a more tactical perspective, the company executes its strategy using four key approaches: royalty monetization, M&A, project finance, and platform investments. With royalty monetization, the company purchases rights on existing royalty contracts that are owned by inventors, academic institutions or companies. The company has a specific set of criteria it uses to assess potential investments.
Commercial and Clinical Stage Partnered Portfolio
The company has a large portfolio of assets generating royalties and future potential revenue-generating programs, including over 85 fully-funded by its partners.
Key Partnered Commercial Programs
Kyprolis (Amgen, Ono, BeiGene)
The company supplies Captisol to Amgen for use with Kyprolis (carfilzomib) and granted Amgen an exclusive product-specific license under its patent rights with respect to Captisol. Kyprolis is formulated with Ligand's Captisol technology and is approved in the United States for the following:
In combination with dexamethasone, lenalidomide plus dexamethasone, daratumumab plus dexamethasone, or daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj and dexamethasone, or isatuximab and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three lines of therapy.
As a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one or more lines of therapy.
Under this agreement, the company is entitled to receive revenue from clinical and commercial Captisol material sales and royalties on annual net sales of Kyprolis based on its patents and applications relating to the Captisol component of Kyprolis which are not expected to expire until 2033.
Rylaze (Jazz Pharmaceuticals)
In July 2021, Jazz announced the U.S. launch of RYLAZE (asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi (recombinant)-rywn), previously referred to as JZP458. RYLAZE, which was approved by the FDA in June 2021, is a recombinant erwinia sparaginase used as a component of a multi-agent chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) in adult and pediatric patients one month or older who have developed hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived asparaginase. In September 2023, Jazz announced that the European Commission (EC) had granted marketing authorization for RYLAZE, to be marketed as Enrylaze. Jazz began a rolling launch in the second half of 2023. Additionally, Jazz is utilizing the company's technology for the development of PF745 (JZP341), a long-acting Erwinia asparaginase for the treatment of ALL and other hematological malignancies. Jazz has worldwide rights to develop and commercialize PF745.
Filspari (Travere)
In early 2012, Ligand licensed the world-wide rights to sparsentan to Travere Therapeutics. Travere recently received FDA accelerated approval for FILSPARI (sparsentan) for the treatment of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). FILSPARI is the first and only dual endothelin and angiotensin II receptor antagonist in development for rare kidney diseases and is the first non-immunosuppressive treatment indicated for IgAN. Travere anticipates a review opinion by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) on the potential approval for sparsentan for the treatment of IgAN in Europe in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, Travere is on track to submit a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for the conversion of the existing U.S. accelerated approval in IgAN to full approval.
Travere also completed regulatory engagement on focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in which the FDA communicated that the Phase 3 DUPLEX study results alone are not sufficient to support an sNDA submission for an FSGS indication for sparsentan. As a result, Travere plans to conduct additional analyses of FSGS data with plans to re-engage the FDA in 2024, and implemented a strategic reorganization in the fourth quarter of 2023 to focus near-term resources on the ongoing FILSPARI launch in IgAN.
Teriparatide Injection Product (PF708) (Alvogen/Adalvo)
The company acquired the teriparatide injection product with the acquisition of Pfenex Inc. (Pfenex) in October 2020. Teriparatide injection is a drug indicated for various uses including the treatment of osteoporosis in certain patients at high risk for fracture. Teriparatide injection was developed using its Pelican Expression Technology and was approved by the FDA in 2019 in accordance with the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, with FORTEO as the reference product. The company's commercialization partner, Alvogen, launched the product in June 2020 in the United States.
The company's partner, Alvogen, has exclusively licensed the rights to commercialize and manufacture the teriparatide injection product in the United States, while Adalvo has the rights to commercialize in the EU, certain countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and the rest of world (ROW) territories (the latter defined as all countries outside of the EU, U.S. and MENA, excluding Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand). In August 2020, marketing authorization throughout the EU was received under the trade name Livogiva and in December 2020 in Saudi Arabia under the name Bonteo.
Evomela (Acrotech and CASI)
The company supplies Captisol to, and receive royalties from, Acrotech Biopharma for sales of Evomela in the U.S., and CASI Pharmaceuticals for sales in China. Evomela received marketing approval by the NMPA in August of 2019. It is the only approved and commercially available melphalan product in China. Evomela is a Captisol-enabled melphalan IV formulation which is approved by the FDA for use in two indications:
a high-dose conditioning treatment prior to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with multiple myeloma; and
for the palliative treatment of patients with multiple myeloma for whom oral therapy is not appropriate.
