MapLight Therapeutics announced a $372.5 million oversubscribed Series D financing, co-led by Forbion and Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with participation from Sanofi, T. Rowe Price, Avego BioScience, and existing investors like Novo Holdings, 5AM Ventures, and Blue Owl.
The company’s lead program, ML-007C-MA, is an oral combo of M1/M4 muscarinic agonist ML-007 with a peripherally acting anticholinergic, designed to activate CNS receptors and reduce side effects.
How the funding will be used: The funds will advance ML-007C-MA through Phase 2 trials for schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s, explore other indications, and support pipeline programs.
New board member: Nanna Lüneborg, Ph.D., M.B.A., of Forbion, will join the Board.
KEY QUOTES:
“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.”
Christopher Kroeger, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of MapLight
“We are excited to partner with the outstanding team and investor syndicate at MapLight to fuel these important new innovations in the CNS space.”
Josh Richardson, M.D., Managing Director, Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives
“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.”
Nanna Lüneborg
