Anika Therapeutics Promotes Michael R. Slater To Vice President, Operations.

WOBURN, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--May 4, 1999--

Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANIK) today announced that Michael R. Slater has been promoted to vice president of operations. This newly created position encompasses responsibility for manufacturing, materials management, quality systems and regulatory affairs.

"Michael is an excellent leader and a seasoned veteran," said J. Melville Engle, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "He has extensive experience in all areas of operations, quality assurance and regulatory affairs, with major accomplishments in the multinational pharmaceutical industry and with start-up biopharmaceutical companies. His leadership and experience will be important as we expand production and introduce new products."

Most recently, Slater, 52, was vice president of quality systems and regulatory affairs. Prior to joining Anika in 1997, he ran an independent biopharmaceutical development consulting practice. From 1995 to 1996, he was executive vice president, development operations for Waltham-based ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical Corporation. For the 12 years prior, he was with Biogen, Inc. in Geneva, Switzerland and Cambridge, Massachusetts, serving for 10 years as vice president, regulatory affairs. Slater began his corporate career at Hoechst Pharmaceuticals, U.K.

Slater holds degrees in applied biology and information science, including a bachelor's degree from the Metropolitan University of Leeds, England. He was a member of the Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers' Association's Biotechnology Advisory Committee and Subcommittee on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affairs and the Biotechnology Industry Association's FDA Committee. He has published numerous papers in the areas of product development and regulatory affairs.

Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (www.anikatherapeutics.com) develops, manufactures and commercializes therapeutics 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's currently marketed products consist of ORTHOVISC(R) (not for sale in the U.S.) for the treatment of osteoarthritis in humans and HYVISC(R) for the treatment of equine osteoarthritis. Anika also manufactures AMVISC(R) and AMVISC(R) Plus, highly viscous HA products used as viscoelastic supplements for ophthalmic surgery, for Bausch & Lomb Surgical. Therapies currently under development include INCERT(R) an HA product designed to prevent post-surgical adhesions, and HA oligosaccharides for the treatment of cancer. Anika is also collaborating with Orquest, Inc. to manufacture OSSIGEL(TM), an injectable formulation of basic fibroblast growth factor combined with HA designed to accelerate the healing of bone fractures.

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. Certain other 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 and Certain Factors Affecting Future Operating Results" in the Company's 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 1999 as well as those listed in the Company's other SEC filings.