Talk:Ligand Pharmaceuticals

History

Ligand Pharmaceuticals was founded as Progenx in September 1987 by Brook Byers of the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins. The company initially focused on developing cancer detection and therapy products based on a monoclonal antibody technology developed by the Scripps Clinic and Johnson & Johnson with partial National Institutes of Health funding. In 1988, the company hired the biotech entrepreneur Howard Birndorf as its president and secured $1.6 million in venture capital financing.[1] Progenx changed its name to Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated in 1989.[2]

1990s

In November 1991, Birndorf left Ligand and was replaced by David Robinson.[3] That same year, the company entered into a partnership with Pfizer to develop osteoporosis therapies.[4] This partnership produced lasofoxifene, a drug that as of 2022 was being tested for its ability to slow progression of a metastatic breast cancer.[5]

In 1992, Ligand went public, raising approximately $44 million in its IPO.[6] It also established a pair of joint research programs, one to develop retinoid-based drugs with Allergan and another to research atherosclerosis treatments with Glaxo Wellcome. As part of the latter partnership, Glaxo purchased a six percent stake in Ligand.[7][8]

In July 1994, Ligand and Abbott Laboratories entered into an agreement to discover ways that Ligand's transcription factor technologies could be used to create drugs for inflammatory diseases.[9]

Ligand partnered with SmithKline Beecham in 1995 to begin work on developing a treatment for a chronic blood-clotting disorder.[10] This research eventually produced the blood platelet-boosting drug Promacta, which was approved by the FDA in 2008.[11][12]

Early 2000s

In May 2000, Ligand announced a new partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb to develop cardiovascular drugs.[13]

In May 2005, Ligand announced that it would restate its 2002 and 2003 financial results, as well as its earnings for the first three quarters of 2004.[14] These accounting irregularities triggered a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation[15] as well as state and federal shareholder lawsuits,[16] and led to the company being delisted from the Nasdaq in September 2005.[17] The SEC investigation ultimately ceased with no charges being filed.[15] In 2006, Ligand shares were relisted on on Nasdaq.[18] Ligand paid $12.2 million to settle shareholder lawsuits and agreed to reform its corporate governance by adding three new members to its board.[16][18]

David Robinson, who was then was president, CEO, and chairman of Ligand's board, stepped down from his position in August 2006. He was replaced by Ligand director Henry F. Blissenbach as interim CEO.[19] John Higgins, a former investment banker took over as permanent CEO in January 2007.[15]Under Blissenbach and Higgins, Ligand sold off commercial operations and reduced staff in an effort to transform itself into a company that would focus on generating revenue from royalty, milestone, and licensing payments secured through its partnerships and research and development work.[15][20]

In September 2008, Ligand announced that it was acquiring Pharmacopeia for $70 million.[21] One of the drugs yielded from this acquisition is Filspari, which Ligand licensed to Travere Therapeutics and which won FDA approval as a therapy for primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy in September 2024.[22]

In October 2009, Ligand announced that it would acquire Metabasis Therapeutics, a company focused on developing treatments for metabolic and liver diseases. As part of the acquisition, Ligand pledged $8 million of investment toward these development efforts.[23]

2010-present

In January 2011, Ligand agreed to acquire CyDex Pharmaceuticals for approximately $35 million. This acquisition gave Ligand access to Captisol, a platform technology useful in drug reformulation. At the time, Captisol was being used in five FDA-approved drugs.[24]

In May 2014, Ligand licensed five novel therapeutic programs to Viking Therapeutics and invested $2.5 million to support the development of treatments for diabetes, cancer cachexia, dyslipidemia, and anemia.[25][26]

In June 2014, Emmanuel Lemelson, while shorting Ligand stock, published five reports and held several media interviews falsely asserting that Ligand was overvalued, at risk of financial insolvency, and that its hepatitis C drug Promacta was soon going to become obsolete.[27][28] Following Lemelson's statements, Ligand's market capitalization dropped by $500 million, netting Lemelson $1.3 million.[27] In September 2018, the SEC filed a civil lawsuit against Lemelson in Boston's federal district court, arguing that he made false statements about the state of Ligand's business in order to enrich himself.[29] The jury in the federal court case found that Lemelson had made three false statements in his commentary on Ligand and one of its partner companies, Viking Therapeutics, but that this did not amount to a fraudulent short and distort scheme.[30][27] In March 2022, Judge Patti B. Saris imposed on Lemelson a $160,000 fine and a five-year injunction barring him from further securities violations.[31]

In November 2016, shareholders of Ligand filed a federal class action lawsuit alleging that the company misled investors about the value of its assets and overall financial outlook. The suit was filed four days after Ligand alerted the SEC that it would be restating several financial reports from 2015.[32]

In July 2018, Ligand was sued by investors, including Citadel, for $3.8 billion, alleging the company unfairly modified its agreements with investors and never filed the amendment with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.[33] A chancery court dismissed the lawsuit and the decision was affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court in January 2020.[34]

In August 2018, Ligand announced that it would be acquiring Vernalis in a $42 million deal. Through the acquisition, Ligand inherited more than eight research and development partnerships.[35] In March of the following year, Ligand sold its intellectual property rights to Promacta to Royalty Pharma for $827 million.[36]

In August 2020, Ligand announced that it would buy Pfenex, owner of the rights to Merck's Vaxneuvance, Jazz Pharmaceuticals' Rylaze, and Alvogen’s teriparatide injection, for $516 million.[37][38]

On December 5, 2022, John Higgins retired as CEO of Ligand and was succeeded by Todd C. Davis.[39]

In September 2023, Ligand spun out its Pelican Technology subsidiary to form the stand-alone biotechnology company Primrose Bio which focused on the development of discovery and manufacturing systems for protein and nucleic acid-based therapies.[38] That same month, Ligand acquired the assets of Novan, a developer of dermatology treatments.[40][41] This acquisition yielded the molluscum contagiosum treatment Zelsuvmi, which won FDA approval in January 2024.[42]

On July 8, 2024, Ligand acquired Apeiron Biologics, an Austrian firm with the royalty rights to the high-risk neuroblastoma treatment Qarizba.[43]

