Aptose Biosciences Inc. raised about $21.3 million in an offering of its 10 million common shares priced at $1.85 apiece.

The shares sold include the full exercise of the underwriters' option to buy an additional 1.5 million common shares.

Net proceeds will be used to accelerate and expand Aptose's clinical trial programs, along with working capital and general corporate purposes.

RBC Capital Markets and Canaccord Genuity acted as joint book-running managers for the offering, with H.C. Wainwright & Co. and JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC as co-managers.