Full Press Release Details
Therapeutics Appoints Frank J. Luppino as Chief Operating Officer
Operations Executive Returns to Company
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 26, 2009--Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
(NASDAQ:ANIK) today announced the appointment of Frank J. Luppino as
chief operating officer. Luppino was most recently vice president of
operations at Bionostics, a privately held developer, manufacturer and
distributor of turnkey products for critical healthcare OEMs. As an
integral member of the management team implementing Anika's strategic
growth plan, Luppino will oversee the operations, quality systems,
regulatory and clinical affairs areas. Luppino previously served for
eight years at Anika, culminating in the position of vice president of
"We expect Frank to be instrumental in the next phase of Anika's growth
as we broaden our global presence through an expanding suite of
innovative products and an increasing number of distributors," said
Charles H. Sherwood, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer.
"Frank is an ideal complement to our management team, given his
knowledge of Anika, proven expertise in business planning, sound
analytical thinking and high level of energy and enthusiasm. During his
tenure with Anika, Frank made significant contributions in developing
our processes and enhancing our customer and supplier relationships."
Prior to his position at Bionostics, Luppino served as vice president of
operations at Anika Therapeutics from June 2003 until his departure in
September 2007. He also had held the position of executive director of
operations. Prior to joining Anika in 1999, Luppino was regional manager
for AAC Consulting Group, a firm serving the pharmaceutical and medical
device industries. From 1992 to 1998, he was regional manager for
Raytheon Engineers and Constructors. Earlier in his career, Luppino was
a project engineer with Black and Veatch Corporation, an architectural
and engineering design firm. Luppino holds a bachelor's degree in
chemical engineering from Lehigh University.
About Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Bedford, Mass., Anika Therapeutics, Inc. develops,
manufactures and commercializes therapeutic products for tissue
protection, healing and repair. These products are based on hyaluronic
acid (HA), a naturally occurring, biocompatible polymer found throughout
the body. Anika's products include ORTHOVISC , a
treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee available internationally and
marketed in the U.S. by DePuy Mitek; HYVISC , a
treatment for equine osteoarthritis marketed in the U.S. by Boehringer
Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.; a family of aesthetic dermatology products
for facial wrinkles, scar remediation and lip augmentation; AMVISC ,
AMVISC Plus, STAARVISC -II and Shellgel injectable
viscoelastic HA products for ophthalmic surgery; INCERT ,
an HA-based anti-adhesive for surgical applications; ORTHOVISC
mini a treatment for osteoarthritis targeting small joints and
available in Europe; MONOVISC a single-injection osteoarthritis product
based on Anika's proprietary cross-linking technology and also available
in Europe and Turkey; and next generation products for joint health and
aesthetic dermatology based on the Company's proprietary, chemically
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," "plan," "efforts," "hope," "believe,"
"objectives," "opportunities," "will," "seek," "expect" and other
expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events and
trends and which do not constitute historical matters identify
forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not
limited to, those relating to Anika's broadening of its global presence
through an expanding suite of innovative products and an increasing
number of distributors, and the expected success and contributions of
Frank Luppino. 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: (i) the company's ability to successfully
commence and/or complete clinical trials of its products on a timely
basis or at all, obtain clinical data to support a pre-market approval
application and/or FDA approval, and/or receive FDA or other regulatory
approvals of its products, or that such approvals will not be obtained
in a timely manner or without the need for additional clinical trials;
(ii) the company's research and product development efforts and their
relative success, including whether the company has any meaningful sales
of any new products resulting from such efforts; (iii) the cost
effectiveness and efficiency of our manufacturing operations and
production planning; (iv) the strength of the economies in which the
company operates or will be operating, as well as the political
stability of any of those geographic areas (v) future
determinations by the company to allocate resources to products and in
directions not presently contemplated. 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 "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 December 31,
2008, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, as well as
those described in the company's other press releases and SEC filings.
Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
Charles H. Sherwood, Ph.D.,
Kevin W. Quinlan, 781-457-9000