The vaccine and biotechnology company Abera Bioscience recently announced that the company is raising approximately SEK 10 million in a directed share issue, gross.The issue is directed to the professional investor Göran Ofsén, resulting in a dilution of approximately 9.12 percent. The subscription price was SEK 5.35 per share.The capital will strengthen the company’s financial position and increase flexibility in development work. According to CEO Maria Alriksson, the infusion could lead to a faster pace in several projects.The first priority is the company’s nasal pneumococcal vaccine, with clinical Phase 1 planned to begin during the year.- We have already secured financing for Phase 1, but the capital provides increased flexibility and allows us to run more activities in parallel, which benefits the platform and our pipeline. We have been clear that we want to have a broad offering to future partners, says Maria Alriksson to Finwire.The company also wants to strengthen early-stage research, with influenza as an important area.- We have promising preclinical results in influenza and will continue to conduct the preclinical work during the beginning of the year, says Alriksson.The next clear milestone will be the start of the first clinical study for the pneumococcal vaccine.- Clinical data are an important foundation that opens up discussions about industry partnerships, she says.The company states that no additional financing is needed to carry out Phase 1, as it is already secured.The directed issue came about after the investor himself took the initiative.- It was a unique opportunity when Göran Ofsén, on his own initiative, wanted to make a larger investment in the company, says Alriksson.Abera is simultaneously holding talks with larger pharmaceutical companies, but interest is expected to increase when clinical results can be presented.- We are intensifying our business development in the run-up to being able to present data from Phase 1 for the pneumococcal vaccine, she concludes.