Anika Therapeutics to Conduct Fourth Quarter and 2000 Year-End Financial Results Conference Call.

Business Editors

WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2001

Anika Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: ANIK) today said that on Friday, March 2, 2001 the company will announce financial results for its fourth quarter and 2000 year-end.

The results will be released in a news announcement prior to the opening of regular stock market trading hours. J. Melville Engle, Anika's chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Douglas R. Potter, chief financial officer, will host a conference call with industry analysts beginning at 11:00 a.m. EST that day to review the results and business highlights.

In addition, the company may answer one or more questions concerning the company's business outlook, business and financial developments and trends and other matters affecting the company, some of the responses to which may contain information that has not been previously disclosed.

Those wishing to hear the conference call should call 212/346-6406 approximately 10 minutes prior to the starting time. A playback of the call will be available from 1:00 p.m. EST Friday, March 2, through 1:00 p.m. EST Thursday, March 8. To listen to the recorded call, dial 800/633-8284, access code 18113566.

About Anika Therapeutics

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 Surgical.

Therapies currently under development include INCERT(R), a family of HA products designed to prevent post-surgical adhesions. Anika is also collaborating with Orquest Inc. to manufacture OSSIGEL(R), an injectable formulation of basic fibroblast growth factor combined with HA designed to accelerate the healing of bone fractures, which is also under development.

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 Exchange Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. The words "believe," "will," "may,""would," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate" and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and which do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. 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, which include the results of its research and development efforts and timing of regulatory approval. There can be no assurances that: (i) additional clinical trials will support the efficacy of ORTHOVISC(R), (ii) the Company will be able to successfully complete an additional clinical trial or (iv) additional clinical trials will support a PMA application and/or FDA approval in a timely manner or at all. In addition, there can be no assurance that any delay in receiving any such approvals will not adversely affect the Company's competitive position. There can be no assurances that the Company's investments in the clinical research and product development in OSSIGEL(R) and INCERT(R) will lead to viable products or revenue growth. 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 the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 1999, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000 and Sept. 30, 2000, as well as those described in the Company's other SEC filings.