SandboxAQ and MapLight Enter Strategic Collaboration with Potential Payments Up to $200M
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 16 2025
0mins
Should l Buy MPLT?
SandboxAQ and MapLight Therapeutics announced that the companies have entered into a strategic collaboration to discover and develop potential first-in-class therapies targeting a novel G protein-coupled receptor, GPCR, for the treatment of central nervous system, CNS, disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, SandboxAQ received an upfront payment and will be eligible to receive additional preclinical, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments of up to $200M in aggregate. The companies will jointly conduct preclinical research activities and MapLight will have exclusive rights for potential clinical development and commercialization of collaboration compounds. "We are excited to advance research efforts for this novel target that was identified and validated using our discovery platform," said James Lillie, Chief Scientific Officer at MapLight. "We look forward to collaborating with SandboxAQ to leverage their AI platform to discover and advance novel therapies that have the potential to address significant unmet patient needs across a spectrum of CNS conditions."
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Analyst Views on MPLT
Wall Street analysts forecast MPLT stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MPLT is 31.00 USD with a low forecast of 28.00 USD and a high forecast of 34.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
4 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 15.700
Low
28.00
Averages
31.00
High
34.00
Current: 15.700
Low
28.00
Averages
31.00
High
34.00
About MPLT
MapLight Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. The Company is focused on improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating central nervous system disorders (CNS). Its lead product candidate, ML-007C-MA, is a fixed-dose combination of an M1/M4 muscarinic agonist, ML-007, co-formulated with a peripherally acting anticholinergic (PAC), which it is initially developing for the treatment of schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease psychosis (ADP). ML-007C-MA is designed to activate both M1 and M4 muscarinic receptors in the CNS to drive efficacy, while synchronizing the pharmacokinetics of the agonist and antagonist components to mitigate peripheral cholinergic side effects. Its second product candidate, ML-004, is a 5-HT1B/1D agonist that the Company is developing for the treatment of social communication deficit and/or irritability in autism spectrum disorder. It is also advancing two preclinical programs, ML-021 and ML-009.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Clinical Trial Progress: In a Phase 1 study, ML-007C-MA demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in healthy elderly participants, with enrollment ongoing in the Phase 2 VISTA study, and topline results expected in the second half of 2027.
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See More
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See More
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- Market Potential: Alzheimer's disease psychosis affects approximately 40% of patients, with increasing symptom incidence as the disease progresses, and the development of ML-007C-MA could significantly improve patient quality of life and slow cognitive decline.
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See More
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- IPO Market Recovery: Aktis Oncology launched a $200 million IPO on Monday, indicating a resurgence in the biotech IPO market after a period of uneven performance, and is set to be the first significant IPO of 2026.
- Increased Financing Size: Just two days after the IPO launch, Aktis upsized the deal by 50%, which not only reflects growing investor confidence in its prospects but also indicates a rising interest in the biotech sector.
- Strategic Partnership Support: Aktis disclosed a $100 million investment from partner Eli Lilly, which will provide robust support for the company's R&D and market expansion, further strengthening its position in the competitive biotech landscape.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: As the first major biotech IPO of 2026, Aktis's success could attract more investor attention to the biotech sector, potentially driving recovery and growth across the industry.
See More
MapLight Accelerates Phase 2 Trial Timelines for Schizophrenia and Autism Studies
- Clinical Trial Progress: MapLight Therapeutics' ZEPHYR trial is accelerating enrollment, with topline results for 300 schizophrenia patients now expected in Q3 2026, showcasing the company's efficient execution under high-quality standards.
- IRIS Trial Update: The IRIS trial has completed enrollment, with topline results for approximately 160 autism patients also anticipated in Q3 2026, further enhancing the company's research capabilities in central nervous system disorders.
- Strategic Commitment: CEO Chris Kroeger emphasized that the rapid enrollment pace not only narrows timing guidance but also demonstrates the company's commitment to advancing its programs, potentially boosting investor confidence and attracting more funding support.
- Market Potential: With a focus on developing drugs for mental health disorders, MapLight is positioned to fill the market gap for specific therapies as clinical trials progress, driving future business growth.
See More
MapLight Therapeutics Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for ML-007C-MA in Alzheimer's Treatment
- Fast Track Designation: MapLight Therapeutics' ML-007C-MA has received FDA Fast Track designation, enabling more frequent interactions with the FDA, which may accelerate drug development and increase the likelihood of priority review.
- Clinical Trial Progress: In a Phase 1 study, ML-007C-MA demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in healthy elderly participants, with enrollment ongoing in the Phase 2 VISTA study, and topline results expected in the second half of 2027.
- Market Reaction: Despite the FDA designation, MapLight Therapeutics shares closed at $16.77 on Friday, down 4.5%, indicating cautious market sentiment regarding the drug's development progress.
- Strategic Implications: This designation not only enhances the market potential of ML-007C-MA but also supports the company's competitive position in the Alzheimer's treatment space, particularly in addressing unmet medical needs for patients.
See More
MapLight Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for ML-007C-MA in Alzheimer's Disease Psychosis
- Fast Track Designation: MapLight Therapeutics announced that its investigational drug ML-007C-MA has received FDA Fast Track designation for treating hallucinations and delusions associated with Alzheimer's disease psychosis, marking a significant milestone in addressing unmet medical needs.
- Clinical Trial Progress: ML-007C-MA demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in a Phase 1 trial and is currently undergoing a Phase 2 VISTA study, aiming to enroll 300 participants and report topline results in the second half of 2027, further advancing drug development.
- Market Demand: Alzheimer's disease psychosis affects approximately 40% of patients, with symptom occurrence increasing as the disease progresses; the development of ML-007C-MA could significantly improve the quality of life for this population and fill a critical market gap.
- Strategic Implications: This FDA designation not only enhances MapLight's competitiveness in the CNS field but may also expedite the drug's market entry, potentially leading to increased economic returns and market share growth for the company.
See More
MapLight Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for ML-007C-MA in Alzheimer's Disease Psychosis
- Fast Track Designation: MapLight Therapeutics' ML-007C-MA has received FDA Fast Track designation for treating hallucinations and delusions associated with Alzheimer's disease psychosis, marking a significant milestone in addressing unmet medical needs.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The Phase 1 trial of ML-007C-MA demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in healthy elderly participants, with the ongoing Phase 2 VISTA study aiming to enroll 300 participants and report topline results in the second half of 2027.
- Market Potential: Alzheimer's disease psychosis affects approximately 40% of patients, with increasing symptom incidence as the disease progresses, and the development of ML-007C-MA could significantly improve patient quality of life and slow cognitive decline.
- Strategic Implications: This FDA designation not only accelerates the drug development process but may also provide MapLight with more frequent interactions with the FDA, thereby expediting the approval process and enhancing the company's competitiveness in the biopharmaceutical sector.
See More
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- IPO Filing: Aktis Oncology filed for its initial public offering in the U.S. on Friday, signaling a rebound in biotech listings after a slowdown, as interest rates decline and capital inflows increase.
- Funding Background: Since its inception, Aktis Oncology has raised approximately $346 million, including a $175 million Series B funding round in 2024, reflecting institutional investors' confidence in its potential to develop treatments for various solid tumors.
- Financial Performance: For the nine months ended September 30, Aktis Oncology reported a net loss of $48.6 million, up from $31.9 million a year earlier, while revenue surged from $0.6 million to $4.6 million, indicating rising market demand.
- R&D Progress: The company's lead candidate, AKY-1189, is in early-stage studies, with preliminary data expected in the first quarter of 2027, focusing on treating multiple solid tumors, including advanced bladder cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer.
See More
