BEDFORD, Mass., Aug 18, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Anika Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANIK) today announced the appointment of Jing-wen Kuo, Ph.D. as chief scientific officer. For the last nine years, Dr. Kuo has served in a variety of consulting capacities to many US and international clients specializing in hyaluronic acid (HA) based medical products. Previously, from 1984 through 1998 Dr. Kuo was employed at Anika and his last position was that of vice president of technical and clinical development. As an integral member of the management team developing Anika's strategic growth plan, Dr. Kuo will lead the Company's overall research and development efforts as well as manage the Company's patent portfolio.
"Dr. Kuo's extensive knowledge of Anika's products and his experience in commercializing HA products and bringing them to market will be a significant strategic advantage to Anika," said Charles H. Sherwood, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer. "He has an international reputation in the HA product area and vast experience in a broad range of areas including R&D, intellectual property, clinical studies, regulatory, quality, and manufacturing that will permit the Company to continue to build for the future. We are excited to have Dr. Kuo rejoin the Company at this time."
Jing-wen Kuo, Ph.D. is the sole author of "Practical Aspects of Hyaluronan Based Medical Products," and he has published a large number of peer reviewed articles, book chapters plus giving presentations on the subject of HA in the US and internationally. He is the holder of numerous patents mostly related to HA.
Dr. Kuo received his doctorate degree in chemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
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 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, Anika Therapeutics, S.r.l., 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. Its 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 Dr. Kuo. 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, 2010, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, as well as those described in the Company's other press releases and SEC filings.
SOURCE: Anika Therapeutics, Inc.
Anika Therapeutics, Inc. Charles H. Sherwood, 781-457-9000 Ph.D., CEO or Kevin W. Quinlan, 781-457-9000 CFO