MapLight Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has raised $372.5 million in an oversubscribed Series D funding round. The round was co-led by Forbion and Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with significant participation from new investors such as Sanofi, accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc., and Avego BioScience Capital. Existing backers, including Novo Holdings, 5AM Ventures, and Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, also showed strong support. This new investment will propel MapLight’s lead program and fuel the continued development of its innovative pipeline.
The company is dedicated to addressing unmet needs in the central nervous system (CNS) space, and the financing will be used to advance MapLight’s investigational drug, ML-007C-MA, through ongoing Phase 2 trials for schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease psychosis. It will also support the exploration of other potential indications for the drug and further clinical and preclinical programs.
MapLight’s lead drug, ML-007C-MA, represents a promising treatment for neurological disorders. The drug is an oral fixed-dose combination of ML-007, an investigational muscarinic agonist, and a peripherally acting anticholinergic (PAC). ML-007C-MA aims to activate both M1 and M4 muscarinic receptors in the brain, thereby improving efficacy while mitigating peripheral side effects. The company believes this approach has the potential to significantly improve the treatment of schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease psychosis, and other CNS conditions, where existing therapies fall short.
Christopher Kroeger, M.D., M.B.A., CEO and Founder of MapLight, shared, "The caliber of this new investor group, combined with the continued strong support from our high-quality existing shareholders, is a testament to MapLight's compelling vision and strategy. This financing is a clear validation of our differentiated product pipeline, dedicated team and commitment to advancing new medicines for brain disorders that make a difference in the lives of patients and their families."
With the new funding, MapLight plans to further advance its pipeline and explore new avenues for ML-007C-MA and other novel therapies. The company is particularly focused on expanding the drug’s clinical indications and scaling its efforts in CNS-related conditions that currently have limited treatment options. The goal is to drive innovation in the development of more effective therapies for patients suffering from neurological disorders.
Additionally, the investment will allow MapLight to strengthen its internal capabilities and scale its team to support the ongoing clinical trials and research efforts. The company is also looking to expand its market presence globally and continue its push towards impactful breakthroughs in CNS medicine.
Founded by renowned leaders in psychiatry and neuroscience, MapLight Therapeutics is committed to advancing therapies for CNS disorders, specifically targeting diseases with significant unmet medical needs. The company’s proprietary discovery platform focuses on identifying neural circuits directly associated with disease and developing therapies aimed at modulating these circuits. By leveraging its deep understanding of neuroscience, MapLight is paving the way for new treatments that could significantly improve the lives of patients with debilitating conditions like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease psychosis.
The Series D funding round was bolstered by key players in the biotech investment space. In addition to the lead investors, Forbion and Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, the round attracted participation from established names like Sanofi and T. Rowe Price Investment Management. These investors share MapLight’s vision for advancing brain disorder treatments and are committed to helping the company achieve its goals.
Nanna Lüneborg, Ph.D., M.B.A., General Partner at Forbion, emphasized the potential of MapLight's approach, stating, "We see significant opportunity in ML-007C-MA as a potential best-in-class M1/M4 muscarinic agonist that is well positioned to address the substantial unmet medical need in schizophrenia, ADP, and other CNS indications."
Josh Richardson, M.D., Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, added, "We are excited to partner with the outstanding team and investor syndicate at MapLight to fuel these important new innovations in the CNS space."
MapLight’s existing investor base, including Novo Holdings, 5AM Ventures, and Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, has played a critical role in the company’s growth and success to date. With the continued backing of these investors and the new support from leading firms like Forbion and Goldman Sachs, MapLight is well-positioned to drive its mission forward. The company’s focus on advancing therapies that address the core mechanisms of CNS disorders sets it apart in a highly competitive space.