Evomela has been granted Orphan Designation by the FDA for use as a high-dose conditioning regimen for patients with multiple myeloma undergoing ASCT. The Evomela formulation avoids the use of propylene glycol, which has been reported to cause renal and cardiac side-effects that limit the ability to deliver higher quantities of therapeutic compounds. The use of the Captisol technology to reformulate melphalan is anticipated to allow for longer administration durations and slower infusion rates, potentially enabling clinicians to safely achieve a higher dose intensity of pre-transplant chemotherapy.
Under the terms of the license agreement, Acrotech Biopharma has marketing rights worldwide excluding China and CASI Pharmaceuticals has rights to market in China. The company's patents and applications relating to the Captisol component of melphalan are not expected to expire until 2033. The company has entered into a settlement agreement with Teva and Acrotech Biopharma (the holder of the NDA for Evomela) which will allow Teva to market a generic version of Evomela in the United States in 2026, or earlier under certain circumstances. Absent early termination, the agreement will terminate upon expiration of the obligation to pay royalties. The agreement may be terminated by either party for an uncured material breach or unilaterally by Acrotech and CASI by prior written notice.
VAXNEUVANCE (Merck)
VAXNEUVANCE, a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, also known as V114, was approved in the U.S. in July of 2021 for the prevention of invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F and 33F in adults 18 years of age and older, and subsequently in children 6 weeks through 17 years of age in June of 2022. VAXNEUVANCE was also approved in Europe in October 2022 for the prevention of invasive disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in individuals 18 years and older and in infants, children and adolescents from 6 weeks to less than 18 years of age. VAXNEUVANCE utilizes CRM197 vaccine carrier protein, which is produced using the patent-protected Pelican Expression Technology platform. The company is entitled to low single digit royalties derived from net sales of Vaxneuvance.
In December 2023, Merck announced the FDA accepted for priority review a new BLA for V116, Merck's investigational 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine specifically designed to help prevent invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal pneumonia in adults. The FDA grants priority review to medicines and vaccines that, if approved, would provide a significant improvement in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment or prevention of a serious condition. The FDA has set a PDUFA date, or target action date, of June 17, 2024. If approved, Ligand is entitled to a royalty on worldwide net sales.
Pneumosil (Serum Institute of India, SII)
SII began commercialization of its 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Pneumosil, which is produced using CRM197 made in the Pelican Expression Technology platform, in the second quarter of 2020. Pneumosil is designed primarily to help fight against pneumococcal pneumonia among children, with an advantage of targeting the most prevalent serotypes of the bacterium causing serious illness in developing countries. Pneumosil achieved WHO Prequalification in December 2019, allowing the product to be procured by United Nations agencies and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and subsequently achieved Indian Marketing Authorization in July 2020, and SII announced commercial launch of the product in India in December 2020.
TZIELD (Sanofi)
The company acquired a royalty of less than 1% on net sales of TZIELD through its acquisition of Tolerance Therapeutics in the fourth quarter of 2023. TZIELD is the first disease-modifying therapy to be approved in type 1 diabetes (T1D). It is a CD3-directed antibody indicated to delay the onset of Stage 3 T1D in adults and children aged 8 years and older with Stage 2 T1D. TZIELD was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation in 2019 and was approved by the FDA in November 2022.
Nexterone (Baxter)
The company has a license agreement with Baxter, related to Baxter's Nexterone, a Captisol-enabled formulation of amiodarone, which is marketed in the United States and Canada. The company supplies Captisol to Baxter for use in accordance with the terms of the license agreement under a separate supply agreement.
Veklury (Gilead)
The company supplies Captisol to Gilead for sales of Veklury (remdesivir). Gilead received marketing approval from the FDA in October 2020. Veklury is an antiviral treatment for COVID-19. The product has regulatory approvals for the treatment of moderate or severe COVID-19 in over 70 countries. The company is supplying Captisol to Gilead under a 10-year supply agreement. The company is also supplying Captisol to Gilead's voluntary licensing generic partners who are manufacturing remdesivir for 127 low- and middle-income countries. The company receives its commercial compensation for this program through the sale of Captisol.
Zulresso (Sage)
The company has a license agreement with Sage, related to Sage's Zulresso, a Captisol-enabled formulation of brexanolone for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). Under the terms of the agreement, the company receives royalties and revenue from Captisol material sales.
Noxafil-IV (Merck)
The company has a supply agreement with Merck related to Merck's NOXAFIL-IV, a Captisol-enabled formulation of posaconazole for IV use. NOXAFIL-IV is marketed in the United States, EU, Japan and Canada. The company receives its commercial compensation for this program through the sale of Captisol.