References

  1. ^ Johnson, Greg (January 22, 1988). "H.C. Birndorf Named President of Newly Formed Progenx Inc". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  2. ^ "Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated History". Funding Universe. June 24, 2025. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  3. ^ Rose, Craig D. (April 21, 1992). "Ligand files plan to raise $45 million with stock offering". San Diego Union-Tribune. p. D-1. Birndorf was chief executive officer of Ligand until November 1991, when David Robinson was named to the post.
  4. ^ "Ligand to get $4M for licensing osteoporosis drug". San Diego Union-Tribune. October 10, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  5. ^ Ghose, Carrie (February 7, 2022). "Biotech raises $40M to test forgotten osteoporosis drug in treatment-resistant breast cancer". Nashville Business Journal. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  6. ^ "San Diego". San Diego Union-Tribune. December 4, 1992. p. D-1. Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. said it raised $44.1 million through an initial public offering of 4.3 million shares of Class A common stock at $11 per share.
  7. ^ Johnson, Greg (January 22, 1988). "H.C. Birndorf Named President of Newly Formed Progenx Inc". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  8. ^ Craig, Charles (December 22, 1994). "Allergan, Ligand to Contribute $100M for Retinoid Drug". BioWorld. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  9. ^ Shrine, Jim (July 8, 1994). "Ligand, Abbott to Work Together on Inflammation". BioWorld. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  10. ^ "10-K Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated". sec.gov. December 31, 2006. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  11. ^ "FDA Spills Ligand's Blood". Forbes. May 28, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  12. ^ Favole, Jared A.; Doreen, Jennifer Corbett (January 2, 2009). "FDA Approved More Drugs in 2008". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  13. ^ Welch, Mary (May 24, 2020). "Ligand, Bristol-Myers Partner For Oral Cardiovascular Drugs". BioWorld. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  14. ^ "Ligand to restate financial results". Pharmaceutical Technology. May 23, 2005. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  15. ^ a b c d Bigelow, Bruce (February 26, 2025). "San Diego's Ligand Takes Advantage of the Great Recession to Build New Drug Pipeline". Xconomy. Archived from the original on September 10, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Ligand to pay $12.2 million to settle lawsuits". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 8, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  17. ^ Crabtree, Penni (September 7, 2005). "Ligand loses its listing on Nasdaq". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on December 8, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Morrison, Trista (February 2, 2007). "Ligand Restructures To Focus On Early Pipeline, Royalties". BioWorld. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  19. ^ "C&L: Robinson leaves Ligand". Fierce Biotech. August 1, 2006. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  20. ^ "Ligand slashes staff in restructuring effort". Fierce Biotech. January 31, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  21. ^ "Ligand to buy Pharmacopeia in $70 mln stock deal". Reuters. September 24, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  22. ^ Liu, Angus (February 17, 2023). "With FDA approval for Filspari, Travere turns Bristol Myers castoff into unique drug for rare kidney disease". Fierce Pharma. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  23. ^ "Ligand to Buy Metabasis Through Deal Giving Acquired Firm's Shareholders Continued Revenues". Genetic Engineering and BioTechnology News. October 27, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  24. ^ "Ligand to Pay $35.5M for CyDex Pharmaceuticals". Genetic Engineering and BioTechnology News. January 27, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  25. ^ Flanagan, Cristin (July 30, 2018). "Analyst-Turned-CEO Says His Biotech Stock Is Cheap, Even After a 900% Rally". Bloomberg. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  26. ^ Masangkay, Estel Grace (May 28, 2014). "Viking Licenses 5 Novel Therapeutics From Ligand Pharmaceuticals". Outsourced Pharma. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  27. ^ a b c Dowling, Brian (December 6, 2021). "Hedge Fund Priest Seeks Total Victory Over SEC Stock Suit". Law360. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  28. ^ Heller, Matthew (November 8, 2021). "Jury Clears Priest in 'Short-and-Distort' Scheme". CFO. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  29. ^ Alpert, Bill (February 19, 2020). "Hedge Fund Alleges SEC Bias in Short-Selling Case". Barron's. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  30. ^ Alpert, Bill (November 11, 2021). "The SEC Wins Mixed Verdict Against a Short Seller Who Wouldn't Settle". Barron's. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  31. ^ Raymond, Nate (March 31, 2022). "Priest shorting biotech stock owes SEC $160,000, faces lifetime ban". Reuters. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  32. ^ "Investors Sue Ligand Over Exaggerated Financials". 2016-11-19. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
  33. ^ Feeley, Jef (July 31, 2018). "Ligand Pharmaceuticals Sued for $3.8 Billion Over Bond Terms". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  34. ^ Krebs, Rose (January 10, 2020). "Del. Supreme Court Lets $3.8B Ligand Note Fix Stand" (PDF). Law360. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  35. ^ Taylor, Phil (August 10, 2018). "Vernalis accepts £33m takeover offer from Ligand Pharma". PMLive. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  36. ^ "Ligand divests Promacta rights to Royalty Pharma for $827m". Pharmaceutical Technology. March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  37. ^ Terry, Mark (August 11, 2020). "Ligand Buys Pfenex in $516 Million Deal to Access Protein Production Platform". BioSpace. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  38. ^ a b "Ligand (LGND) Completes Acquisition of Pfenex Inc. (PFNX)". StreetsInsider. October 1, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  39. ^ Brooks, Kristin (December 5, 2022). "Ligand Pharmaceuticals Names Todd Davis CEO". Contract Pharma. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  40. ^ Summerfield, Richard (October 2023). "Novan files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy". Financier Worldwide. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  41. ^ Gordon, Brian (July 17, 2023). "Durham dermatology company files for bankruptcy and reaches deal for sale". Financier Worldwide. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  42. ^ Sagonowsky, Eric (January 7, 2024). "After buying Novan's assets, Ligand crosses FDA finish line with molluscum gel Zelsuvmi". Fierce Pharma. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  43. ^ "Ligand Pharmaceuticals to acquire APEIRON Biologics for $100m". Pharmaceutical Technology. July 9, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2025.

