Light Horse Therapeutics is pioneering new technologies to tackle the root causes of disabling and life-threatening diseases. Using precision gene editing applied to small-molecule drug discovery, its innovative approach is currently targeting historically challenging cancers, with plans to apply the technology to other therapeutic areas in the future.

Light Horse’s industry-leading high-throughput small-molecule discovery platform systematically interrogates complex signaling pathways in their native, cellular context to best ensure that discoveries in the lab are clinically relevant. This advanced platform identifies functional protein domains that play a critical role in disease biology. Light Horse’s “function-first” approach, the converse of traditional “screening-first” methodologies, allows for a significantly faster drug design process.

Launched by Versant Ventures’ Inception Discovery Engine, Light Horse has been an instructive example of venture capital-launched start-ups that transform cutting-edge science into growing industry leaders.

Goal: Light Horse sought to debut with a significant capital raise and a strategic partnership.

Process: Light Horse retained Wilson Sonsini to provide strategic legal counsel. The team is led by Farah Gerdes, Karen Deschaine, Phil McGill, and Lou Lieto. The firm was engaged primarily because of Karen's long-standing relationship with Versant Ventures, and bolstered by Farah's decade-long collaboration with the company's business development consultant.

Wilson Sonsini, known for its cross-practice services to life sciences companies, assembled a team to serve Light Horse’s legal needs holistically, including advising on corporate matters, IP protection, and technology transactions.

Aided by its long-standing and broad relationships within the life sciences ecosystem, the Wilson Sonsini team provided Light Horse comprehensive strategic advisory services to ensure a successful debut.

Results: In January 2025, with Wilson Sonsini’s support, Light Horse debuted with $62 million in Series A financing, with strategic investment from Bristol-Myers Squibb and AbbVie, among others.

Wilson Sonsini also represented Light Horse in forming a strategic collaboration with Novartis to identify and develop therapeutics using its platform. Under the terms of the agreement, Light Horse received a $25 million upfront payment and would be eligible for $1 billion in future research, development, and sales milestones, as well as royalties on licensed therapeutics.

Outcome: Light Horse’s strategic approach to its debut ensures its ability to expand the use of its platform for identifying previously inaccessible high-value targets for drug design. Its success serves as a template for venture capital funds looking to launch their own start-ups, in addition to funding the start-ups of others.

Quote: “Wilson Sonsini’s depth of expertise in the biomedical sciences and its sophisticated approach to its work with innovation-based start-ups have helped us realize our vision for our debut. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Wilson Sonsini to ensure Light Horse’s growth and success in the future.”

Markus Renschler, M.D.
CEO, Light Horse Therapeutics