Anika Therapeutics CEO, Charles Sherwood, to Present at Rodman & Renshaw Techvest Healthcare Conference; October 21 Presentation Accessible via the Internet.

Business Editors

WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 2003

Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANIK) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Charles H. Sherwood, Ph.D., is scheduled to present at the Rodman & Renshaw Techvest Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, October 21 at 5:40 p.m. EDT at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf Hotel. Dr. Sherwood will present a company overview, discuss current products, product pipelines, growth drivers and financial performance. After the presentation, there will be a question and answer session, some of the information to be presented by Dr. Sherwood or provided in response to questions may contain information that has not been previously disclosed.

The presentation will be open to all interested parties through a live web cast at http://www.wallstreetwebcasting.com/webcast/rrshq/anik/ and on Anika Therapeutics' Web site at http://www.anikatherapeutics.com/investors. Listeners are encouraged to visit the Web site at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the scheduled presentation to register and download and install any necessary audio software. The presentation will be archived on the same Web sites and available from October 21 through November 13, 2003.

About Anika Therapeutics, Inc.

Headquartered in Woburn, Mass., Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (www.anikatherapeutics.com) 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. In addition to ORTHOVISC(R), a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee (not approved for sale in the U.S.), Anika markets HYVISC(R) in the U.S. for the treatment of equine osteoarthritis through Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. and manufactures AMVISC(R) and AMVISC(R) Plus, 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.

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," "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. The statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. 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 results of its research and development efforts and timing of regulatory approvals. There can be no assurances that the Company's increased unit sales will materially increase product revenue or improve gross margins. 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, 2002, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as those described in the Company's other press releases and SEC filings.