Pharma BD Deal Intelligence

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / XOMA Royalty Corporation

2026 · Acquisition/Merger · $739M · Complete

Outcome grade pending — assessed 5 years post-close.

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The coverage arc

Apr 27, 2026 BioSpace Bullish

The acquisition will add more than 120 assets across commercial, clinical, and preclinical stages to Ligand's existing portfolio, bringing its total to more…

Apr 28, 2026 BioPharm International Bullish

Ligand's Todd Davis stated the deal presents a compelling opportunity for us to strengthen and diversify our portfolio across all stages of clinical…

May 18, 2026 XOMA Royalty 8-K Exhibit 2.1 (Amendment No. 1) Neutral

Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated May 16, 2026, adding XOMA Royalty Holdings Corporation (a Nevada subsidiary) as a party to effect a…

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Ligand (LGND) entered a definitive agreement to acquire XOMA Royalty (XOMA) for $39.00/share cash, ~$739M equity value, plus a non-tradeable CVR entitled to 75% of net proceeds from certain pending XOMA litigation. Expands Ligand's royalty portfolio past 200 assets and adds 7 commercial products; expected immediately accretive to Ligand adjusted EPS. On May 16, 2026 the parties signed Amendment No. 1 (8-Ks filed May 18, 2026) adding a newly formed Nevada subsidiary, XOMA Royalty Holdings Corporation, so the merger is effected via a holding-company reorganization (Flex Merger Sub merges into HoldCo) rather than directly into XOMA; the $39.00/share cash consideration and CVR terms are unchanged. The deal remains pending and is expected to close in Q3 2026, subject to XOMA stockholder approval and HSR clearance.

Key facts

Related deals — scored

DealYearValueOutcome
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated / XOMA Royalty Corporation (this deal)2026$739M
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. / Life Technologies Corporation2013$15.1B84
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Becton, Dickinson and Company / C.R. Bard Inc.2017$24.0B77
Johnson & Johnson / Synthes Inc.2011$19.7B77
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. / PPD Inc.2021$17.4B77
Danaher Corporation / GE Life Sciences Biopharma Business (now Cytiva)2019$21.4B76

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