Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 
 
 
 
 

FORM 8-K
 
 
 
 
 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 1, 2017

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware
001-33093
77-0160744
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)


3911 Sorrento Valley Boulevard, Suite 110, San Diego, California 92121
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(858) 550-7500
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

n/a
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.
On March 1, 2017, we entered into a worldwide platform license agreement with bluebird bio, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLUE). Under the license, bluebird will be able to use the OmniRat®, OmniMouse® and OmniFlic® platforms to discover fully human mono- and bispecific antibodies and antibody fragments. We are eligible to receive annual platform access payments, development milestone payments and royalties for each product incorporating an OmniAb antibody. Bluebird will be responsible for all costs related to the programs. We previously disclosed rights to a single-antibody partnership had been licensed to bluebird but this agreement gives bluebird full access to the OmniAb platform.







SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED

Date:    March 6, 2017
By:     /s/ Charles S. Berkman
Name: Charles S. Berkman
Title: Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary