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![Lemelson Avatar](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:24/cr:twitter::108419077.png) Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Lemelson [@Lemelson](/creator/twitter/Lemelson) on x 5904 followers
Created: 2025-07-24 14:18:05 UTC

If you own Viking Therapeutics $VTKX or Ligand Pharmaceuticals $LGND shares, ask yourself: Why did $LGND's then-CEO, John Higgins, ask @MartinShkreli to buy $VKTX shares at the IPO? 

Why did $LGND "have a hard time finding buyers for $VKTX shares?" 

🔗Link for more in the comments.

Why was $LGND promoting $VKTX shares and IPO if $VKTX wasn't an alter-ego of $LGND?   What eventually happened to $LGND's other alter ego entities, such as $SEELQ?

Was insolvent $LGND trying to pad their balance sheet with their equity stake in $VKTX (which itself was insolvent at the IPO)?  

Why did @MartinShkreli agree to do it "just for the relationship?"

$VKTX:  More than a decade of stock promotion to cloak more than a decade of shareholder losses.


XXX engagements

![Engagements Line Chart](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:600/p:tweet::1948387211163955556/c:line.svg)

**Related Topics**
[mentions](/topic/mentions)
[happened](/topic/happened)
[ipo](/topic/ipo)
[$lgnds](/topic/$lgnds)
[stocks](/topic/stocks)
[$lgnd](/topic/$lgnd)
[$vtkx](/topic/$vtkx)
[if you](/topic/if-you)

[Post Link](https://x.com/Lemelson/status/1948387211163955556)