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 22, 2004

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

                                    DELAWARE
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                                    000-20720
                            (Commission File Number)

                           10275 SCIENCE CENTER DRIVE,
                              SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

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

                                   77-0160744
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

                                   92121-1117
                                   (Zip Code)





Item 5.  Other Events

     On March 19, 2004, Alexander D. Cross, member of our Board of Directors,
entered into a stock selling plan, intended to qualify for the safe harbor under
Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Under the
plan, Mr. Cross authorized the sale of up to 11,275 shares that were acquired by
Mr. Cross from the Company on April 11, 1991.

     Mr. Cross has  informed  the Company  that any sales  pursuant to this plan
will comply with Rule 144. Mr. Cross has  represented to the Company that he had
no knowledge of any material nonpublic information regarding the Company when he
adopted the plan.

     Any  actual  sales  under the plan will be  publicly  disclosed  under Rule
16a-3.



Item 7.  Exhibits



EXHIBIT  NUMBER        DESCRIPTION
                    
99.1                   Trading Plan for Alexander D. Cross dated March 19, 2004





                                   SIGNATURES

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



                                     LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED


Date :  March 22, 2004               By:      /S/WARNER BROADDUS
                                     Name:    Warner Broaddus
                                     Title:   Vice President,
                                              General Counsel & Secretary