<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:01a0d077-cd6a-75af-aba0-764f9fd0e3a0,g:c8a175dd-a91a-43fc-8d5b-9949fb20776b-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.ligand.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="lgnd-20260924.xsd#CoverPage"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.ligand.com/role/CoverPage" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_01a0d077-cd6a-7cee-b01f-60d302f4de46" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_01a0d077-cd6a-7cee-b01f-60d302f4de46" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_01a0d077-cd6a-7b24-88b8-c0e5ba9dd147" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_01a0d077-cd6a-7b24-88b8-c0e5ba9dd147" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_01a0d077-cd6a-70a9-b062-11df42e8b8e8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_01a0d077-cd6a-70a9-b062-11df42e8b8e8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_01a0d077-cd6a-71c7-a268-f5800c44570a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_01a0d077-cd6a-71c7-a268-f5800c44570a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_01a0d077-cd6a-7012-bf55-533c188a8085" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_01a0d077-cd6a-7012-bf55-533c188a8085" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_01a0d077-cd6a-7ad5-89ac-340861cf8e5d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_01a0d077-cd6a-7ad5-89ac-340861cf8e5d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_01a0d077-cd6a-7495-8564-887e5aa0ee16" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_01a0d077-cd6a-7495-8564-887e5aa0ee16" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_01a0d077-cd6a-7046-bda0-1ba70d31b365" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_01a0d077-cd6a-7046-bda0-1ba70d31b365" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_01a0d077-cd6a-78a4-9e56-214e3a2c0cd0" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_01a0d077-cd6a-78a4-9e56-214e3a2c0cd0" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_01a0d077-cd6a-77ef-9c10-e4e89f8c4ccd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_01a0d077-cd6a-77ef-9c10-e4e89f8c4ccd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_01a0d077-cd6a-7b25-a457-6345282063ae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_01a0d077-cd6a-7b25-a457-6345282063ae" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_01a0d077-cd6a-74db-8971-b23fc8e7b84e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_01a0d077-cd6a-74db-8971-b23fc8e7b84e" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_01a0d077-cd6a-790b-8ea9-c3aded0f13d7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_01a0d077-cd6a-790b-8ea9-c3aded0f13d7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_01a0d077-cd6a-749c-8dd3-27578af41cdf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_01a0d077-cd6a-749c-8dd3-27578af41cdf" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_01a0d077-cd6a-704b-82ec-7b29fcbc9919" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_01a0d077-cd6a-704b-82ec-7b29fcbc9919" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_01a0d077-cd6a-7e3a-ad5a-59c65b4964f7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_01a0d077-cd6a-7e3a-ad5a-59c65b4964f7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_01a0d077-cd6a-7ac3-8986-cfee45f57a07" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_01a0d077-cd6a-7ac3-8986-cfee45f57a07" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_01a0d077-cd6a-7999-ae13-3891aa3d58ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_01a0d077-cd6a-7999-ae13-3891aa3d58ce" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_01a0d077-cd6a-772f-8bde-4032e4d6b839" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_01a0d077-cd6a-772f-8bde-4032e4d6b839" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_01a0d077-cd6a-7c49-a8ab-a304e8ec9549" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_01a0d077-cd6a-7c49-a8ab-a304e8ec9549" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_01a0d077-cd6a-73c0-9d1e-647804491bbd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="21" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_01a0d077-cd6a-73c0-9d1e-647804491bbd" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_01a0d077-cd6a-7784-93c7-f482e7160114" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2025/dei-2025.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="22" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_01a0d077-cd6a-76d9-a731-215dfaed5029" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_01a0d077-cd6a-7784-93c7-f482e7160114" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