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I'll ask User:Likeanechointheforest if they're interested, since they've helped out above. But anyone is welcome to share their input as well. Regardless, thanks in advance to whoever reviews this request! MelanieLigand (talk) 21:59, 25 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks so much for reviewing and approving User:Dahawk04. I've now updated the article to include the new History. If anything looks off to you, please don't hesitate to fix it, but I'm pretty sure I managed it without any mistakes. MelanieLigand (talk) 17:24, 3 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Resoring page to the last stable version version updated in March 2025 by User:Bunnypranav. The recent updates are promotional and cite unreliable sources. Clear COI and possible sock activity.174.242.134.178 (talk) 15:48, 12 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@174.242.134.178 Thanks for raising this. The page is already restored, so to move the discussion forward please specify
  • which parts of the edit you view as promotional, and
  • which sources you believe are unreliable.
Without those details it’s hard to address the merits of your concerns. Please clarify. Dahawk04 Talk 💬 21:25, 12 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for responding. The rewrite violates WP:COI, WP:NPOV, and WP:RS, especially as a paid editor's direct contribution on sensitive topics.
=== Promotional Tone (WP:NPOV/WP:COI) ===
The draft overemphasizes positives (e.g., lengthy details on acquisitions like Pharmacopeia, CyDex, and FDA approvals for Zelsuvmi) while minimizing negatives (e.g., brief coverage of the 2005 restatement/SEC probe/delisting and $12.2M settlement; positive framing of the "short-and-distort" case without full controversy context). This creates WP:UNDUE weight favoring growth/successes. WP:COI discourages direct edits on litigious sections to avoid bias. Proposals need broader, uninvolved review.
=== Examples of Problematic Sources (WP:RS) ===
Many sources lack independence, editorial oversight, or secondary analysis. Below are just a few examples:
- Funding Universe: Unreliable aggregator without fact-checking; flagged on RSN and talk pages as directory-like, not journalistic.
- SEC 10-K: Primary source; fine for facts but not history/interpretation (WP:PRIMARY risks OR).
- Niche/Trade Sites: Marginal reliability due to industry ties and potential syndication:
- BioWorld (partnerships): Often needs better RS; trade-focused, echoes announcements.
- Outsourced Pharma (Viking licensing): Niche with limited oversight; no strong consensus.
- Genetic Engineering and BioTechnology News (acquisitions): Industry journal; flagged for needing RS improvements.
- StreetInsider (Pfenex completion): Aggregator; syndicates releases, contentious in articles.
- Contract Pharma (CEO change): Trade mag; editorial but limited scrutiny.
- Financier Worldwide (Novan bankruptcy): Business-focused; requires additional RS in practice.
- Pharmaceutical Technology (restate/acquisition): Better but still trade-specific; some flags for improvements.
Suggest a broader, uninvolved review and getting consensus via RfC if needed. 2600:1000:B16C:B1EE:29B6:B018:D312:11E8 (talk) 12:12, 13 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]
User:Dahawk04, User:2600:1000:B16C:B1EE:29B6:B018:D312:11E8, and User:174.242.134.178: Given my conflict-of-interest, I want to tread lightly here, but I'm troubled by all the edits I've suggested for this article—including simple, fact-based ones like updating the location of the company's HQ—being wiped out in one fell swoop by an IP address account that appears to be partially blocked.
As a Ligand employee, I obviously have a somewhat biased point-of-view, but I have been exceedingly careful to operate transparently and defer to the judgment of independent editors. I created this account to clearly identify myself as a Ligand employee and put forward suggestions for the company article via the COI edit request system. I directly edited the article to update the History section only after receiving explicit instruction to do so from Dahawk04. My other requests were reviewed, amended, and implemented by User:Likeanechointheforest, to whom I have no personal or professional connection.
