MapLight Therapeutics Secures $372.5M Series D Financing for CNS Drug Development

MapLight Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has successfully closed an oversubscribed $372.5 million Series D financing round. The funding was co-led by Forbion and Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with participation from new investors such as Sanofi, T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc., and Avego BioScience Capital. Existing investors, including Novo Holdings, 5AM Ventures, and Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, also contributed significantly to the financing. The investment will be used to advance the company's lead program, ML-007C-MA, through ongoing Phase 2 trials for schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease psychosis, as well as to explore potential indications for the drug.

MapLight Therapeutics is dedicated to developing new medicines for brain disorders and aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families. Nanna Lüneborg, Ph.D., M.B.A., General Partner at Forbion, will join the company's Board of Directors as part of the financing. MapLight Therapeutics is committed to addressing the substantial unmet medical need in CNS indications and is focused on leveraging its discovery platform to develop circuit-specific pharmacotherapies.

Forbion, a leading global venture capital firm, is known for its expertise in biotech investments and its commitment to positively impacting the health and well-being of people and the planet. Life Sciences at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, established in 2021, focuses on later-stage venture investments in therapeutic companies and has a strong track record in the sector. The financing signifies a significant milestone for MapLight Therapeutics and underscores the confidence of the investor syndicate in the company's vision and strategy.