SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:LGND) announced that data from preclinical studies on its granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) receptor program were featured in a poster presentation today at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in San Diego. Ligand has discovered a novel series of small molecules, exemplified by the lead compound LG7455, that selectively activate human GCSFR function in a manner distinct from GCSF, but similar to the mechanism of small-molecule human thrombopoietin receptor (hTPOR) agonists, such as eltrombopag (Promacta®).