To address the sockpuppet allegation: I have no other Wikipedia accounts and, as far as I know, nobody else at Ligand has touched this Talk page or the article itself.
I also want to briefly respond about the sources that the IP address account flagged: these publications, many of which are widely cited across Wikipedia, were used to support uncontroversial claims and financial details, most of them about acquisitions Ligand has made over the years.
I would like to see the edits I've worked with the community to achieve restored, since they've already passed through independent editor review once, but I know that's not my call. I'm chiming in here primarily to clear up any confusion there might be about what I've been doing on this Talk page over the past few months. If anybody has additional questions for me, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks! MelanieLigand (talk) 18:54, 17 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@MelanieLigand I do find the IPs chiming in here to be a bit suspicious. I would be really curious for @Dahawk04's thoughts Likeanechointheforest (talk) 16:51, 18 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Hi, User:Likeanechointheforest: Thanks for your input. I reached out to Dahawk04 on their user Talk page last week and haven't received a reply. It seems like they're busy with other matters. I'm going to respect their time and leave them alone. Maybe they'll come back at a later date. In the meantime, do you have any ideas as far as what I should do next? I don't mind putting some work into sorting this situation out, but I want to make sure I go about things the right way. MelanieLigand (talk) 17:05, 30 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I'm a bit confused by the tangle of information above, would you mind rephrasing it for me succinctly here? Likeanechointheforest (talk) 16:37, 1 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Hi, User:Likeanechointheforest: I'm not sure anything has changed since your initial reply here but I'm happy to recap the circumstances to date. On July 12th, an IP address editor (User:174.242.134.178) reverted all of the updates that were approved from my requests above on this Talk page. That editor also posted to the Talk page here to say that they reverted the updates, and giving their reason as: "The recent updates are promotional and cite unreliable sources. Clear COI and possible sock activity". User:Dahawk04 (who had also reviewed my requests) replied to ask them to outline specific concerns, which another IP address (but presumably the same editor?) replied with a list of issues they had with the content. I had responded to explain that I've followed the guidelines carefully with my requests and to note that only I am here on behalf of Ligand Pharmaceuticals.
Although both you and I have pinged User:Dahawk04, they've not come back here and I'm not sure what next step to take. I looked through the list of concerns from the IP editor and can respond to each, though even if taken at face value, I'm not sure why these concerns would require undoing even such straightforward updates as the Infobox updates. What do you think is needed here next? Is there a forum that helps with issues like these when requests have been reviewed but someone disagrees and undoes the updates? Or should I try reaching out to editors who have previously been active on the page, given they seem to have worked through some thorny issues a few years ago?
I really appreciate your time and help on this. Thank you! MelanieLigand (talk) 20:00, 5 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I would try the latter! Likeanechointheforest (talk) 13:50, 23 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Requesting introduction updates