Duavee or Duavive (Pfizer)
Pfizer is responsible for the marketing of bazedoxifene, a synthetic drug specifically designed to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures while also protecting uterine tissue. Pfizer has combined bazedoxifene with the active ingredient in Premarin to create a combination therapy for the treatment of post-menopausal symptoms in women. Pfizer is marketing the combination treatment under the brand names Duavee and Duavive in various territories. Net royalties on annual net sales of Duavee/Duavive are payable to the company through the life of the relevant patent or ten years from the first commercial sale, whichever is longer, on a country-by-country basis.
Exemptia, Vivitra, Bryxta and Zybev (Zydus Cadila)
Zydus Cadila's Exemptia (adalimumab biosimilar) is marketed in India for autoimmune diseases. Zydus Cadila uses the Selexis technology platform for Exemptia. The company earns royalties on sales by Zydus Cadila for ten years following approval.
Zydus Cadila's Vivitra (trastuzumab biosimilar) is marketed in India for breast cancer. Zydus Cadila uses the Selexis technology platform for Vivitra. The company entitled to earn royalties on sales by Zydus Cadila for ten years following approval.
Zydus Cadila's Bryxta and Zybev (bevacizumab biosimilar) is marketed in India for various indications. Zydus Cadila uses the Selexis technology platform for Bryxta and Zybev. We earn royalties on sales by Zydus Cadila for ten years following approval.
FYCOMPA IV (Eisai)
The company's partner, Eisai, is developing an intravenous Fycompa (perampanel), formulated with Captisol, as a substitute in Japan for oral tablets as an adjunctive therapy in patients with partial onset seizures (including secondarily generalized seizures) or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. In January of 2023, Eisai announced that it obtained marketing authorization approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for the injection formulation of its in-house discovered antiepileptic drug (AED) Fycompa in Japan as an alternative therapy when oral administration is temporarily not possible. We are entitled to revenue from Captisol material sales and tiered royalties on potential future sales.
Key Partnered Pipeline Programs
The company has a highly diversified partnered pipeline of development stage assets that either have or are nearing regulatory approval, or given the area of research or value of the license terms, it considers particularly noteworthy.
TR-Beta - VK2809 and VK0214 (Viking)
The company's partner, Viking, is developing VK2809, a novel selective thyroid hormone receptor beta (TR-beta) agonist with potential in multiple indications, including hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). VK2809 is in a Phase 2b clinical trial (the VOYAGE study) in patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH. VK0214, another novel, orally available, TR-beta agonist, is in development for the potential treatment of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). VK0214 is being evaluated in a Phase 1b clinical trial in patients with the adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) form of X-ALD.
In November 2023, Viking presented new results from the ongoing Phase 2b clinical trial of VK2809, a novel liver-selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist, in patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH. The latest findings from the VOYAGE study were featured in a late breaking poster presentation at the Liver Meeting 2023, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. The newly reported findings demonstrated robust and comparable liver fat reductions in patients with or without Type 2 diabetes, as well as patients with either F2 or F3 fibrosis.
Ensifentrine - RPL554 (Verona)
Ensifentrine is a first-in-class, selective, dual inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 enzymes combining bronchodilator and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory activities in one compound. Ligand obtained the rights to ensifentrine in 2018 in the acquisition of Vernalis. The company's partner, Verona Pharma, completed the Phase 3 ENHANCE-21 and ENHANCE-12 trials evaluating nebulized ensifentrine for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the NDA was accepted by the U.S. FDA in September 2023. The PDUFA date for ensifentrine is June 26, 2024.
Soticlestat (Takeda)
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the company entered into an agreement with Ovid Therapeutics for a 13% interest in soticlestat royalties. Ovid sold its rights in soticlestat to Takeda in 2021. Under the terms of its agreement with Takeda, Ovid is eligible to receive regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to $660 million, as well as tiered royalties on net sales of soticlestat at percentages ranging from the low-double-digits up to 20%, if soticlestat is approved and successfully commercialized. Takeda is studying soticlestat in two pivotal Phase 3 trials in people with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS) and announced that it anticipates regulatory filings for soticlestat in its fiscal year 2024. Ovid has no ongoing obligations or costs associated with the development of soticlestat.
