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) 05/29/2008 (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               2,858,183 I By Knott Partners, L.P. (1) (5) Common Stock               1,757,441 I By Shoshone Partners, L.P. (1) (5) Common Stock               27,600 I By Mulsanne Partners, L.P. (1) (5) Common Stock               3,295,328 I By Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P. (1) (5) Common Stock               259,184 I By Ostra Capital Partners, L.P. (2) (5) Common Stock               302,921 I By Managed Accounts (3) (5) Common Stock (4) 05/29/2008   A   5,000 A $ 0 10,000 D   Common Stock               82,400 I By Ostra Capital Partners VII, L.P. (2) (5)

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		06/02/2008
**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 (i) the sole general partner of Shoshone Partners, L.P., Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P. and Mulsanne Partners, L.P. and (ii) 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 shareholder, director and president of Dorset Management Corporation, which is the employer of Richard Murawczyk, the managing member of the general partner of Ostra Capital Partners, L.P. and Ostra Capital Partners VII, L.P., with which Dorset Management Corporation has a trading relationship.
(3)	The securities identified in this row are held by managed accounts for which Dorset Management Corporation provides investment management services (the "Managed Accounts"). The Reporting Person is the President and sole director of Dorset Management Corporation.
(4)	The securities reported in Column 4 of Table I represent restricted shares of Common Stock of Ligand Pharmaceuticals, granted to all directors at the annual meeting of the shareholders on May 29, 2008. The restricted stock vests on the first anniversary of the date of grant.
(5)	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 of the securities represented in this entry. The Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own an indirect pecuniary interest in the securities represented in this entry as a result of its performance-related fee. Except with respect to Knott Partners, L.P., Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P. and Shoshone Partners, L.P., in which the Reporting Person owns a beneficial interest, the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership therein except to the extent ultimately realized. Each of Knott Partners, L.P., Shoshone Partners, L.P., Mulsanne Partners, L.P., Knott Partners Offshore Master Fund, L.P., Ostra Capital Partners, L.P., Ostra Capital Partners VII, L.P. and the Managed Accounts disclaims beneficial ownership of securities reported as owned by any other party.

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