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

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )

                      LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED
                     -------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                    Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
                  --------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   53220K207
                                ---------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                               September 9, 2005
                             ----------------------
            (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)


Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

                               [ ]  Rule 13d-1(b)

                               [X]  Rule 13d-1(c)

                               [ ]  Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial  filing on this form with respect to the subject  class of  securities,
and for any subsequent amendment  containing  information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The  information  required  in the  remainder  of this  cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other  provisions of the Act (however,  see
the Notes).


                          Continued on following pages
                               Page 1 of 10 Pages
                             Exhibit Index: Page 9





                                  SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No.:53220K207                                          Page 2 of 10 Pages
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Names of Reporting Persons.

     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).



     GLENVIEW CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

     a) [ ]
     b) [X]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Citizenship or Place of Organization


     Delaware
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of          5    Sole Voting Power            None
Shares             ------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially       6.   Shared Voting Power          3,704,800
Owned by Each      ------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting          7.   Sole Dispositive Power       None
Person With        ------------------------------------------------------------
                   8.   Shared Dispositive Power     3,704,800
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person


     3,704,800
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions)

     [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

     5.0% based on 73,932,315 shares outstanding as of October 29, 2004.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Type of Reporting Person:

     OO





                                  SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No.:53220K207                                          Page 3 of 10 Pages

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Names of Reporting Persons.

     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).


     GLENVIEW CAPITAL GP, LLC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

     (a) [ ]

     (b) [X]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Citizenship or Place of Organization

     Delaware
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of          5.   Sole Voting Power            None
Shares             ------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially       6.   Shared Voting Power          3,704,800
Owned by Each      ------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting          7.   Sole Dispositive Power       None
Person With        ------------------------------------------------------------
                   8.   Shared Dispositive Power     3,704,800
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

     3,704,800
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions)

     [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

     5.0% based on 73,932,315 shares outstanding as of October 29, 2004.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Type of Reporting Person:

     OO





                                  SCHEDULE 13G

CUSIP No.: 53220K207                                         Page 4 of 10 Pages

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.   Names of Reporting Persons.

     I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).


     LAWRENCE M. ROBBINS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

     (a) [ ]

     (b) [X]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.   SEC Use Only
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.   Citizenship or Place of Organization

     United States of America
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of          5.   Sole Voting Power            None
Shares             ------------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially       6.   Shared Voting Power          3,704,800
Owned by Each      ------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting          7.   Sole Dispositive Power       None
Person With        ------------------------------------------------------------
                   8.   Shared Dispositive Power     3,704,800
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

     3,704,800
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions)

     [ ]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

     5.0% based on 73,932,315 shares outstanding as of October 29, 2004.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Type of Reporting Person:

     IA






                                                             Page 5 of 10 Pages



Item 1(a).   Name of Issuer:

             Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (the "Issuer)

Item 1(b).   Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

             10275 Science Center Drive, San Diego, CA  92121-1117.

Item 2(a).   Name of Person Filing

             This Statement is filed on behalf of each of the following persons
(collectively, the "Reporting Persons"):

             i)    Glenview Capital Management, LLC ("Glenview Capital
                   Management");

             ii)   Glenview Capital GP, LLC ("Glenview Capital GP"); and

             iii)  Lawrence M. Robbins ("Mr. Robbins").

             This Statement  relates to Shares (as defined herein) held for the
accounts of Glenview Capital  Partners,  L.P., a Delaware  limited  partnership
("Glenview  Capital  Partners"),   Glenview  Institutional  Partners,  L.P.,  a
Delaware limited  partnership  ("Glenview  Institutional  Partners"),  Glenview
Capital Master Fund, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company ("Glenview Capital
Master Fund"),  GCM Little Arbor Master Fund,  Ltd., a Cayman Islands  exempted
company  ("GCM  Little  Arbor Master  Fund"),  GCM Little  Arbor  Institutional
Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("GCM Little Arbor Institutional
Partners"), and GCM Little Arbor Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("GCM Little Arbor Partners").

             Glenview Capital  Management serves as investment  manager to each
of Glenview Capital Partners, Glenview Institutional Partners, Glenview Capital
Master  Fund,  GCM Little Arbor  Master  Fund,  GCM Little Arbor  Institutional
Partners,  and GCM Little Arbor Partners.  In such capacity,  Glenview  Capital
Management may be deemed to have voting and  dispositive  power over the Shares
held  for  the  accounts  of  each  of  Glenview  Capital  Partners,   Glenview
Institutional  Partners,  Glenview Capital Master Fund, GCM Little Arbor Master
Fund, GCM Little Arbor Institutional  Partners,  and GCM Little Arbor Partners.
Glenview  Capital GP is the  general  partner  of  Glenview  Capital  Partners,
Glenview  Institutional  Partners,  GCM Little Arbor Institutional Partners and
GCM Little Arbor  Partners.  Glenview  Capital GP also serves as the sponsor of
the Glenview  Capital Master Fund and the GCM Little Arbor Master Fund. In such
capacities,  Glenview  Capital GP may be deemed to have voting and  dispositive
power  over  the  Shares  held for the  accounts  of each of  Glenview  Capital
Partners,  Glenview Institutional  Partners,  Glenview Capital Master Fund, GCM
Little Arbor Master Fund,  GCM Little  Arbor  Institutional  Partners,  and GCM
Little Arbor Partners.  Mr. Robbins is the Chief Executive  Officer of Glenview
Capital Management and Glenview Capital GP.

