MapLight Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Provides Business Update
Rhea-AI Summary
MapLight Therapeutics (Nasdaq: MPLT) reported second quarter 2026 results and a business update, highlighting positive topline data from the potentially registrational Phase 2 ZEPHYR trial of ML-007C-MA in schizophrenia. The study met its primary endpoint, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful PANSS total score reduction at Week 5 versus placebo at the 210/3 mg twice-daily dose, plus improvements on prespecified cognitive and key secondary endpoints, with a generally well-tolerated safety profile. MapLight plans an End-of-Phase 2 FDA meeting and a Phase 3 ZEPHYR-2 trial, with topline results expected in 2028.
ML-007C-MA is also in the Phase 2 VISTA trial for Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, which has FDA Fast Track designation and topline data expected in the second half of 2027. The company reported Phase 2 IRIS results for ML-004 in autism spectrum disorder; the trial did not meet its primary endpoint, although a prespecified adolescent subgroup showed clinically meaningful improvements in irritability. MapLight ended the quarter with $351.3 million in cash, cash equivalents and investments and, together with a recent $150 million private placement, expects to fund ML-007C-MA through 2028. Quarterly R&D expenses were $53.4 million, G&A expenses were $10.1 million, and net loss was $60.2 million, all higher than the prior-year period, as the company focuses resources on advancing ML-007C-MA and pauses preclinical and discovery-stage programs.
Positive
- Phase 2 ZEPHYR met primary endpoint with PANSS reduction at Week 5 versus placebo at 210/3 mg BID
- ML-007C-MA tolerability generally favorable, with no serious or drug-related severe adverse events reported and low GI-related discontinuations
- VISTA Phase 2 in ADP ongoing with approximately 300 participants; Fast Track designation and topline data expected in second half 2027
- Cash, cash equivalents and investments of $351.3 million at June 30, 2026
- $150 million private placement in August 2026 from institutional investors to support ML-007C-MA programs and corporate purposes
- Runway through 2028 as the company expects existing cash plus PIPE proceeds to fund continued advancement of ML-007C-MA
Negative
- IRIS Phase 2 for ML-004 did not meet its primary endpoint in social communication in autism spectrum disorder
- Net loss increased to $60.2 million in Q2 2026 from $29.8 million in Q2 2025
- R&D expenses rose to $53.4 million in Q2 2026 from $26.8 million a year earlier
- G&A expenses increased to $10.1 million in Q2 2026 from $3.8 million in Q2 2025
- Cash, cash equivalents and investments declined to $351.3 million at June 30, 2026 from $453.1 million at December 31, 2025
- Preclinical and discovery-stage programs are paused and not being advanced into clinical development under the current operating plan
News Explained
The $150 million private placement, whose proceeds are expected to fund continued advancement of ML-007C-MA, equals
Sources and calculations
- MapLight Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Provides Business Update (2026-08-13)
- MapLight Therapeutics latest-quarter fundamentals (2026Q1)
- Offering gross vs quarterly operating cash outflow, in days of cash use $150,000,000 / ($51,178,000 / 90) = [object Object]
News Market Reaction – MPLT
In the Aug 14 session, MPLT gained 1.47%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +2.7% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 6 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. Trading volume was exceptionally heavy at 5.0x the daily average, suggesting very strong buying interest.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14 | 1Q26 earnings report | Neutral | -1.9% | Quarterly results, clinical milestones, cash position, and operating expense disclosures |
| Mar 26 | 4Q25 earnings report | Positive | +6.0% | Year-end cash position and progress across schizophrenia, autism, and ADP programs |
| Dec 04 | 3Q25 earnings report | Positive | +8.4% | Clinical timelines, program updates, and financing completed during the quarter |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Tag-specific earnings history showed two positive reactions (+6.01% and +8.39%) and one negative reaction (-1.91%), indicating mixed post-earnings outcomes.
Key Terms
registrational regulatory
panss total score medical
fast track designation regulatory
m1/m4 muscarinic agonist medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Reported positive results from the potentially registrational Phase 2 ZEPHYR trial of ML-007C-MA in schizophrenia, supporting advancement into a Phase 3 ZEPHYR-2 trial
Continued advancement of ML-007C-MA in ADP, with enrollment ongoing in the Phase 2 VISTA trial and topline results expected in the second half of 2027
Reported Phase 2 IRIS results for ML-004 in autism spectrum disorder, with clinically meaningful improvements in irritability observed in a prespecified adolescent subgroup
Primarily focusing resources on the advancement of ML-007C-MA
Ended the quarter with
SAN FRANCISCO and BOSTON, Aug. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MapLight Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MPLT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating central nervous system disorders, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, and provided a business update.
“With positive Phase 2 data from ZEPHYR and continued progress in VISTA, we are focusing our efforts on advancing ML-007C-MA in both schizophrenia and ADP,” said Chris Kroeger, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MapLight. “In schizophrenia, ZEPHYR met its primary endpoint and achieved meaningful efficacy results, an encouraging cognitive signal and a tolerability profile designed to translate into real-world use, supporting our planned registrational Phase 3 ZEPHYR-2 trial. In ADP, enrollment in VISTA remains ongoing, with topline results expected in the second half of 2027. Together with our recent private placement and continued focus on capital discipline, we believe we are well positioned to execute on both programs through these key milestones.”
Business Update and Upcoming Milestones
ML-007C-MA (M1/M4 Muscarinic Agonist) for the Treatment of Schizophrenia
- Reported positive topline results in July 2026 from the Phase 2 ZEPHYR trial of ML-007C-MA in adults with schizophrenia experiencing an acute exacerbation of psychosis. The trial met its primary endpoint, with the 210/3 mg twice-daily dose demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in PANSS total score compared with placebo at Week 5.
- ML-007C-MA also demonstrated improvement on a prespecified cognitive-function endpoint in participants with baseline cognitive impairment and significant separation on key secondary endpoints, including CGI-S and the PANSS Marder positive factor.
- ML-007C-MA was generally well tolerated, with no serious or drug-related severe adverse events and low rates of GI-related discontinuations. Its clinical profile, including simple initiation,
99% of patients reaching the target dose and no fasting requirement, is designed to translate into real-world use. - The Company plans to engage with the FDA at an End-of-Phase 2 meeting to discuss the registrational path forward, including the planned Phase 3 ZEPHYR-2 trial, with topline results expected in 2028.
ML-007C-MA for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease Psychosis (ADP)
- Continued enrollment in the Phase 2 VISTA trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating ML-007C-MA in approximately 300 participants with ADP.
- ML-007C-MA received Fast Track designation from the FDA in December 2025 for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with ADP.
- Topline results from VISTA are expected in the second half of 2027.
ML-004 (5-HT1B/1D Agonist) for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Reported topline results in June 2026 from the Phase 2 IRIS trial of ML-004 in autism spectrum disorder. While the study did not meet its primary endpoint in social communication, a prespecified analysis demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in irritability among adolescents with moderate or greater baseline irritability.
- ML-004 was generally well tolerated in the IRIS trial, with no severe or serious adverse events in the active treatment arm. This profile is relevant in a treatment setting with limited approved options, where antipsychotic-associated tolerability concerns can present challenges for long-term use, particularly in younger patients.
- Following its planned End-of-Phase 2 discussion with the FDA, the Company intends to evaluate the path forward for ML-004, including potential strategic collaborations and/or funding alternatives.
Corporate Updates
- In August 2026, the Company announced a
$150 million private placement, with participation from new and existing institutional investors. Proceeds from the financing are expected to primarily support the continued advancement of ML-007C-MA, including funding the planned Phase 3 ZEPHYR-2 trial and ongoing Phase 2 VISTA trial, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. Based on its current operational plans and assumptions, MapLight expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and investments, together with the net proceeds from the PIPE, will be sufficient to fund the continued advancement of ML-007C-MA through 2028. - The Company is focusing resources on the advancement of ML-007C-MA, including pausing further investment in preclinical and discovery-stage programs and foregoing advancement of those programs into clinical development under the current operating plan.
Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
- Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and investments were
$351.3 million as of June 30, 2026. Based on current operational plans and assumptions, the Company expects that its existing cash, cash equivalents and investments, together with the net proceeds from the recent private placement, will be sufficient to fund the continued advancement of ML-007C-MA through the end of 2028. - R&D Expenses: Research and development (R&D) expenses were
$53.4 million for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to$26.8 million for the second quarter of 2025. R&D expenses increased primarily due to increases in clinical trial expenses and employee-related expenses, including an increase in stock-based compensation expense of$5.6 million . - G&A Expenses: General and administrative (G&A) expenses were
$10.1 million for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to$3.8 million for the second quarter of 2025. G&A expenses increased primarily due to increases in employee-related expenses, including an increase in stock-based compensation expense of$2.9 million , and increases in professional fees and other expenses. - Net Loss: Net loss was
$60.2 million for the second quarter of 2026, as compared to$29.8 million for the second quarter of 2025.
About MapLight Therapeutics
MapLight Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the lives of patients suffering from debilitating central nervous system disorders. The Company was founded by globally recognized leaders in psychiatry and neuroscience research to address the lack of circuit-specific pharmacotherapies available for patients. The Company’s discovery platform holds the potential to fill this void by identifying neural circuits causally linked to disease and targeting those circuits for therapeutic modulation.
For more information, please visit www.maplightrx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, the clinical development and potential benefits of ML-007C-MA and ML-004, the design, timing and conducting of future clinical trials, the registrational pathway for the Company’s product candidates, including holding EOP2 meetings with the FDA for ML-007C-MA and ML-004 and planned regulatory submissions, the availability and timing of results from the Company’s Phase 2 VISTA trial and the Company’s Phase 3 ZEPHYR-2 trial, and the potential benefits of the Company’s discovery platform. Words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “objective,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “design,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “develop,” “plan” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to the Company on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties (including, without limitation, those set forth in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)), many of which are beyond the Company’s control and subject to change. Actual results could be materially different. Risks and uncertainties include: the unpredictable relationship between preclinical study results and clinical study results; the risk that results obtained in any clinical trials to date may not be indicative of results obtained in ongoing or future trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals; expectations regarding the Company’s ability to fund its current operations; and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, and subsequent disclosure documents the Company may file with the SEC. The Company claims the protection of the safe harbor contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter any statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| MapLight Therapeutics, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | |||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Research and development | $ | 53,435 | $ | 26,846 | $ | 107,119 | $ | 46,633 | ||||||||
| General and administrative | 10,113 | 3,817 | 20,932 | 7,573 | ||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 63,548 | 30,663 | 128,051 | 54,206 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (63,548 | ) | (30,663 | ) | (128,051 | ) | (54,206 | ) | ||||||||
| Other income, net: | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | 2,349 | 688 | 4,821 | 1,499 | ||||||||||||
| Other income, net | 1,007 | 130 | 2,370 | 522 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (60,192 | ) | $ | (29,845 | ) | $ | (120,860 | ) | $ | (52,185 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (1.32 | ) | $ | (39.11 | ) | $ | (2.66 | ) | $ | (68.46 | ) | ||||
| Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted | 45,431,359 | 763,044 | 45,354,488 | 762,325 | ||||||||||||
| Select Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (Unaudited) (in thousands) | ||||||
| June 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2026 | 2025 | |||||
| Cash, cash equivalents and investments | $ | 351,341 | $ | 453,096 | ||
| Total assets | 368,348 | 479,512 | ||||
| Total current liabilities | 19,294 | 16,229 | ||||
| Total liabilities | 20,049 | 21,140 | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 348,299 | 458,372 | ||||
For investor inquiries: investors@maplightrx.com
For media inquiries: media@maplightrx.com
