Ligand Pharmaceuticals CEO and leadership

John L. Higgins has over 14 years of corporate development, financing, strategic planning, commercialization, and investment banking experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. He is the chief executive officer of [Ligand Pharmaceuticals](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ligand-pharmaceuticals#/entity), a biotechnology company that focuses on the discovery and early-stage development of pharmaceuticals for medical needs in the United States. Prior to joining Ligand, Higgins was the chief financial officer; and executive vice president of finance, administration, and corporate development at Connetics Corporation, a public specialty pharmaceutical company, until its acquisition by Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. in 2006. During his service period of nearly 10 years at Connetics, he played a key leadership role in numerous strategic initiatives, including major acquisitions, divestitures, multiple product and technology licensing transactions, and financings. Prior to joining Connetics, Higgins was the executive vice president of corporate development at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and was a member of the health care investment banking team at Dillon, Read & Company, Inc. He has served numerous public and private corporate boards and currently is a director at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he serves as chairman of the audit committee. Higgins earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Colgate University.

John L. Higgins has over 14 years of corporate development, financing, strategic planning, commercialization, and investment banking experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. He is the chief executive officer of [Ligand Pharmaceuticals](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ligand-pharmaceuticals#/entity), a biotechnology company that focuses on the discovery and early-stage development of pharmaceuticals for medical needs in the United States. Prior to joining Ligand, Higgins was the chief financial officer; and executive vice president of finance, administration, and corporate development at Connetics Corporation, a public specialty pharmaceutical company, until its acquisition by Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. in 2006. During his service period of nearly 10 years at Connetics, he played a key leadership role in numerous strategic initiatives, including major acquisitions, divestitures, multiple product and technology licensing transactions, and financings. Prior to joining Connetics, Higgins was the executive vice president of corporate development at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and was a member of the health care investment banking team at Dillon, Read & Company, Inc. He has served numerous public and private corporate boards and currently is a director at BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he serves as chairman of the audit committee. Higgins earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Colgate University.