MapLight Therapeutics is a technology company.
MapLight Therapeutics has raised $600.0M across 2 funding rounds.
MapLight Therapeutics has raised $600.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
MapLight Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing circuit-specific therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease psychosis, and autism spectrum disorder.[1][2][3] It targets misfiring neural circuits using proprietary technologies like optogenetics, STARmap, and transcriptomics to create safer, more effective treatments than traditional broad-acting drugs, addressing unmet needs in patients with limited options.[1][2] The company's pipeline includes clinical candidates like ML-007C-MA (M1/M4 muscarinic agonist for schizophrenia and Alzheimer's psychosis), ML-004 (for autism-related deficits), and preclinical assets for Parkinson's and hyperactivity.[4][5] Publicly traded on Nasdaq (MPLT) with a market cap of about $870 million, it reported no revenue but strong financial health amid $102.83 million TTM losses, fueled by a major 2025 private financing round.[4][5]
MapLight Therapeutics was founded by internationally recognized leaders in psychiatry and neuroscience to tackle the lack of circuit-specific pharmacotherapies for CNS disorders, where existing treatments echo 1950s prototypes with limited efficacy and side effects.[2] The idea emerged from the brain's complexity—86 billion neurons requiring precise targeting rather than generalized flooding—prompting the creation of a discovery platform linking neural circuits to diseases.[1][2] Early traction built on this platform's patented innovations, advancing a robust pipeline; a pivotal moment came in 2025 with one of the largest private financings, led by partners like Forbion, supporting Phase 2 trials for lead candidate ML-007.[5] CEO Chris Kroeger has highlighted this syndicate's role in accelerating development.[5]
MapLight rides the wave of precision neuroscience, leveraging advanced mapping tools to decode brain circuit dysfunction amid rising CNS disorder prevalence, which outpaces costs of cancer or diabetes combined.[1][2] Timing aligns with biotech's shift from 1950s-era antipsychotics to targeted therapies, fueled by optogenetics and transcriptomics breakthroughs that make circuit-level intervention feasible.[1][2] Market forces like unmet needs in schizophrenia, Alzheimer's psychosis, and autism—where patients face persistent symptoms—favor its approach, while public listing (Nasdaq: MPLT) and 2025 mega-financing amplify influence in the startup ecosystem by validating neurotech pipelines.[3][4][5] It influences broader biotech by pioneering safer CNS drugs, potentially reducing side effects and expanding treatable indications.
MapLight's Phase 2 data for ML-007C-MA will be pivotal, potentially de-risking its platform and unlocking partnerships or approvals amid surging demand for CNS innovation.[5] Trends like AI-enhanced circuit mapping and multimodal agonists will shape its path, positioning it to lead in a market starved for effective brain therapies.[1][2] Influence may evolve from pipeline developer to ecosystem shaper if trials succeed, redefining standards for disorders long underserved—echoing its mission to end patient compromise with precision medicine.[1]
MapLight Therapeutics has raised $600.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
MapLight Therapeutics's investors include EQT Life Sciences, Forbion, Soffinova Partners, ARCH Venture Partners, Krishna Yeshwant, Sanofi Ventures, Section 32.
MapLight Therapeutics has raised $600.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $370.0M Series D in July 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2025 | $370.0M Series D | EQT Life Sciences, Forbion, Soffinova Partners | |
| Oct 1, 2023 | $230.0M Series C | ARCH Venture Partners, Krishna Yeshwant, Sanofi Ventures, Section 32 |