Ligand Pharmaceuticals has licensed the rights to five programs to Viking Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on the development of therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. As part of this transaction, Ligand will extend a $2.5 million convertible loan to Viking that can be used to pay Viking’s operating and finance expenses. Ligand will receive a fee for each program, milestone payments and royalties on future sales. Viking is responsible for all development activit...