Anika Therapeutics' INCERT Shown to Reduce Postoperative Adhesion Formation; Study Results Published in Fertility and Sterility.WOBURN, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 11, 1998--Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ANIK ANIK Canadian COMSAT ) today said a recent study published in the July 1998 issue of Fertility and Sterility supported the potential use of INCERT(R) for preventing post-operative adhesions during gynecological gynecological /gy·ne·co·log·i·cal/ (-kah-loj´i-k'l) gynecologic. and general surgery. Animal studies conducted at the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Reproductive endocrinology and infertility is a subspecialty of the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology dealing with infertility, fertility, contraception and the medicine and surgical procedures related to it. , Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology obstetrics and gynecology Medical and surgical specialty concerned with the management of pregnancy and childbirth and with the health of the female reproductive system. , Duke University Medical Center, sought to test whether a barrier of INCERT(R), a chemically cross-linked form of hyaluronic acid hyaluronic acid: see mucopolysaccharide. Hyaluronic acid A polysaccharide which is an integral part of the gel-like substance of animal connective tissue; it supposedly serves as a lubricant and shock absorbent in the joints. (HA), reduced post-operative adhesion formation in mice. The studies, conducted by A.F. Haney, M.D. and Elissa Doty, B.S., confirm INCERT's ability to reduce adhesion formation and support previous preclinical findings. "INCERT continues to demonstrate potential for the prevention of post -surgical adhesions, a problem that can lead to female infertility, intestinal blockage, recurrent back pain and potentially costly second surgery," said J. Melville Engle, president and chief executive officer of Anika Therapeutics. "We anticipate that human clinical studies of INCERT will be initiated in 1999." INCERT is a patented, thin, bioabsorbable, implantable "sponge" derived from cross-linked hyaluronic acid and designed as a barrier to prevent the high incidence of scarring and internal adhesions after pelvic or abdominal surgery The term abdominal surgery broadly covers surgical procedures that involve opening the abdomen. Surgery of each abdominal organ is dealt with separately in connection with the description of that organ (see stomach, kidney, liver, etc. . It is placed over the surgical site and surrounding organs and tissues before a surgical incision is closed, and functions as a physical barrier to prevent internal tissue surfaces from adhering and forming scar tissue scar tissue n. Dense, fibrous connective tissue that forms over a healed wound or cut. . In June 1997, Jing-wen Kuo, Ph.D., Anika's vice president, technical and clinical affairs, presented results of an animal study conducted by an independent third party. These studies demonstrated that INCERT significantly reduced the number of adhesions formed in rabbits after abdominal surgery in comparison with Seprafilm(TM), an adhesion prevention product marketed by Genzyme Corporation. The comparative results indicate that INCERT may provide an effective therapeutic alternative to other available products. Anika Therapeutics, Inc. develops, manufactures and commercializes therapeutic products and devices intended to promote the protection and healing of bone, cartilage and soft tissue. These products are based on hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring, bio-compatible polymer found throughout the body. Anika's currently marketed products consist of ORTHOVISC(R) for the treatment of osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. in humans and HYVISC(R) for the treatment of equine osteoarthritis. Anika also manufactures AMVISC(R) and AMVISC Plus(R), HA products used as viscoelastic Adj. 1. viscoelastic - having viscous as well as elastic properties natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" supplements in ophthalmic surgery, for Bausch & Lomb Surgical. Therapies currently under development include INCERT, an HA product designed to prevent post-surgical adhesions and HA oligosaccharides oligosaccharides (ol´igōsak´  rīdz),n. for the treatment of cancer. Anika is also collaborating with Orquest, Inc. to manufacture OSSIGEL(TM), an injectable formulation of basic fibroblast growth factor Basic fibroblast growth factor, also known as bFGF or FGF2, is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family. In normal tissue, basic fibroblast growth factor is present in basement membranes and in the subendothelial extracellular matrix of blood combined with HA designed to accelerate the healing of bone fractures. This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. The factors that might cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include those factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 1998.
CONTACT: Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
Sean Moran, 781/932-6616, x102
or
Pondel Parsons & Wilkinson
Susan Klein, 508/358-4315
Robert Whetstone, 310/207-9300
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