Soticlestat is a potent, highly selective, first-in-class inhibitor of the enzyme cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CH24H), with the potential to reduce seizure susceptibility and improve seizure control. CH24H is predominantly expressed in the brain, where it converts cholesterol into 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24HC) to adjust the homeostatic balance of brain cholesterol. 24HC is a positive allosteric modulator of the NMDA receptor and modulates glutamatergic signaling associated with epilepsy. Glutamate is one of the main neurotransmitters in the brain and has been shown to play a role in the initiation and spread of seizure activity. Recent literature indicates that CH24H is involved in over-activation of the glutamatergic pathway through modulation of the NMDA channel and that increased expression of CH24H can disrupt the reuptake of glutamate by astrocytes, resulting in epileptogenesis and neurotoxicity. Inhibition of CH24H by soticlestat reduces the neuronal levels of 24HC and may improve excitatory/inhibitory balance of NMDA channel activity.
Ganaxalone IV (Marinus)
The company's partner, Marinus, is conducting Phase 3 clinical trials with Captisol-enabled ganaxolone IV in patients with refractory status epilepticus. Marinus has exclusive worldwide rights to Captisol-enabled ganaxolone, a GABAA receptor modulator, for use in humans. The company is entitled to development and regulatory milestones, revenue from Captisol material sales, and royalties on potential future sales.
Ciforadenant - CPI-444 (Corvus)
The company's partner, Corvus, is conducting a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial evaluating ciforadenant as a potential first line therapy for metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC) in combination with ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) and nivolumab (anti-PD-1). The Phase 1b/2 study is being conducted by the Kidney Cancer Research Consortium (KCRC) and is led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
QTORIN (Palvella)
The company acquired the economic rights to QTORIN 3.9% rapamycin anhydrous gel (QTORIN rapamycin, formerly PTX-022) from Palvella in December 2018. QTORIN rapamycin is a novel, topical formulation of high-strength rapamycin in development for the treatment of Microcystic Lymphatic Malformations (Microcystic LM). In November 2023, Palvella announced that the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to QTORIN rapamycin for the treatment of microcystic LMs. Microcystic LMs is a chronically debilitating and lifelong genetic disease affecting an estimated more than 30,000 patients in the U.S. There are no FDA-approved treatments for microcystic LMs.
Lasofoxifene (Sermonix)
Lasofoxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator for osteoporosis treatment and other diseases, discovered through the research collaboration between Pfizer and Ligand. The company's partner, Sermonix has a license for the development of oral lasofoxifene, its lead investigational drug, for the United States and additional territories. Sermonix is conducting the Phase 3 ELAINE-3 clinical trial to assess the efficacy of lasofoxifene in combination with Eli Lilly and Company's CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib (Verzenio) compared to fulvestrant and abemaciclib in pre- and post-menopausal subjects with locally advanced or metastatic ER+/HER2- breast cancer with an ESR1 mutation.
In January 2024, Sermonix announced it entered into a strategic collaboration and exclusive license agreement with Henlius for the rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize lasofoxifene in China. Under the terms of the agreement, Henlius will receive exclusive rights and sublicenses to lasofoxifene for at least two estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/HER2- breast cancer indications in the territory, with Sermonix retaining all other global rights. Sermonix plans to work with Henlius to accelerate the clinical development of the Phase 3 ELAINE-3 multi-regional clinical trial in China, making lasofoxifene available to Chinese patients as soon as possible. In December 2023, Sermonix activated and began enrollment for ELAINE-3 in the United States.
Pradefovir (Xi'an Xintong)
The company's Chinese licensee, Xi'an Xintong Medicine Research (following its acquisition of Chiva Pharmaceuticals), is developing pradefovir, an oral liver-targeting prodrug of the HBV DNA polymerase/reverse transcriptase inhibitor adefovir, for the potential treatment of HBV infection. Pradefovir was developed using Ligand's HepDirect technology. Xi'an Xintongsubmitted the pradefovir NDA in May 2023, and it is under priority review by the Chinese FDA (NMPA). We are entitled to an annual licensing maintenance fee and royalties on potential future sales.
MB07133 (Xi'an Xintong)
Chinese licensee Xi'an Xintong Medicine Research is also developing MB07133, a liver specific, HepDirect prodrug of cytarabine monophosphate, for the potential treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. MB07133 is currently in Phase 2 in China. The company is entitled to an annual licensing maintenance fee and royalties on potential future sales.
Full Portfolio Details
The company has assembled one of the largest portfolios of biopharmaceutical assets in the industry which provides investors the opportunity to participate in the biotech industry while mitigating the industry's usual inherent clinical binary risks. The company's portfolio consists of assets which currently generate revenue through royalties on commercial products, as well as Captisol sales on commercial products.
