ANIKA INITIATES INCERT-S ANTI-ADHESION THERAPY CLINICAL TRIAL.

Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANIK), Woburn, Mass. has commenced a human pilot clinical trial testing the safety and effectiveness of INCERT-S for the prevention of internal adhesions or scarring following spinal surgery. The trial, which involves approximately 45 patients is being conducted in two centers in the United Kingdom, The Wellington Hospital in London and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore.

INCERT-S is part of a potential family of bioabsorbable, chemically modified hyaluronic acid (HA) therapies in development at Anika. INCERT is designed to act as a barrier to prevent internal tissue adhesion and scarring following spinal, cardiac, pelvic or abdominal surgery. Such adhesions can lead to recurrent back pain, female infertility and intestinal blockage, sometimes necessitating costly second surgeries. Anika's family of potential adhesion prevention products is based on the company's proprietary modified HA technology, which alters the properties of HA to allow for longer duration in the body. By controlling these properties, Anika can design products for optimal performance in the intended application.

Designed for spinal surgeries such as discectomy, laminectomy or laminotomy, INCERT-S is the first of Anika's potential therapies to be tested in human clinical trials. The gel-like substance is applied to the incision site prior to surgical closure. There are a large number of spinal surgeries worldwide susceptible to the complications of post-surgical adhesions, including approximately 700,000 each year in the United States alone.

"Now that our OrthoVisc(R) therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee has been launched in the United States, we are focusing our energies on developing a pipeline of innovative products that will generate sustainable long-term growth for Anika," said Charles H. Sherwood, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer. "Our near-term product strategy centers on therapies derived from chemically modified HA, and commencement of this INCERT-S trial is an important step forward."

About Anika Therapeutics, Inc.

Headquartered in Woburn, Mass., Anika Therapeutics, Inc. develops, manufactures and commercializes therapeutic products and devices intended to promote the repair, protection and healing of bone, cartilage and soft tissue. 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 Ortho Biotech Products, L.P., 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, for Bausch & Lomb. It also produces CoEase(TM), which is marketed by Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., STAARVISC(TM)-II distributed by STAAR Surgical Company and Shellgel(TM) for Cytosol Ophthalmics, Inc.

For more information, call 781/932-6616 or visit http://www.anikatherapeutics.com.