Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, the renowned biotech company announced here today of the appointment of John P. Sharp as the impending Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer with immediate effect. It has also been stated along with the announcement that the prior Interim CFO, Mr. Tod Mertes gets replaced by Mr. Sharp and he in turn will report to John L. Higgins, the ongoing President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

Ligand is an early-stage biotech company with its central focus on the discovery and development of new drugs addressing critical unmet medical needs in the areas of thrombocytopenia, cancer, hepatitis C, hormone-related diseases, osteoporosis and inflammatory diseases. The company also endeavors for the development of drugs tend to be more effective and safer than existing therapies, being more opportune to administer and that are cost effective. The company also intends to become profitable through the generation of income from research, milestone, royalty and co-promotion revenues resulting from collaborations with pharmaceutical partners. Meanwhile even in the research and development field it has collaborated with GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth, Pfizer Inc. and TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc. ("TAP"). The partnered products are under careful study for the treatment of large market indications such as thrombocytopenia, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms and frailty.

Speaking on the occasion of the new appointment the venerated President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated John L. Higgins said, "We are very pleased to have John Sharp join our organization. John is a seasoned industry veteran with in-depth knowledge of the biotech industry and broad accounting and financial management experience in public companies. His addition to the management team will provide new financial and accounting leadership at this important time for Ligand as we move through our activities to rebuild Ligand. I would like to thank Tod Mertes for his valuable contribution as Interim CFO. He has provided great service to Ligand and has been instrumental in our efforts to restructure Ligand into a focused, emerging R&D and royalty-driven biotech company."

Mr.Sharp is a commendable personality in the realm of the International Finance and Business and many of his activities is reckoned with a deep veneration and is a popular face even in the Press & Media. Throughout his career he has headed various responsibilities and through that has showed his brilliance in respect of augmentation of the fame and business of the respective concern.   Before his present venture with the Ligand, he served as the Vice President of Finance and Principal Accounting Officer for Sequenom and its was here that his radiance and enormous endeavor was perceived through playing a decisive role in respect of management, worldwide accounting, SEC reporting, financial and administrative management in conjunction with investor relations.