The company has a number of unpartnered programs focused on a wide-range of potential indications or diseases with the potential for further development or licensing.
Patents and Proprietary Rights
Captisol
Patents and pending patent applications covering Captisol and methods of making Captisol are owned by the company. The patents covering the Captisol product with the latest expiration date is expected to be in 2033 (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 9,493,582 (expires Feb. 27, 2033)). Other patent applications covering methods of making Captisol, if issued, potentially have terms to 2041. The company also owns several patents and pending patent applications covering drug products containing Captisol as a component. Globally, the company owns over 400 issued patents covering all of the foregoing Captisol compositions, methods and related technology.
Ten Captisol patents in several families are listed in the Orange Book in connection with one or more prescription drugs on the market. These Captisol-enabled drugs include Nexterone (Baxter), Kyprolis (Amgen), Noxafil (Merck), Evomela (Acrotech/CASI), Baxdela (Melinta) and Zulresso (Sage). These patents are listed in the table below, and each patent family containing these patents has pending and/or granted counterparts in Europe, China and Japan.
Kyprolis
Patents protecting Kyprolis include those owned by Amgen and those owned by the company. The United States patent listed in the Orange Book relating to Kyprolis owned by Amgen with the latest expiration date is not expected to expire until 2029. Patents and applications owned by Ligand relating to the Captisol component of Kyprolis are not expected to expire until 2033. Amgen filed suit against several generic drug companies over their applications to make generic versions of Kyprolis. Several generics have settled with Amgen on confidential terms. However, it has been publicly reported that the U.S. launch date for at least Breckenridge Pharmaceuticals' generic product will be on a date that is held as confidential in 2027 or sooner, depending on certain occurrences. One generic company, Cipla Limited/Cipla USA, Inc. chose not to settle the litigation with Amgen, and proceeded to trial. The District Court upheld the validity of patent claims from three of the patents and the judgment was upheld on appeal.
Ligand UK Development Limited
Under the terms of the company's sale of Vernalis (R&D) Limited to HitGen in December 2020, Ligand retained a portfolio of fully-funded shots on goal, which include S65487, a Bcl-2 inhibitor, and S64315, an Mcl-1 inhibitor for the treatment of cancers, both of which are partnered with Servier in collaboration with Novartis and VER250840 (an oral, selective Chk1 inhibitor for the treatment of cancer). These programs and their IP are now owned by Ligand UK Development Limited, which has a worldwide patent portfolio of over 180 granted patents in over 50 countries. This patent portfolio is mature, with expected expiry dates between 2024 and 2033.
Pelican Expression Technology Platform
In connection with the merger of Pelican and Primrose, Pfenex assigned a global patent portfolio consisting of over 200 patents and over 25 pending patent applications to Pelican, while retaining three patents and six pending patent applications directed to methods of producing Erwinia asparaginase. Additionally, as part of the merger of Pelican and Primrose, Pfenex acquired a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty free, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable license to a portfolio of approximately 90 patents and approximately 15 pending patent applications which cover various aspects of the Pelican Expression Technology platform that are critical in helping support and retain contractual relationships, including Jazz's RYLAZE, Merck's VAXNEUVANCE and V116 vaccines, Alvogen's Teriparatide, and Serum Institute of India's vaccine programs, including Pneumosil and MenFive vaccines, among others.
Novan
Through the acquisition of certain assets of Novan, the company acquired a robust IP portfolio that consists of over 45 U.S. patents, 120 non-U.S. patents, and 25 pending patent applications worldwide along with substantial know-how and trade secrets. This IP portfolio provides material coverage for the company's platform technologies, licensed products and product candidates, in addition to ZELSUVMI, which was approved by the FDA on January 5, 2024. There are 14 issued U.S. patents covering ZELSUVMI which are expected to be listed in the Orange Book and which are expected to expire during the time period beginning in 2026 and ending in 2035.
Trademarks
Ligand, BEPro, Captisol, CyDex, LTP, LTP Technology, NITRICIL, and ZELSUVMI are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and is the company's property. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks including but not limited to Pelican Expression Technology, PeliCRM, Pfenex Expression Technology, OmniAb Kyprolis, Evomela, Veklury, Livogiva, Bonteo, Zulresso, Rylaze, VAXNEUVANCE, Pneumosil, Minnebro, Baxdela, Nexterone, Noxafil, Duavee, FILSPARI and are the property of their respective owners.
History
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated was founded in 1987. The company was incorporated in 1987.
