ORTHOVISC(R) Clinical Study Commenced To Expand Usage

Main Category: Bones / Orthopedics
Also Included In: Arthritis / Rheumatology;  Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 09 Jan 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANIK) today announced that, together with its partner, DePuy Mitek, they have initiated a clinical study designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ORTHOVISC(R) to treat pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) in the shoulder joint. Treatment of subjects has begun in this blinded, randomized, multi-center clinical study. Patient enrollment is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

"Our plan for ORTHOVISC in the next few years incorporates several important clinical studies," said Anika President and Chief Executive Officer Charles H. Sherwood, Ph.D. "Initiating this ORTHOVISC study with DePuy Mitek as a treatment for OA of the shoulder is an important part of this plan."

ORTHOVISC, with a 30 mg dose of hyaluronic acid (HA), contains the highest available concentration of HA, which may offer improved pain relief at early, mid and late time points with only three injections. In addition to its effectiveness, no pseudoseptic reactions have been reported in more than one million injections of ORTHOVISC.

About Anika Therapeutics, Inc.

Headquartered in Woburn, Mass., Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (http://www.anikatherapeutics.com) develops, manufactures and commercializes therapeutic products for tissue protection, healing and repair. These products are based on hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring, biocompatible polymer found throughout the body. Anika products include ORTHOVISC(R), a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee available internationally and marketed in the U.S. by DePuy Mitek, and Hyvisc(R), a treatment for equine osteoarthritis marketed in the U.S. by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Anika manufactures Amvisc(TM) and Amvisc Plus(TM), HA viscoelastic products for ophthalmic surgery. It also produces STAARVISC(TM)-II, which is distributed by STAAR Surgical company and Shellgel(TM) for Cytosol Ophthalmics, Inc.

The statements made in this press release which are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements that may be identified by words such as "expectations," "remains," "focus," "expected," "initiated," "prospective," "expanding," "building," "continue," "progress," "efforts," "hope," "believe," "objectives," "opportunities," "will," "seek," and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and which do not constitute historical matters identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those regarding the protocol for the Company's clinical trial and the Company's goal of expanding its product offerings. The Company's actual results could differ materially from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements described in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors including the Company's ability to successfully commence and/or complete clinical trials of its products on a timely basis or at all. Certain other factors that might cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include those set forth under the headings "Business," "Risk Factors and Certain Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in each of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as those described in the Company's other press releases and SEC filings. The Company expressly disclaims any current intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statement in this press release to reflect future events or changes in facts affecting the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
http://www.anikatherapeutics.com/

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