Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc. said it priced a public offering of 22 million common shares at $9.97 per share.

The San Carlos, Calif.-based company expects gross proceeds of $219.3 million from the offering, which is expected to close Oct. 16.

The developer of cancer therapies also granted underwriters an option to buy up to an additional 3.3 million shares.

Iovance plans to use the proceeds from the offering to commercialize its lead experimental drug and potential melanoma treatment lifileucel, as well as fund the studies for cancer therapy LN-145 and for other general corporate purposes.

Jefferies LLC is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering.