Full Press Release Details
Therapeutics Appoints Industry Veteran Jeffery S. Thompson to Board of
Adds Seat to Board with Addition of Experienced Life Sciences CEO
BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--January 20, 2011--Anika Therapeutics,
Inc. (NASDAQ:ANIK) today announced that it has appointed Jeffery S.
Thompson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Advanced
Bio-Technologies, Inc. (ABT), to its Board of Directors. ABT is a
Georgia-based biopharmaceutical company specializing in the treatment
and management of scars. With the addition of Mr. Thompson, Anika has
increased the number of board seats to seven.
"Jeff is a veteran in the life sciences industry with a proven track
record of executing successful commercial and operating strategies,"
said Charles H. Sherwood, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer.
"Throughout his career, Jeff has leveraged his knowledge of the
pharmaceutical industry, strategic planning skills and entrepreneurial
spirit to effectively optimize operations to help companies meet their
growth potential. Jeff is an excellent addition to Anika's board as we
work to develop and commercialize a number of exciting products."
In addition to his role at ABT, Mr. Thompson is an Operating Partner for
HealthEdge Investment Partners, a private equity firm focused
exclusively in the healthcare industry. Mr. Thompson also serves as
Chairman of the Board at Woodbury Products, a New York-based company
dedicated to the distribution of high quality incontinence and related
healthcare products. Previously, Mr. Thompson served as Chief Operating
Officer at Stiefel Laboratories, Inc., where he was also a member of the
board of directors until the company's acquisition by GlaxoSmithKline.
Prior to becoming Stiefel's COO, Thompson served as Stiefel's Senior
Vice President, U.S. Business Services and President of Glades
Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in his career, Thompson held Sales and Business
Management positions at Bausch & Lomb Pharmaceuticals and began his
career at SmithKline Beecham as a Professional Sales Representative. Mr.
Thompson received his Bachelor's degree in General Science after
completing one year of study in Dental Medicine, both at the University
About Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Bedford, Mass., Anika Therapeutics, Inc. develops,
manufactures and commercializes therapeutic products for tissue
protection, healing, repair and regeneration. These products are based
on hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring, biocompatible polymer
found throughout the body. Anika's products range from orthopedic/joint
health solutions led by ORTHOVISC , a treatment for
osteoarthritis of the knee; to surgical aids in the ophthalmic and
anti-adhesion fields. The company also offers aesthetic dermal fillers
for the correction of facial wrinkles. Anika's Italian subsidiary, Fidia
Advanced Biopolymers, S.r.l (FAB), provides complementary HA products in
orthopedic/joint health and anti-adhesion, as well as therapeutics in
new areas such as advanced wound treatment and ear, nose and throat
care. FAB's regenerative tissue technology advances Anika's vision to
offer therapeutic products that go beyond pain relief to protect and
restore damaged tissue.
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 working to commercialize a number of
exciting products, and the expected success and contributions of Jeffery
Thompson. 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, 2009, and Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, 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