Item 2(b).   Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence

             The address of the principal  business  office of each of Glenview
Capital  Management,  Glenview  Capital GP, and Mr. Robbins is 399 Park Avenue,
Floor 39, New York, New York 10022.





                                                             Page 6 of 10 Pages


Item 2(c).   Citizenship

             i)    Glenview Capital  Management is a Delaware limited liability
                   company;

             ii)   Glenview Capital GP is a Delaware limited liability company;
                   and

             iii)  Mr. Robbins is a citizen of the United States of America.

Item 2(d).   Title of Class of Securities:

             Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Shares")

Item 2(e).   CUSIP Number:

             53220K207

Item 3.      If This  Statement  is Filed  Pursuant  to  ss.ss.240.13d-1(b)  or
             240.13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:

             This Item 3 is not applicable.

Item 4.      Ownership:

Item 4(a).   Amount Beneficially Owned:

             As of September 9, 2005,  each  of  the  Reporting  Persons  may be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of 3,704,800 Shares.  This amount consists of:
(A) 275,300  Shares  held  for  the  account  of  Glenview Capital Partners; (B)
2,048,100  Shares  held  for  the  account  of Glenview Capital Master Fund; (C)
1,069,900 Shares held for the account of Glenview  Institutional  Partners;  (D)
242,400 Shares held for the account of GCM Little Arbor Master Fund,  (E) 64,400
Shares held for the  account of GCM Little  Arbor  Institutional  Partners,  and
(F) 4,700 Shares held for the account of GCM Little Arbor Partners.

Item 4(b).   Percent of Class:

             The number of Shares of which each of the Reporting Persons may be
deemed to be the beneficial owner constitutes  approximately  5.0% of the total
number of Shares outstanding (based upon information  provided by the Issuer in
its most recently-filed quarterly report on Form 10-Q, there were approximately
73,932,315 Shares outstanding as of October 29, 2004).

Item 4(c).   Number of Shares of which such person has:

Glenview Capital Management, Glenview Capital GP, and Mr. Robbins:
------------------------------------------------------------------
(i)  Sole power to vote or direct the vote:                                    0
                                                                
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote:                          3,704,800
                                                                
(iii)Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of:                       0
                                                                
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of:             3,704,800
                                                             






                                                             Page 7 of 10 Pages


Item 5.      Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:

             This Item 5 is not applicable

Item 6.      Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:

             This Item 6 is not applicable

Item 7.      Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
             the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company:

             This Item 7 is not applicable.

Item 8.      Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:

             This Item 8 is not applicable.

Item 9.      Notice of Dissolution of Group:

             This Item 9 is not applicable.

Item 10.     Certification:

             By signing below each of the Reporting  Persons certifies that, to
the best of their knowledge and belief,  the securities  referred to above were
not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing
or  influencing  the  control  of the  issuer  of the  securities  and were not
acquired  and  are not  held in  connection  with  or as a  participant  in any
transaction having that purpose or effect.





                                                             Page 8 of 10 Pages


                                   SIGNATURE

     After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge  and belief,  I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.

Date: September 9, 2005                      GLENVIEW CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC


                                             By:  /s/ Lawrence M. Robbins
                                                  ----------------------------
                                             Name:  Lawrence M. Robbins
                                             Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 9, 2005                      GLENVIEW CAPITAL GP, LLC


                                             By:  /s/ Lawrence M. Robbins
                                                  ----------------------------
                                             Name:  Lawrence M. Robbins
                                             Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 9, 2005                      LAWRENCE M. ROBBINS


                                             /s/ Lawrence M. Robbins
                                             ----------------------------






                                                             Page 9 of 10 Pages


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Ex.                                                                    Page No.
---                                                                    --------

A.   Joint  Filing  Agreement,  dated September 9, 2005, by and
     among Glenview Capital  Management,  LLC,  Glenview Capital
     GP, LLC, and Lawrence M. Robbins...........................              10






                                                             Page 10 of 10 Pages


                                   EXHIBIT A

                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

     The  undersigned  hereby  agree that the  statement  on Schedule  13G  with
respect to the  Common Stock of Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated  dated as of
September 9, 2005  is, and  any  amendments  thereto  (including  amendments  on
Schedule 13D)  signed  by each  of the undersigned  shall be, filed on behalf of
each of us  pursuant to and in accordance  with the  provisions of Rule 13d-1(k)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Date: September 9, 2005                      GLENVIEW CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC


                                             By:  /s/ Lawrence M. Robbins
                                                  ----------------------------
                                             Name:  Lawrence M. Robbins
                                             Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 9, 2005                      GLENVIEW CAPITAL GP, LLC


                                             By:  /s/ Lawrence M. Robbins
                                                  ----------------------------
                                             Name:  Lawrence M. Robbins
                                             Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 9, 2005                      LAWRENCE M. ROBBINS


                                             /s/ Lawrence M. Robbins
                                             ----------------------------