Now that the article body has been updated with better sourcing, a clearer and more comprehensive timeline of the Ligand's history, and a current description of the company's business, I wanted to request some revisions to the introduction. I have a draft here:

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a biopharmaceutical company located in Jupiter, Florida. Founded in 1987 as Progenx Inc., the company went public in 1992. Initially focused on developing its own drugs, the company shifted its focus to the acquisition of royalty rights for commercially available and in-development pharmaceutical products in the mid-2000s. As of 2024, its portfolio consists of approximately 90 therapies and drugs.

A few notes on what I'm proposing:

  1. There are no citations because everything in the text is mentioned and substantiated in the body of the article with at least a footnote or two.
  2. I've struck mention of the "regulatory investigations, negative shorts-seller reports, and class action lawsuits amid allegations of securities fraud" because I believe these are relatively minor developments within the company's broader history. (Shareholder lawsuits, for example, are quite common for publicly traded companies.)
  3. I've also struck mention of the CEO's pay in 2018. This feels even less significant than the previous passage. Ligand no longer operates out of San Diego and that CEO is no longer with the company.

Thank you in advance to any independent editors who review this request. MelanieLigand (talk) 15:45, 2 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I'm going to ask User:Likeanechointheforest if they would like to review this request, since they've been helpful in the past. MelanieLigand (talk) 15:58, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I'll jump in and give an opinion. According to WP:LEAD, the lead section should be a mini-version of the article, summarizing the most important and notable aspects. You are correct footnotes are not required in the lead. I'm not sure all of the lawsuit history is "normal" though. During 2005-2006, Ligand paid $12.2 million to settle shareholder lawsuits, agreed to reform its corporate governance, resulted in the CEO stepping down, and temporary delisting from the NASDAQ. These are significant, albeit in the end not major. There was a lawsuit in 2016, but the article doesn't say what the outcome was. The 2018 lawsuit was dismissed by the court. The shortseller case with Lemelson was minor.
I would suggest adding further text to the lead (2-3 paragraphs is a good standard) that summarize the article, and include a sentence or two about the 2005-2006 events. -- GreenC 19:34, 16 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The lead is far from NPOV at the moment. We normally see two sides of company page editing, one that promotes it and another that disparages it. Based on the edit history, looks like there has been a tug from both sides. I will do some cleanup if requested but see others have been embedded on it for quite a while so just stopping to give my opinion based on this.--CNMall41 (talk) 18:06, 17 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah I think the lead currently is way too far in the negative, over-emphasizing things that are routine and/or of no consequence, too much weight in this area, and not enough weight on the facts of the company: it's history, products, etc.. the kind of boring stuff nobody really cares or knows much about, but which comprises the vast majority of the content of this article. -- GreenC 21:01, 17 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
User:GreenC and User:CNMall41: Appreciate the feedback and insight above. I'll suggest a slightly longer version of the introduction here:
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is a biopharmaceutical company located in Jupiter, Florida. Founded in 1987 as Progenx Inc., the company went public in 1992 with a focus on research and development with partnerships including Pfizer, Glaxo Wellcome, and Abbott Laboratories.
In the mid-2000s, Ligand shifted its focus from developing its own drugs to the acquisition of royalty rights for commercially available and in-development pharmaceutical products. It has continued on that course, growing its portfolio to approximately 90 therapies and drugs as of 2024.
Does that fit the WP:LEAD parameters a little bit better? I'm doing my best, but you two are COI-free and more experienced than I am, so I defer to your judgment. Thanks again for the guidance! MelanieLigand (talk) 03:02, 18 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
"I'm doing my best".....And as a COI editor you are doing the right thing here by discussing the changes so I appreciate that. I will defer to GreenC at the moment as they appear to have more familiarity with the page but offering help if it is requested. --CNMall41 (talk) 16:47, 18 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I added a lead section I think it summarizes the article (a mini version of the article) and captures why the company is and has been notable. -- GreenC 23:40, 18 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
User:GreenC: Thanks for handling this. Could I ask for two small but meaningful changes to the last sentence of the second paragraph? Here's what I would suggest:
Under former CEO John Higgins, who took over in 2007, Ligand shifted its focus from drug development to its current business model of generating revenue from royalties and licensing payments.
My version of the sentence adds "former" before "CEO John Higgins" to make clear that he's not Ligand's current CEO. And it changes "commercial drug sales" to "drug development," as that's a slightly more accurate description of what the company used to do.
Beyond that, I think this introduction is a solid summary of the article. Again, really appreciate your efforts! MelanieLigand (talk) 14:22, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That's better, done. thanks! -- GreenC 17:01, 22 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  1. : [[User:GreenC]]: Thanks for all your help again. Before I back away here, I did want to check if you saw my note last month about page protection? Is this appropriate for this page given the apparent ongoing interest from a problematic party and if so, what is the correct process in this type of situation?
MelanieLigand (talk) 15:19, 30 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Wikipedia's strength and weakness is that anyone can edit. It's very hard to protect a page with any permanence, usually only for short periods, assuming very recent activity (past 24hrs abuse). The place is WP:RPP. -- GreenC 05:50, 7 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Ligand_Pharmaceuticals