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MapLight Therapeutics has raised $600.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at MapLight Therapeutics.
MapLight Therapeutics was founded in 2018 by Thomas Layton (Founder).
MapLight Therapeutics has raised $600.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
MapLight Therapeutics develops novel, targeted therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Its proprietary discovery platform integrates advanced technologies, including optogenetics, STARmap, and transcriptomics. This enables precise identification and targeting of specific neural circuits involved in brain disorders, seeking effective interventions beyond current generalized treatments.
Established in 2018, MapLight Therapeutics was founded on the premise that existing brain disorder treatments often lack precision, leading to limited efficacy and significant side effects. Their neuroscientists identified the need for a more targeted strategy, focusing on individual circuit misfires. This core understanding drives their platform to develop potent and tolerable therapies.
MapLight Therapeutics aims to improve outcomes for patients suffering from debilitating neurological conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, and autism spectrum disorder. Its preclinical pipeline addresses Parkinson's disease. The company's vision is to establish a new standard of care for brain disorders through innovative therapeutics, enhancing quality of life.
Key people at MapLight Therapeutics.
MapLight Therapeutics was founded in 2018 by Thomas Layton (Founder).
MapLight Therapeutics has raised $600.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
MapLight Therapeutics's investors include Forbion, EQT Life Sciences, Soffinova Partners, 5AM Ventures, Avego Bioscience Capital, Novo Holdings, Sanofi, T. Rowe Price Associates, Cowen Healthcare Investments, Jim Trenkle, PhD, ARCH Venture Partners, Krishna Yeshwant.
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 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2025 | $370M Series D | Forbion | EQT Life Sciences, Soffinova Partners, 5AM Ventures, Avego Bioscience Capital, Novo Holdings, Sanofi, T. Rowe Price Associates | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2023 | $230M Series C | 5AM Ventures, Cowen Healthcare Investments, JIM Trenkle, PHD | ARCH Venture Partners, Krishna Yeshwant, Sanofi Ventures, Section 32 | Announced |
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]
