Aptose Biosciences Inc. priced its planned underwritten public offering of 10 million common shares at C$1.85 apiece to raise C$18.5 million.

The company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1.5 million additional shares. The offering is expected to close June 3.

Toronto, Ontario-based Aptose plans to use the net proceeds to accelerate and expand its clinical trial programs, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

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